Identifying the mechanisms of immune cell development in peripheral tissues
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Project Leader
Professor Laura Mackay+61 3 834 48016
Project Details
It is now clear that various immune cell populations including T cells, innate lymphoid cells and NKT cells can establish tissue residency and persist long-term in peripheral tissues. Our group is interested in the role of the tissue microenvironment in shaping these immune cell populations and are studying the tissue-tropic factors and microbial signals that govern the environmental adaptation of immune cells to different tissues. We are also investigating the effect of commensalism and microbial experience on immune cell populations and tissue homeostasis. Our goal is to decipher the molecular framework for tissue-resident lymphocyte differentiation, which will provide a basis for targeting these cells in future immune cell-based therapies.