Research Projects

Mucosal-Associated Invariant T (MAIT) cells are a subset of innate-like T cells which make up on average 3% of T cells in human blood, with larger fractions found in the tissues. It is well established that MAIT cells contribute to protection from bacterial and fungal infections [1]. This involves MAIT cells recognising a modified precursor of vitamin B2-biosynthesis found in many bacteria and fungi [2]. We recently found that MAIT cells contribute to protection from liver stage malaria and recognise a novel vitamin B2-biosynthesis independent antigen [unpublished]. We now seek to establish if and how MAIT cells contribute to protection from other parasitic infections.  

Objectives and approaches:
Hypothesis: MAIT cells contribute to protection from a diverse range of parasitic infections
Aim (i): Investigate if MAIT cells contribute to reducing parasite burden in mouse models.
Aim (ii): Investigate if MAIT cells in human healthy donor blood respond to parasites, using an established in vitro assay and flow cytometry. 
Aim (iii): Characterise the MAIT cell-mediated immune response to parasites, including the dependency of MR1-antigen, in humans and mice using flow cytometry and scRNAseq.

References
[1] Provine NM, Klenerman P. MAIT Cells in Health and Disease. Annu Rev Immunol. 2020.
[2] Corbett AJ, Eckle SB, Birkinshaw RW, Liu L, Patel O, Mahony J, Chen Z, Reantragoon R, Meehan B, Cao H, Williamson NA, Strugnell RA, Van Sinderen D, Mak JY, Fairlie DP, Kjer-Nielsen L, Rossjohn J, McCluskey J. T-cell activation by transitory neo-antigens derived from distinct microbial pathways. Nature. 2014;509:361-5.

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