The role of NKT cells and lipid stimuli in the development of allergic sensitisation
Fact file
| Duration |
Four years |
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| Eligibility |
European/UK Students Only. Please read the funding notes for full details. |
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| Supervisor(s) |
Dr Lucy Fairclough |
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| Application deadline |
Friday 31 August |
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About the project
Immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated allergies are a major public health concern, however current understanding of mechanisms driving sensitisation, the first phase in the development of IgE-mediated allergies, is still poor - specifically, the differentiation of Th0 to Th2 cells, essential for development of allergy. Additional knowledge and tools are needed to not only identify treatment targets for allergy but also for the risk assessment of proteinaceous materials, including novel food protein sources.
The project aim is to characterise NKT cell populations in allergic and non-allergic patient groups, and explore the role of NKT cells and lipid stimuli in the development of allergic sensitisation using human cell assays.
This studentship provides a unique opportunity to work in a novel and innovative area of interdisciplinary research that will address these issues and will, in turn, lead to a better understanding of the processes that lead to allergy. The successful candidate will be supervised by a multidisciplinary team including experts in immunology and food allergy.
Techniques: Cell culture, Flow cytometry, Cytokine Measurement
Funding notes
This full-time, four-year studentship is funded by BBSRC and Unilever.
References
- Urbanowicz, R. A., Lamb, J. R., Todd, I., Corne, J. M. and Fairclough, L. C., Altered effector function of peripheral cytotoxic cells in COPD. Respir Res 2009. 10: 53.
- Urbanowicz, R. A., Lamb, J. R., Todd, I., Corne, J. M. and Fairclough, L. C., Enhanced effector function of cytotoxic cells in the induced sputum of COPD patients. Respir Res 2010. 11: 76.
- Van Bilsen JHM, Sienkiewicz-Szłapka E, Lozano-Ojalvo D, Willemsen LEM, Antunes CM, Molina E, Smit JJ, Wróblewska B, Wichers HJ, Knol EF, Ladics GS, Pieters RHH, Denery-Papini S, Vissers YM, Bavaro SL, Larré C, Verhoeckx KCM, Roggen EL. Application of the adverse outcome pathway (AOP) concept to structure the available in vivo and in vitro mechanistic data for allergic sensitization to food proteins. Clin Transl Allergy. 2017; 7:13.
- Wang, J., Urbanowicz, R. A., Tighe, P. J., Todd, I., Corne, J. M. and Fairclough, L. C., Differential activation of killer cells in the circulation and the lung: a study of current smoking status and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). PLoS One 2013. 8: e58556.