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Microbiology & Infectious Diseases Seminar Series
November 2009
Topic:
Cathepsins - multifunctional proteases in Cancer
and inflammation
Date:
Tuesday, 3 November 2009 @ 12.00 pm
Speaker:
Dr. Thomas REINHECKEL
Affliation:
Department of Molecular Medicine and Cell
Research, Albert-Ludwigs University Freiburg
Convenor: Dr. Stephan Gasser
Abstract:
Lysosomal cysteine cathepsins are proteolytic
enzymes increasingly recognized as prognostic markers and
potential therapeutic targets in a variety of cancers.
However, the functions of individual cathepsins in tumour
biology remained unknown for long time. Our recent data
indicate a causal role of cathepsins in tumour growth,
migration, invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis by loss-
and gain-of-function studies on individual cathepsins in
transgenic mouse models of human cancers, such as breast
cancers induced by the polyoma middle T (PymT) oncogene and
skin cancers induced by the E6/E7 oncogenes of HPV16. |
Venue
Seminar Room @ Level 3
Department of Microbiology,
MD4,
5 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117597
Admission is Free and All are Welcome
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Seminar Coordinator
Department of Microbiology
A/Prof Ho Bow
@ 6516 3672
Immunology Program
Dr. Stephan Gasser
@ 6516 7209 |
Topic:
Modeling the evolution of virulence and host-range switching in
influenza A virus
Date:
Tuesday, 10 November 2009 @ 12.00 pm
Speaker:
Professor Earl. G. Brown
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology,
Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa
Convenor: A/Prof Ho Bow
Abstract: Given the current concerns that
the pathogenic avian H5N1 virus in Eurasia will become
a human pathogen and the recent transmission of swine
H1N1 to humans, there is a need to expand our understanding
of the genetic basis and control of host range and virulence
in influenza viruses. Although mammalian influenza A virus
are of avian origin the genetic changes that are required to
switch from being an avian to a mammalian pathogen are only
beginning to be identified and are largely incomplete. Using
the mouse model I will present data on the nature of genomic
evolution of human prototype influenza on becoming a mouse
pathogen with high virulence. The data will largely focus on
the evolution of the properties of the hemagglutinin
receptor and the interferon antagonist NS1. Many mutations
selected in mouse virulent variants are also independently
selected on natural adaptation of avian influenza including
highly pathogenic H5N1 Z genotype in animals demonstrating
the utility of models of experimental evolution in
predicting and understanding events in nature. |
Venue
Seminar Room @ Level 3
Department of Microbiology,
MD4,
5 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117597
Admission is Free and All are Welcome
|
Seminar Coordinator
Department of Microbiology
A/Prof Ho Bow
@ 6516 3672
Immunology Program
Dr. Stephan Gasser
@ 6516 7209 |
Topic:
Innate immune mechanisms of whole microbe vaccination - Case
studies for Flu and Malaria vaccines
Date:
Thursday, 12 November 2009 @ 12.00 pm
Speaker:
Prof. Ken J. Ishii
Affiliation:
Associate Professor, Research Institute for Microbial
Diseases, Osaka University
Convenor: Dr. Stephan Gasser
Abstract: Optimal vaccine
efficacy requires not only a protective
antigen, but also a strong immune activator as an adjuvant.
Most viral vaccines,
such as influenza vaccines and
non-viral genetic vaccines (e.g., DNA vaccines), contain
nucleic acids, which appear to act as essential “built-in”
adjuvants. Specific receptors, including toll-like
receptors, retinoic-acid-inducible protein I (RIG-I)-like
receptors, and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain
(NOD)-like receptors, can detect specific nucleic acid
patterns, depending on the immunized tissue, cell type, and
intracellular localization. The resultant immune activation
is uniquely regulated by intra- and inter-cellular signaling
pathways, which are indispensable for the ensuing vaccine
immunogenicity, such as antigen-specific T- and
B-cell responses. I
would like to provide our data suggesting that elucidation
and manipulation of immune signaling and interactions by
nucleic acid adjuvants are essential for maximizing the
immunogenicity and safety of viral and DNA vaccines. |
Venue
Centre for Life Sciences
Level 1, Auditorium @ CeLS Building
28 Medical Drive, Singapore 117456
Admission is Free and All are Welcome
|
Seminar Coordinator
Department of Microbiology
A/Prof Ho Bow
@ 6516 3672
Immunology Program
Dr. Stephan Gasser
@ 6516 7209 |
Topic:
The Role of IL-1 In The Immune Response And Its Potential To
Serve As Adjuvant
Date:
Tuesday, 17 November 2009 @ 12.00 pm
Speaker:
Professor Shlomo Z. Ben-Sasson Affiliation:
Department of Immunology, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical
School, Jerusalem, Israel
Convenor: Dr. Stephan Gasser
Abstract:
Robust
immune responses, required for efficacious vaccines, do not
occur in the absence of adjuvants. Unfortunately,
“efficient” adjuvants such as CFA cannot be used in humans
due to the severe inflammatory responses induced by these
adjuvants. As a result, a very limited number of adjuvants
are available in humans and, in consequence, many
potentially useful vaccines, particularly those based on
subunits (i.e. peptides, proteins, polysaccharides) of
infectious organisms are of limited efficacy. Since
pro-inflammatory cytokines are present at elevated levels in
the course of inflammatory responses induced by adjuvants
and in infections that are associated with robust immune
responses, we queried whether any of these cytokines might
have a direct impact on the so-called helper (CD4+) T cells.
We have recently demonstrated that a likely candidate, IL-1,
a prototypic pro-inflammatory cytokine known to play a major
role in a great number of biologic responses, strikingly
enhances immune responses to peptides and proteins. Its
effect is particularly outstanding among the CD4 T cells and
remarkably it directs helper cells to develop into effectors
that are best adapted to deal with extracellular bacteria
and fungi (Th17 cells) and to helminths and other parasites
(Th2 cells). IL-1 also markedly enhances antibody
production. IL-1 is substantially more effective than the
commonly used experimental adjuvant lipopolysaccharide (LPS)
and when added to LPS can improve the degree of priming of
CD4 T cells by a factor of 10 or more. Although IL-1 has
been studied in vitro and is known to be important in
immune responses to microorganisms and in the development of
human Th17 cells, its in vivo effects on T cell
expansion have largely been neglected. While there has been
much interest in IL-1’s possible role in immunity due to its
known effects on antigen-presenting cells, there has been
relatively little information on its role in the process of
T cell activation and expansion in the course of immune
responses. |
Venue
Centre for Life Sciences
Level 1, Auditorium @ CeLS Building
28 Medical Drive, Singapore 117456
Admission is Free and All are Welcome
|
Seminar Coordinator
Department of Microbiology
A/Prof Ho Bow
@ 6516 3672
Immunology Program
Dr. Stephan Gasser
@ 6516 7209 |
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