| |
|
| |
STAFF
|
 |
Laboratory Head
|
|
| |
Professor Heddy Zola
Ph: 08 8161 7015
Email: heddy.zola@adelaide.edu.au |
| |
|
| |
Research Staff
|
| |
Ian Nicholson |
ian.nicholson@adelaide.edu.au |
| |
Doreen Krumbiegel |
doreen.krumbiegel@adelaide.edu.au |
| |
Randall Grose |
randall.grose@adelaide.edu.au |
| |
Chris Mavrangelos |
chris.mavrangelos@adelaide.edu.au |
| |
Debbie Millard |
debbie.millard@adelaide.edu.au |
| |
Daniel Bird |
daniel.bird@adelaide.edu.au |
| |
|
| |
Affiliate Research Staff
|
| |
A/Prof Simon Barry |
simon.barry@adelaide.edu.au |
| |
A/Prof Peter Macardle |
peter.macardle@flinders.edu.au |
| |
Dr George Wong |
|
| |
|
| |
Students
|
| |
Pallave Dasari |
pallave.dasari@adelaide.edu.au |
| |
Naomi Perry |
naomi.perry@adelaide.edu.au |
| |
|
|
| |
GOALS
To improve our understanding of leucocyte function through
studies of leucocyte surface molecules, and to exploit immunological
molecules as diagnostic and therapeutic targets.
|
| |
RESEARCH PROJECTS
|
| |
1. Characterisation of leucocyte
surface molecules
Leucocyte surface molecules are important diagnostic and
therapeutic targets. Examples include CD20, a target for antibody-based
treatment of leukaemia, and CD3, used to identify and count
T cells to monitor HIV-associated acquired immune deficiency.
In 2003, when many immunologists thought that the majority
of leucocyte surface molecules were already known, we estimated
that 80% of leucocyte surface molecules remained to be discovered.
We thus identified a major opportunity for discovery of new
diagnostic and therapeutic targets. Our work in this area
involves three related projects:
The Human Cell Differentiation Molecules Workshop, an international
collaboration chaired by Heddy Zola, was completed in May
2006. The Workshop remains the primary international collaboration
in this area (see www.hlda8.org),
and we are guiding it through some major changes. A reference
book containing detailed information on about 400 leucocyte
surface molecules, compiled by members of the Laboratory,
was published early in 2007. We are re-designing the web-site
in order to make it the prime instrument for finding information
on the molecules.
The protein profiling project in the CRC for Diagnostics,
led jointly by WCHRI and La Trobe University scientists, used
proteomics to identify hundreds of new leucocyte surface molecules.
This work led to the assembly of a consortium to develop a
new CRC, for Biomarker Translation. The application was successful
in attracting $30million in Commonwealth funding and support
from two major international companies. Much of 2007 was devoted
to getting all the necessory agreements inplace, and Commonwealth
funding has now started to flow so the actual studies are
beginning.
In collaboration with Professor Robert Rush at Flinders
University we hold a grant from the Premier's Science and
Research Council to carry out similar studies on molecules
shared by the immune and nervous systems.
|
| |
2. Applications of immunology in
diagnosis and therapy
In order to be able to apply newly-discovered molecules,
we are developing a collaborative network with diagnostic
and therapeutic companies, pathologists and scientists.
In collaboration with colleagues in the hospital's Haematology
Department and Neonatial Intensive Care Unit, we published
a method for detecting sepsis in new-born infants, and are
engaged in a larger trial to establish the practical utility
of this approach.
In collaboration with colleagues in the hospital's Haematology/Oncology
Department, we published a method for distinguishing those
cancer patients with febrile neutropenia resulting from infection
from those whose symptoms result directly from their chemotherapy.
Again, a larger trial is under way.
The newly-funded CRC for Biomarker Translation will allow
us to participate in much larger international projects aimed
at diagnosis and treatment of major diseases, using antibodies.
Chris Mavrangelos
working with the Nitrogen Bomb. This is a device for isolating
cell membranes. Cells are placed under very high pressure
of nitrogen, which dissolves into the cell content. The pressure
is released suddenly, leading to the generation of small bubbles
on nitrogen, which burst the cell membrane. This is rather
like divers getting the "bends". It allows us to
produce pure membrane preparations, which are used for proteomic
analysis.
Last year Variety, the Children's Charity,
helped us purchase a new mass spectrometer. The instrument
has been installed at Flinders University, where it is looked
after by Dr Tim Chataway (pictured working with the instrument).
We use mass spectrometry in our studies of cell membrane proteins
of the immune system.
|
