Pathology and Molecular Medicine
Recent Deposits
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Augmenting anti-tumour T cell responses using innate-like T cell ligands
Immunosurveillance is critical for the detection and elimination of malignant cells. Activated CD8+ T cells are fundamental to anti-tumour immune responses due to their ability to specifically target peptide antigens, ... -
Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells as cellular adjuvants for cancer immunotherapy
Antigen-presenting cells (APCs), are crucial components of the immune system that are uniquely positioned at the interface between innate and adaptive immunity. In particular, a specialized subset of APCs, dendritic cells ... -
Dissecting the innate immune networks regulating CD4+ T cell differentitation
The mammalian immune system has evolved distinct strategies for combatting a wide variety of pathogens, which range from minute single-cell organisms (bacteria and yeast) to large parasitic worms (helminths). A central ... -
Phenotypic and genotypic characterisation of qacA-containing Staphylococcus aureus in New Zealand
Staphylococcus aureus is a significant human pathogen and is the primary cause of skin and soft tissue infections. Antimicrobial resistance is an ongoing concern, with increasing reports of multi-resistant S. aureus ... -
The transferability of modern medical laboratory technology to Fiji
Medical technology has improved the health status of the population in developed countries. This has influenced the progress from intuitive medicine to precision medicine through the use of imaging, molecular biology and ... -
The role of cross-presenting dendritic cells in tumour progression and immunotherapy
The recognition and eradication of cancer cells by the immune system is reliant on dendritic cells (DCs). DCs are professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs) that are integral for the initiation of an adaptive immune ... -
Cytotoxic T cell-mediated immunotherapy of allergic airway inflammation
The worldwide incidence of atopic disease, including asthma, has increased dramatically over the last few decades. In New Zealand, asthma affects at least one in four children and one in six adults, a prevalence among the ... -
Role of TSLP in Dendritic Cell Programming during Allergic Responses
Allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis (AD), asthma and allergic rhinitis are among the most common chronic illnesses around the world. Although they cause significant discomfort to those affected, effective treatments ... -
Role of IL-25 in the maintenance of intestinal homeostasis and host-microbial interactions
Within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract a rich, diverse microbiota exists, which provide a number of benefits to the host including nutrient acquisition and immune maturation. However, strict immunological control is required ... -
Serum biomarkers and paracetamol during post-chemotherapy infections
Background: Febrile neutropenia (FN) is a common complication of cancer chemotherapy defined as fever with neutropenia below 1.0 x109 /L. Prompt antibiotic treatment is life-saving. Antipyretics (e.g. paracetamol) are ... -
Cancer Stem Cells in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Tongue
Background: Given the discovery of cancer stem cells (CSCs) within haematological and solid tumours and the expression of primitive markers by infantile haemangioma, it was hypothesised that a CSC population would also be ... -
Liver Molecular Mechanisms Involved in Type 2 Diabetes: An Investigation Using Roux-en Y Gastric Bypass as a Human Model of Diabetes Remission
Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease characterised by progressive insulin resistance and loss of β-cell function. An incomplete understanding of its pathogenesis is hindering the effective treatment of this disease. ... -
The protective CD4⁺ memory T cell response to tuberculosis
Infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the pathogen responsible for tuberculosis (TB), results in 1.4 million deaths annually. The escalating rate of active TB, due to co-infection with HIV and emergence of ... -
Invariant Natural Killer T Cells in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia
Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells recognise glycolipid antigens, such as the synthetic ligand alpha galactosylceramide (a-GalCer), in the context of CD1d. Upon recognition of a-GalCer on CD1d, iNKT cells become ... -
Remission of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus following Bariatric Surgery: An investigation into relevant changes in gastrointestinal physiology
A rapid remission of type 2 diabetes mellitus occurs after gastric bypass surgery in the morbidly obese however, a unifying explanation for the associated normalisation of glucose and insulin parameters of diabetes of this ... -
Proteomic Identification and Immunological Validation of Protein Biomarkers for Early Detection and Prognosis of Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is an important public health problem both internationally and in New Zealand. Currently available systems for early cancer detection (Faecal Occult Blood Test) and prediction of prognosis (pathological ... -
An observational study investigating the objective and subjective impact of a structured gynaecology service for women who have undergone allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplant.
Hypothesis: The hypothesis for this study is that the provision of consultative gynaecological care and the delivery of gynaecological information to women undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplant will mean a better ... -
The Responses of Dental Plaque Microcosms to Experimental Environmental Changes
The overall objective of this study was to increase our understanding of the compositional changes in dental plaque biofilms during and after the application of antimicrobial agents. Dental plaque contains thousands of ... -
Role and dynamics of yeast species in oral biofilms
Oral biofilms are complex microbial ecosystems. In humans there are more than 900 oral microbial species, most with unknown properties or roles in disease. Candida albicans has cariogenic properties but its role in dental ...