Math Biology Seminar: Anmar Khadra
Topic
The biophysics of T-cells: From molecular interactions to population dynamics
Speakers
Details
One major scientific challenge in human health is developing effective vaccines to block T-cell responses in spontaneous autoimmune disorders, such as type 1 diabetes (T1D). The ability of these T cells to recognize host cells (e.g., insulin-secreting pancreatic β cells in T1D) and to exert cytotoxicity on self-tissue is dictated by the binding affinity (avidity) of T-cell receptors (TCR) with surface molecules on host cells, called peptide-major histocompatibility complexes (pMHC). Recent findings have shown that in T1D, and other autoimmune disorders, low-avidity autoreactive T cells spontaneously differentiate into memory autoregulatory T-cells that can blunt autoimmunity. These autoregulatory T cells can be selectively expanded using nanovaccines, or nanoparticles (NPs) coated with pMHC, in a PMHC-density- and dose-dependent manner. By using multistep Markov models and continuum avidity model of T cells, one can optimize the efficacy of NPs and identify the causes of abnormalities exhibited by this system. In this talk, we will present our recent work deciphering the kinetics of TCR-interaction with pMHC-coated NPs, and elucidate the role of immunomodulation in altering disease dynamics.
Additional Information
Location: Math 126
Anmar Khadra, McGill
Anmar Khadra, McGill
This is a Past Event
Event Type
Scientific, Seminar
Date
May 7, 2015
Time
-
Location