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The Department has research and postgraduate teaching strengths in a wide range of pure and applied topics in immunology, with special emphasis on aspects associated with biochemistry, pharmacology, molecular biology, parasitology and diagnostic systems. Major research efforts include:
Production of human, rodent and other animal antibodies against bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi, proteins, toxins, tumours, hormones, etc. The cells responsible for secreting monoclonal antibodies are constructed by cell fusion, using chemical, viral or electrical fusion means, or by direct immortalisation and antibody gene cloning.
Eukaryotic parasitic organisms are a major cause of reduced economic performance, morbidity and death in Third World countries; hence they are a cause of international concern and investigation. Staff in the Department are currently researching a number of areas relating to several parasites including the protozoans Leishmania and Toxoplasma and the nematodes Onchocerca volvulus and Trichenella spiralis.
New adjuvants and delivery systems are being developed for the effective delivery of a variety of vaccine antigens and immunotherapeutic agents. Researchers are also dissecting the mechanisms by which adjuvants exert their effects on the immune system.
Recent advances in immunology have led to manipulation of the immune system in a way designed to be therapeutic, i.e. to stimulate a persons immune system in order to heal that patient. There is active interest in a number of areas, specifically:
Cancer - using monoclonal antibodies and recombinant lymphokines to focus the patients immune system onto metastases and to activate it to kill the tumour.
Autoimmune Diseases/Pregnancy - developing new synthetic and protein-based drugs with the specific capability of blocking the action of cytokines and modulating lymphocyte and macrophage activity.
The Department is recognised internationally for its ability to produce antibody-based diagnostics in the field of clinical chemistry and bacteriology/microbiology. It has developed systems which are applicable to food science, agriculture, parasitology and the detection of substances in the environment. Studies are in progress to develop simple, rapid immunoassay systems which can be used by non-specialists to detect a wide range of substances.
Several major areas are being studied, including the release of cytokines and lipid mediators, the growth and differentiation of immune cells and the changes in blood levels of cytokines and prostaglandins in vivo.
Current work is aimed at understanding the mechanisms regulating cytokine production from immune cells and cytokine action on target cells, including neurons and endothelium, and consequent modulation of activity eicosanoids and their fatty acid precursors from a physiological viewpoint, and steroid analogues and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory aspirin-like compounds from a therapeutic perspective.
For further information about research opportunities, please contact:
Dr William Harnett
Department of Immunology
The Todd Centre
31 Taylor Street
Glasgow G4 0NR
Tel:
Fax:
Email:
Web: www.strath.ac.uk/Departments/Immunology/
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