B Cell Biology
Autoimmune diseases such as lupus, myasthenia gravis and hemolytic anemia can arise when B cells produce rogue antibodies that attack the body. Our investigations aim to identify the specific genes and signalling pathways that regulate B cell survival, proliferation, and differentiation; as well as the molecules and cells that drive antibody production against foreign structures and prevent antibody responses against ourselves. By understanding how B cells function we hope to reveal new strategies for improving vaccines, controlling autoimmune disease, and treating B cell malignancies.
Staff
| Emeritius Professor Antony Basten AO FAA FTSE holds an appointment in the B Cell Biology group See Professor Basten's Profile |
|
 Senior Research OfficerDr Dominique Hess |
 Senior Research OfficerDr Tri Phan |
 Research OfficerDr Tyani Chan |
 Research OfficerDr Sandra Gardam |
 Research AssistantJana Hermes |
 Research AssistantKatherine Wood |
| Visiting Scientist A/Prof Rupert Leong |
|
 PhD StudentDanyal Butt |
 PhD StudentDaniel Suan |
 PhD StudentHanh Pham |
Visiting Scientist Elena Vigorito |
 Manager, Flow Cytometry FacilityRobert Salomon |
 Flow Cytometry TechnicianDavid Snowden |
 Flow Cytometry SpecialistChuan En (Eric) Lam |
News
How the immune system positions its gatekeepers
MEDIA RELEASE:
18 Mar 2013
For an immune response to get underway, an invading microbe must first be halted in the spleen, and then digested by immune cells known as ‘dendritic cells’, which guard specific portals. Garvan scientists have now shown how these gatekeepers position themselves to undertake their task. The findings are now published online today in the prestigious journal Nature Immunology.
How infection can trigger autoimmune disease
MEDIA RELEASE:
09 Nov 2012
Garvan scientists have confirmed a ‘weak link’ in the immune system – identifying the exact conditions under which an infection can trigger an autoantibody response, a process not clearly understood until now.
Understanding how a key group of immune cells is born
MEDIA RELEASE:
06 Jul 2012
A Garvan scientist, in collaboration with colleagues from Switzerland, has demonstrated for the first time how an important class of immune cells, ‘Follicular dendritic cells’, essential for the development of antibodies, comes into being. The significance of their finding is underlined by its publication in the very prestigious international journal Cell.
