Professor Gavin Screaton

T Cell Immunology and lymphocyte homeostasis

In the laboratory we have interests in immune responses to both infection and tumours and also lymphocyte apoptosis. A major research theme is the immune response to dengue virus infection where immunopathology contributes to the severity of disease and we are particularly interested in the role of T cells in promoting this severe disease on secondary infection. We have also now begun a research program to stufy the antibody response to dengue infection which we hope will have relevance to both the pathogenesis of the disease and may give insights into what sort of response would be desirable in a dengue vaccine.

Other work in the lab looks at the control of lymphocyte cell death where we have initiated a number of studies looking at the roles of TNF related proteins in the control of cell death from both a structural and function perspective. We are also studying mechanisms whereby members of the TNF family of proteins such as Fas Ligand can enhance immune responses to tumours.

Current research publications:

Mongkolsapaya J, Duangchinda T, Dejnirattisai W, Vasanawathana S, Avirutnan P, Jairungsri A, Khemnu N, Angthawornchaikul N, Chotiyarnwong P, Sae-Jang K, Koch M, Jones Y, McMichael A, Xu X, Malasit P and Screaton GR (2006) T cell responses in dengue hemorrhagic fever: are cross-reative T cells suboptimal? J Immunol 17:3821-3829

Mongkolsapaya J, Dejnirattisai W, Xu X-N, Vasanawathana S, Tangthawornchaikul N, Chairunsri A, Sawasdivorn S, Duangchinda T, Dong R, Rowland-Jones S, Malasit P, McMichael A and Screaton GR (2003) Original antigenic sin and apoptosis in the pathogenesis of dengue hemorrhagic fever. Nature Med 9:921-927

Simon AK, Gallimore A, Jones E, Cerundolo V and Screaton GR (2002) Fas ligand breaks tolerance to self antigens and induces tumour immunity mediated by antibodies. Cancer Cell 2:315-322

Xu X-N, Purbhoo MA< Chen N, Mongkolsapaya J, Cox JH, Meier U, Tafuro S, Dunbar RP, Sewell AK, Hourigan CS, Appay V, Carundolo V, Burrows SR, McMichael AJ and Screaton GR (2001) A novel approach to antigen-specific deletion of CTL with minimal cellular activation using alpha three domainn mutants of MHC class 1/peptide complex. Immunity 14:591-602