Professor Daniel Davis

Immune Activation

Many of the key cell surface molecules involved in immune cell surveillance have been identified and an important new scientific frontier is to understand where and when each protein-protein interaction occurs to regulate cell functions. Thus, imaging has a major role to play in contemporary cell biology. We and others have found that immune cell communication is often accompanied by the segregation of proteins into submicrometer-scale domains at an intercellular contact or immunological synapse (IS). In addition, we found that immune cells can be connected by thin membrane tethers termed membrane nanotubes and it is possible that they represent a new mode of intercellular communication as well as having other important functional consequences, e.g. allowing HIV spread.

The clinical specialty relevant to: Cancer, infection, transplantation, general medicine.

Further Information
http://www.dandavislab.co.uk/
http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/people/d.davis

Contact Details
d.davis@imperial.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)20 7594 5420