Tuesday May 24, from 12.00 to 13.00
Common seminar IBMM-IMI with Ken Shortman, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia

This seminar will be followed by a lunch.

"Enhancing vaccines by targeting antigens to DC"

As the antigen presenting cells that initiate and regulate T cell responses, DC have great promise for immune system modulation. In order to improve responses to vaccine antigens we have been injecting antigens coupled to antibodies recognising particular DC surface molecules. The most effective target to date is the C-type lectin-like molecule Clec9A, on the surface of CD8⁺ mouse DC. The CLEC9A equivalent is found on the human BDCA3 DC subset. Targeting antigens to CD8⁺ DC in this way induces strong CTL responses in the presence of adjuvants, and very high antibody responses even in the absence of adjuvants or signs of DC activation. The basis of the efficient humoral responses appears to be efficient induction of T follicular helper cells. The reasons why targeting Clec9A is particularly effective will be discussed.