Location:
The Kirby Institute Level 6 Seminar Room Wallace Wurth Building UNSW Australia Sydney NSW 2052
Open to
All
Contact for enquiries
Rata Joseph +61 (0)2 9385 0900 rjoseph@kirby.unsw.edu.au
The Kirby Institute is pleased to present:
Mr Daniel Murray-PhD Student- Immunovirology and Pathogenesis Program, Kirby Institute
" The influence and predictive value of cell-associated and circulating microRNAs in both direct HIV-1 pathogenesis and HIV-1 related disease.”
Tuesday 4th August 2015
1pm - 2pm
Lunch will be served at 12.30. Please RSVP to rjoseph@kirby.unsw.edu.au for catering purposes by Friday 31st July 2015.
Kindly sponsoredby:
Abstract:
MicroRNAs (miRNA) are small (approximately 22 nucleotides) strands of RNA that inhibit protein production through post-transcriptional regulation of messenger RNA (mRNA). These small miRNAs have been shown to influence a wide array of processes within the human body, including but not limited those involved in the host immune response. Both immune cell development and the immune response to pathogens, including HIV-1, have been shown to be heavily regulated by host and viral miRNAs. These miRNAs can have both a positive and negative influence on pathogenesis depending on the particular mRNA targeted and whether the miRNA in question is up or down-regulated. MiRNAs have been particularly important in modulating the immune response to HIV-1 in CD4+ T cells with a number of studies suggesting that small changes in the host miRNA milieu can have drastic effects on the pathogenesis of HIV-1 infection.
In addition to their role modulating protein expression, miRNAs have also been found to be abundant, outside a cellular environment, circulating in bio-fluids. Levels of these circulating miRNAs have been shown potential as biomarkers in a number of disease conditions, including those that contribute to serious non-AIDS events.
The aim of this PhD project was to investigate the role of cellular miRNAs in modulating the immune response to HIV-1 infection in HIV-1 permissible cell types. Additional work has looked directly at the potential of circulating miRNAs to act as biomarkers for serious non-AIDS events in ART-treated individuals.
Bio:
Daniel is completing his PhD thesis under the supervision of Professor Tony Kelleher and Dr Kazuo Suzuki in the HIV Immunovirology and Pathogenesis program at the Kirby Institute.