IMMUNOMODULATION (iMOD) LABORATORY

The immune system plays a role in every major process within the human body. It is central to development, aging, infection and autoimmunity. Life-saving medical interventions, such as organ transplantation and anti-cancer therapy, have only been made possible with improved understanding of the human immune system.

Our research investigates the immunology underlying human diseases including Type 1 diabetes, transplantation and cancer. Our goal is to harness the power of the immune system to modulate disease.

OUR RESEARCH

We focus on molecules, called immune checkpoints, that are involved in the activation of immune cells. Specifically, we use proteins that block or enhance signalling through checkpoint molecules to dial the immune system up or down. We examine the responses of human immune cell populations derived from blood and tissue samples to dissect the underlying signal pathways in conditions including diabetes, transplantation and cancer.

We utilise a range of T cell activation assays, flow cytometry and imaging approaches. We work in close collaboration with a range of other laboratories and clinicians to provide an interactive environment and access to innovative techniques.

Research projects

Can we trigger immune checkpoints to modulate Type 1 diabetes?
Are immune checkpoint inhibitors potential new treatments for ovarian cancer?
What are the mechanisms associated with immune checkpoint inhibition in renal cell carcinoma?

Featured publications:

Tang SC, Jessup CF, Campbell-Thompson M. The Role of Accessory Cells in Islet Homeostasis. Curr Diab Rep. 2018 Sep 28;18(11):117. doi: 10.1007/s11892-018-1096-z. PMID: 30267158. (Invited Review)
Rojas-Canales D, Penko D, Myo Min KK, Parham KA, Peiris H, Haberberger RV, Pitson SM, Drogemuller C, Keating DJ, Grey ST, Coates PT, Bonder CS, Jessup CF. Local Sphingosine Kinase 1 Activity Improves Islet Transplantation. Diabetes. 2017 May; 66(5): 1301-1311 PMID: 28174291 Featured ‘In This Issue’ editorial Diabetes 2017 May; 66(5): 1101-1102.
Coleman MA, Jessup CF, Bridge JA, Overgaard NH, Penko D, Walters S, Borg DJ, Galea R, Forbes JM, Thomas R, Coates PT, Grey ST, Wells JW, Steptoe RJ. Antigen-encoding bone marrow terminates islet-directed memory CD8+ T-cell responses to alleviate islet transplant rejection. Diabetes. 2016 Mar 9. PMID: 26961116
Penko D, Rojas-Canales D, Mohanasundaram D, Peiris HS, Sun WY, Drogemuller CJ, Keating DJ, Coates PT, Bonder CS, Jessup CF. Endothelial progenitor cells enhance islet engraftment, influence β-cell function, and modulate islet connexin 36 expression. Cell Transplant. 2015;24(1):37-48. PMID: 24069942
Peiris HS, Bonder CS, Coates PTH, Keating DJ and Jessup CF. (2014) “The beta cell/EC axis: how do islet cells and endothelial cells talk to each other?” Diabetes. Jan;63(1):3-11. PMID:24357688
Fernandes RA, Shore DA, Vuong MT, Yu C, Zhu X, Pereira-Lopes S, Brouwer H, Fennelly JA, Jessup CF, Evans EJ, Wilson IA and Davis SJ (2012). "T Cell Receptors are Structures Capable of Initiating Signaling in the Absence of Large Conformational Rearrangements." J Biol Chem 287(16): 13324-13335. Apr 13. PMID: 22262845
Myo Min, KK, Rojas-Canales, D, Penko, D, DeNichilo, M, Cockshell, MP, Ffrench, CB, Thompson, EJ, Asplund, O, Drogemuller, CJ, Prasad, RB, Groop, L, Grey, ST, Thomas, HE, Loudovaris, T, Kay, TW, Mahoney, MG, Jessup, CF, Coates, PT & Bonder, CS 2022, 'Desmoglein-2 is important for islet function and β-cell survival', Cell Death and Disease, vol. 13, no. 10, 911. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-022-05326-2

Resources

JDRF Australia

Flinders Foundation

Lindon Wing Research Fund

GROUP MEMBERS

View profile

Dr Claire Jessup

Dr Claire Jessup is a medical researcher interested in harnessing the power of the immune system to modulate disease. Specific research projects examine the molecular activation of immune cells involved in the treatment of cancer and the development of autoimmune diseases (e.g. Type 1 diabetes).

Dr Jessup heads the Immunomodulation (iMOD) Laboratory within the College of Medicine and Public Health at Flinders University. Her group utilises techniques including flow cytometry, gene therapy, pancreatic islet isolation, immune assays, confocal microscopy and islet transplantation and diabetes models.

Recent research projects include:

Modulation of T lymphocyte activation during Type 1 diabetes and islet transplant rejection
Checkpoint inhibitors as an immunotherapy for cancer
Investigating the interplay between vascular and endocrine cell types during islet transplantation

In addition to her research role, Dr Jessup teaches within the college and supervises PhD research students.

Lab Members

Close collaborators in FHMRI

WORK WITH US

We are a fun, hard-working and supportive team. If you’d like to join us in our mission to unlock the secrets of the all-powerful T cell please get in touch.