The impact of Toll-like receptors on antigen presentation by mouse macrophages

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a group of trans-membrane proteins playing important roles as pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs) of innate immunity that are mainly expressed on professional antigen presenting cells (APCs). Stimulation of APC with TLR ligands, a variety of Jnolecular components derived from microorganisms, triggers innate immunity and establishes adaptive immune responses. I studied the impact of TLR specific for bacterial components on antigen processing and presentation of protective antigen (PA) of B. anthracis by bone marrow macrophages from mice.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Impact of using a broad-based multi-institutional approach to build capacity for non-communicable disease research in Thailand

Abstract Thailand’s transition to high middle-income country status has been accompanied by demographic changes and associated shifts in the nation’s public health challenges. These changes have necessitated a significant shift in public health focus from the treatment of infectious diseases to the more expensive and protracted management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in older adults. In 2010, in response to this shift in focus, the University of Michigan and colleagues at the Praboromarajchanok Institute for Health Workforce Development in Thailand began work on a broad-based multi-institutional programme for NCD research capacity-building in Thailand. To begin to build a base of intervention research we paired our programme’s funded Thai postdoctoral fellows with United States mentors who have strong programmes of intervention research. One direct impact of the programme was the development of research ‘hubs’ focused upon similar areas of investigative focus such as self-management of cancer symptoms, self-management of HIV/AIDS and health technology information applications for use in community settings. Within these hubs, interventions with proven efficacy in the United States were used as a foundation for culturally relevant interventions in Thailand. The programme also aimed to develop the research support structures necessary within departments and colleges for grant writing and management, dissemination of new knowledge, and ethical conduct of human subject research. In an effort to capitalise on large national health datasets and big data now available in Thailand, several of the programme’s postdoctoral fellows began projects that use data science methods to mine this asset. The investigators involved in these ground-breaking projects form the core of a network of research hubs that will be able to capitalise on the availability of lifespan health data from across Thailand and provide a robust working foundation for expansion of research using data science approaches. Going forward, it is vitally important to leverage this groundwork in order to continue fostering rapid growth in NCD research and training as well as to capitalise upon these early gains to create a sustaining influence for Thailand to lead in NCD research, improve the health of its citizens, and provide ongoing leadership in Southeast Asia.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/173184/1/12961_2019_Article_464.pd