Alexi Sarris

Cross-presentation of foreign protein fragments (epitopes) by major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) receptors in antigen presenting cells plays an imporant role in the immune system. The exact routing and processing of these foreign proteins remains difficult to study.

The research I am working on during my PhD is to study how cross-presentation works from protein uptake to epitope presentation and T-cell response. By synthesis of Tetrazine/Alkene bio-orthogonal modified epitopes, peptides, proteasome inhibitors and fluorophores, this system will be visualised and studied in live cells to gain a better understanding of protein processing and cross-presentation by MHC-I receptors in antigen presenting cells.