Eveline Li

In this project we will design immune therapeutics aimed at regulating both innate and adaptive immune function through targeting dendritic cells (DCs), the key inducers of immune response. Multifunctional single molecule vaccine modalities are explored, harbouring (1) a Toll-Like Receptor ligand stimulating membrane associated or endosomal signalling molecules; (2) a C-type lectin receptor ligand allowing antigen uptake; (3) and an antigenic peptide driving specific T cell induction. With the constructs we investigate (A) targeting of multiple DC subsets; (B) DC signalling on cellular, protein and mRNA levels; and (C) skewing of the immune response through T cell polarization.