Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 (HIV-1) remains a significant public health concern due to the lack of a cure. In spite of anti-retroviral therapies, HIV-1 persists within infected cells as integrated transcriptionally silent proviruses. Re-activation after therapy interruption results in new HIV-1 replication. Attempts to clear this reservoir through the use of latency reversing agents by targeting cellular mechanisms that maintain HIV-1 in a latent state have been unsuccessful. In addition, subsets of latently infected cells exist within the reservoir that display differential capacities for provirus induction. In order to understand the nature of the reservoir and manipulate it therapeutically, more knowledge is needed regarding factors that bias a virus towards latency or replication at the time of infection. Because multiple mechanisms that regulate HIV-1 transcription, including chromatin remodeling, transcription factor activation and polymerase pausing, are regulated by the T cell receptor (TCR), I hypothesized that signaling at the time of infection determines proviral fate. I transduced Jurkat cell lines and primary CD4+ T cells with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that mimicked signaling from the TCR. These CARs spanned a 3-log range of binding affinities for their ligand, providing a tunable model. High levels of TCR stimulation during infection biased cells towards productive replication and the formation of an inducible latent reservoir. Examination of the mechanisms downstream from TCR signaling revealed that robust cellular activation led to a release of the repressor Negative Elongation Factor from the paused RNA Polymerase II, facilitating transcriptional elongation. Because signaling determined the presence of repressive factors, I sought to manipulate the balance between latency and expression through recruitment of repressors to the HIV-1 provirus using a nuclease-deficient CRISPR Associated Protein 9 fused to a Krüppel Associated Box Domain. I screened a pool of guide RNAs that mediated transcriptional repression of HIV-1. Our lab discovered that guides bound to the HIV-1 Long Terminal Repeat prevented viral re-activation in an integrated cell model of HIV-1 latency. The research presented here confirms my hypothesis that signals during infection have prolonged effects on latency reversal. I provide evidence that manipulation of these mechanisms represent therapeutic targets for cure efforts.

In Ratten und Mäusen aktiviert der superagonistische anti-CD28 monoklonale Antikörper (CD28SA) vorzugsweise regulatorische T-Zellen. In niedriger Dosierung führt CD28SA zu einer fast ausschließlichen Aktivierung von regulatorischen T-Zellen (Tregs). Diese Beobachtung konnte inzwischen auch für menschliche Zellen in Zellkultur bestätigt werden. In gesunden und freiwilligen Testpersonen deutet die Zytokin-Antwort nach Applikationen von niedrigen CD28SA-Dosen darauf hin, dass sich diese Beobachtung auch in-vivo bewahrheitet. Eine Gabe von CD28SA in niedriger Dosierung, die zu einer exklusiven Aktivierung von regulatorischen T-Zellen führt, könnte somit in der Behandlung von Autoimmunkrankheiten oder von entzündlichen Erkrankungen eingesetzt werden. Eine mechanistische Erklärung für dieses Phänomen blieb lange Zeit unklar. Die CD28SA-vermittelte T-Zell-Aktivierung ist abhängig von der Verstärkung von basalen tonischen Signalen, die T-Zellen über ihren T-Zell-Rezeptor erhalten. Diese Tatsache führte zu der Hypothese, dass die schwachen, tonischen Signale, die konventionelle CD4+ T-Zellen in Abwesenheit ihrer spezifischen Antigene über den T-Zell-Rezeptor erhalten, ein stärkeres CD28 Signal für ihre Aktivierung benötigen als die selbstreaktiven regulatorischen T-Zellen, die ein stärkeres Selbstpeptid-TCR Signal erhalten. In dieser Arbeit konnte gezeigt werden, dass die Blockade von MHC-Klasse-II-Molekülen in Mäusen, in-vitro und in-vivo, den Vorteil der regulatorischen T-Zellen gegenüber den konventionellen T-Zellen bezüglich der Antwort auf niedrige CD28SA Dosierungen, aufhebt. / In rats and mice, CD28 superagonistic mAb (CD28SA) preferentially activate regulatory T-cells, resulting in near exclusive Treg activation at low CD28SA doses. This observation has recently also been extended to cell culture studies in humans, and the cytokine response of healthy volunteers to low-dose CD28SA application suggests that it also holds true in vivo, and thus can be utilized for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. A mechanistic explanation for this phenomenon, however, remained uncertain for a long time. Given that CD28SA-mediated T-cell activation depends on the amplification of basal tonic TCR signals, the hypothesis was tested that the weak tonic TCR signals received by conventional CD4 T-cells in absence of their cognate antigen require more CD28 signalling input than the stronger TCR signals perceived by self-reactive regulatory T-cells. The experiments of this thesis provide strong evidence that in mice, blockade of MHC class II in vitro or in vivo abrogates the advantage of Treg over Tconv in the response to low CD28SA doses.

No description available.

CAR-T cell immunotherapy is a highly efficacious treatment for CD19-positive hematological malignancies, however, some patients are non-responsive for reasons that are not well understood. Clinical efficacy has been correlated with long-term persistence, a propensity that can be predicted by the differentiation state of transplanted cells. Despite this, decades-old methods for expanding T cells have not been updated to prevent the deleterious effects of excessive differentiation in CAR-T cells. Uncoupling proliferation and differentiation is a long-held goal in the field of immunotherapy with both cytokines and pharmacological approaches being implemented to dissociate these parallel processes. Histone methyltransferases rewire transcriptional programs in T cells and simultaneously regulate multitudes of genes, making them attractive targets for modifying the proliferation-differentiation axis. Despite this, only a handful of studies have examined their role in regulating the transcriptional programs of human CD8+ T cells. MLL4 (encoded by KMT2B) belongs to the six-member group of MLL histone methyltransferases. MLL1, a paralog of MLL4, has been implicated in regulating the maintenance of IL-4 and GATA-3 expression in TH2 CD4 memory T cell populations, however the function of MLL4 in human CD8+ T cells is unknown. We report a critical role for MLL4 in the proliferation and differentiation of CD8+ T cells. CRISPR-Cas9-editing of MLL4 uncoupled the processes of proliferation and differentiation, increasing proliferation but maintaining central memory T cell (TCM)-like populations, allowing for the production of increased numbers of TCM-like CD62L+CD45RO+ cells. Pharmacologically inhibiting the MLL4-Menin complex with MI-2 during T cell expansion enriched the frequency of minimally differentiated TCM-like CD8+ T cells. TCM-associated CD62L, CCR7, CD122 and CD127 surface markers were upregulated and early memory-associated transcription factor TCF7, LEF1, EOMES, and FOXP1 transcripts were increased. CD8+ CAR-T cells expanded in the presence of MI-2 responded earlier, while improving both tumor burden and survival in a NSG xenograft model of human leukemia. This finding has important translational impact in improving the persistence and proliferative capacity of CD8+ CAR-T cells. / Infectious Disease & Immunity

T-lymphocytes (T-cell) therapy offers a treatment for cancers. Developing this technology in the future provides the opportunity to revolutionise treatment and to make cancer a chronic condition. T-cells in themselves are a type of lymphocytes (itself a type of white blood cell) that play a central role in cell mediated immunity. They can be distinguished from other lymphocytes, such as B-cells and natural killer cells (NK cells), by the presence of a T-cell receptor (TCR) on the cell surface. T-cells have the capacity to destroy diseased cells, but tumours present a considerable challenge that reduces their impact. As cancer cells are frequently ‘invisible’ to the immune system, and they create an environment that suppresses T-cell activity., genetic engineering of T-cells can be used therapeutically to overcome these challenges. T-cells can be taken from the blood of cancer patients and then modified to recognise and destroy cancer-specific antigens.

No description available.

Despite tackling theological anthropology in one of his earliest works, this remains a minor theme in the writings of Thomas. F. Torrance. Yet his writings are replete with references to the nature of the human person from the perspective of the doctrine of God, creation and the person and work of Christ. This accent upon theology rather than anthropology is intentional in securing a strongly theological and Christological understanding of the person, largely in opposition to more anthropocentric approaches to the knowledge of God. The thesis explores the ways in which his handling of key Christian doctrines shapes his account of the human person as created and redeemed, relational and rational, dependent yet responsible. In particular, his early response to the Barth-Brunner controversy, via the interpretation of Calvin, is analysed before proceeding to his account of the anthropological significance of the vicarious humanity of Christ, the persons of the Trinity and the creation of the world through the divine Logos. To draw Torrance’s anthropological conclusions into clearer perspective, a series of comparison with other 20th century writers is drawn – Bultmann, Macmurray and Moltmann. What emerges is an appreciative reading of Torrance’s theological anthropology as an important resource in terms of its methodology and strong theological orientation, but one which identifies some important lacunae on the particularity of the human creature.

published_or_final_version / Paediatrics / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

<p>Pitch and heave are limiting motions when driving at high speed on water. The installation ofa T-foil is an effective solution that reduces these motions. Commercial T-foils are available,but today none of them are non-magnetic. This thesis studies the possibility to design anon-magnetic T-foil that can carry the considerable loads that such a constructionexperiences. The T-foil is designed for vessels such as the Visby Class corvette.</p><p>Vortex lattice theory is used to calculate the pressure distribution acting on the construction atdifferent load cases. Required laminate thickness is determined by iteration using a linearfinite element model of the fin.</p><p>The conclusion is that it is possible to manufacture a non-magnetic T-foil of the required size.A critical area in the construction is the T-joint between the vertical strut and the horizontalfoil. Future investigations should include laboratory tests of the T-joint as well as moredetailed hydrodynamic analysis for more accurate input parameters of the T-foil.</p>

No description available.