Research Projects

Theme 1

RP001 Bevan

The ability of individuals to make an effective immune response to an infection wanes with age as the thymus atrophies and the breadth of the antigen receptor repertoire decreases. Because of prior infections, the antigen receptor repertoire may become dominated by "memory" lymphocytes specific for these past infections. How the response of lymphocytes with low affinity for antigens influences the effectiveness of the response in protection against a newly encountered pathogen will be assessed.