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Our group focuses on determining the factors which affect T cells both in the control of viral infection and in the development of cancer. Within the context of cancer we aim to identify the factors affecting anti-cancer efficacy.

Dong group human anti viral cancer t cell responses 4
T cell (orange) killing a cancer cell (pink)T





3. Determine the role of the anti-viral protein IFITM3 in Hepatitis B virus-induced liver cancer

4. Determine the mechanism of IFITM3-viral restriction in the context of Influenza virus

5. Assess the role of T cells in Influenza virus infection and the factors that affect their function 

In cancer, it is known that T cell responses are diminished but the mechanisms behind this remain unclear for some cancers.  While immune checkpoint inhibitors are proving successful in the clinic for some cancer patients, others see no impact of these immunotherapy treatments.  The factors that determine which patients will or won't respond to treatment are unclear.  Through characterisation and identification of inhibitory and co-stimulatory factors in association with studies on the function of cancer-specific T cells we aim to identify novel targets and strategies for immunotherapy. 

Our group have previously identified a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) within the anti-viral restriction protein IFITM3 which increases the severity of influenza A virus infection and accelerates the progression to AIDS in HIV-1 infection.  IFITM3 is known to restrict more than 15 RNA viruses, but the mechanism of how this occurs is unknown.  Elucidating this mechanism will allow us to determine how this SNP alters function as well as providing potential new avenues for anti-viral drug and vaccination strategies. 

Dong Lab Members

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