Carola Vinuesa at The John Curtin School of Medical Research.
Researchers from The Australian National University have discovered a new type of cell which boosts the human body's ability to fight off infections and life-threatening diseases. Professor Carola Vinuesa from The John Curtin School of Medical Research has found a type of cell which recognises lipid antigens, or foreign molecules, which sit on infectious bacteria which invade the body. Once recognising the lipids, the cell, called Natural killer'T follicular helper (NKTfh), generates antibody responses in B cells - which are the body's natural defence against invasion by viruses and bacteria. Professor Vinuesa said that the cell represents a non-chemical based and natural way for the human body to fight-off bacteria and infection. "Natural killer'T cells, unlike other'T cells, recognise molecules known as lipids instead of just recognising proteins expressed by infectious bacteria. These types of bacteria can cause life-threatening infections, including meningitis and pneumonia. NKT cells don't just recognise lipids - they can be naturally activated by them," she said.
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