Join us on December 2nd, 2024, for a lecture by Dr. Wuji Zhang from the Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Melbourne.
Date: Monday, December 2nd 2024
Time: 16:30 - 18:00
Venue: Seminar Room 1A, Ground Floor HKJC Building for Interdisciplinary Research
5 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
Abstract:
Although recovery from respiratory viral infections is a prime example of the effectiveness of the human immune system, it is not yet fully understood why individuals have variable immune responses following infections and vaccinations. In 2020, we investigated cytokine, humoral, and cellular responses in paired respiratory and peripheral blood samples from hospitalized COVID-19 patients. SARS-CoV-2-specific IgM, IgG and IgA were detected in both compartments, while higher levels of cytokines/chemokines and activated T cells were found in the respiratory samples. Despite the proven effectiveness of vaccines in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infections, Indigenous populations globally remain disproportionately affected.
In our cohort of Australian First Nations and non-Indigenous participants, we observed robust humoral and T cell responses following BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination. However, individuals with chronic conditions (diabetes, renal disease), regardless of ethnicity, had reduced humoral responses, associated with altered IgG glycosylation and elevated plasma IL-18 level. In a group of Indigenous peoples hospitalized with COVID-19, broad-spectrum immune responses were observed. Overall, distinct immunological correlates were found following viral infection and vaccination, offering insights for the rational design of vaccine approaches.
Biosketch:
Dr Wuji Zhang is a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Melbourne, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity. He received his B-BMED in pathology in 2018 and B-BMED Degree with Honours in 2019 from the University of Melbourne. In 2024, Wuji completed his PhD at the University of Melbourne in Prof Katherine Kedzierska’s Laboratory. His research centres on the humoral and cellular immune responses towards infections and vaccinations of respiratory virus, with a particular interest on influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2. His research interest lies in understanding how infection and vaccination induce and recall immune memory of T cells and B cells. Specifically, he investigates the prevalence and responses of epitope-specific T cells and B cells in various populations, as well as the immunological factors influencing these responses.