Molecular and cellular mechanisms of lymph node remodelling by vaccine adjuvants

During immune responses, choreographed cellular activation and migration leads to rapid changes in the lymph node microenvironment. Lymph nodes are specialised immunological tissue in which the adaptive immune response to pathogens or immunisation is generated. Vaccine adjuvants, substances that enhance the response to immunisation, are known to induce lymph node remodelling by acting directly on its component cells. However, the exact cell types, where and when they are activated within the lymph node remain poorly understood. We intend to generate a molecular, spatial and temporal map of the lymph node remodelling process in response to adjuvants. The resulting data from this will be exploited to discover new ways of manipulating the immune response, thereby aiding in vaccine adjuvant development.