Elucidating the genesis of MAIT cell-mediated immunity

T细胞在胸腺中发育，并继续探测我们身体的探测分子，这些分子会在任何情况下发出异常信号。作为T细胞的一个特殊亚群，粘膜相关不变T细胞(MAIT)在检测微生物分子和感染方面至关重要，但它们的数量在个体之间差异很大。一个关键问题是，人们对控制其发展和功能的因素知之甚少。这项提议旨在破译MAIT细胞生物学中的这一关键问题，使用创新的工具来研究它们在胸腺中发育的分子基础。这项工作将为MAIT细胞的产生和调控提供重要的、根本性的发现，因为我们最终希望利用MAIT细胞来改善人类健康。

T cells develop in the thymus and proceed to survey our body probing molecules that signal if anything is abnormal. A specialised subset of T cells, mucosal associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are crucial in detecting microbial molecules and infection, yet their numbers vary widely between individuals. A key problem is that the factors controlling their development and function are poorly understood. This proposal aims to decode this critical issue in MAIT cell biology, using innovative tools to investigate the molecular basis underpinning their development in the thymus. This work will provide vital, fundamental discoveries into how MAIT cells are produced and regulated, as we ultimately wish to harness MAIT cells to improve human health.