Characterisation of the SCR-domain family of Complement Regulators ; Structure, function and Streptococcal pathogenesis.

在外来细胞或微生物存在的情况下，血液中一组被称为补体的蛋白质被激活，这通常会导致它们的破坏。重要的是，这种破坏性活动针对的是外来组织，而不是自身组织。这是通过另一个蛋白质家族实现的，包括一种名为H因子的蛋白质，它可以关闭或调节补体活动。这些蛋白质是如何工作的是这个项目的主要焦点。有许多疾病的损害是由于无意中激活补体而导致的，调节蛋白在这一领域具有治疗潜力。此外，许多细菌和其他微生物本应被补体破坏，但通过结合调节蛋白逃脱。了解如何实现这一点可能有助于确定疫苗开发的目标。

A group of proteins in blood called 'Complement' are activated in the presence of foreign cells or micro-organisms and this generally results in their destruction. It is important that this destructive activity is directed against foreign and not self tissue. This is achieved by a further family of proteins, including a protein called factor H, which switch off or regulate complement activity. How these proteins work is the principle focus of this project. There are many diseases in which damage results from inadvertent complement activation and the regulatory proteins have therapeutic potential in this area. In addition, many bacteria and other micro-organisms, which should be destroyed by complement, escape by binding regulatory proteins. Understanding how this is achieved may assist in identifying targets for vaccine development.