Molecular mechanism of innate signalling in the immune and nervous system

Professor Gay has a long-standing research interest in the Toll-like receptors (TLRs) that alert the innate immune systems of all species, from fruit flies to humans, to the presence of microbial invasion. The novelty of his lab’s contribution has been in characterisation of supra-molecular complexes that are formed during signal transduction by the TLRs. Professor Gay proposes to pursue these studies with respect to the biophysical and structural analysis of the protein interactions within these complexes, as well as using imaging techniques to study the signalling process in vivo. In addition, novel studies will be conducted on the way in which the TLRs synergise with the modular kinase LRRK2 to generate neurotoxicity in the nervous system.