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SUMMARY:Human NK Cell Receptor Diversity Shaped by Natural Selection - Dr.
  Paul Norman\, Stanford University
DTSTART:20090624T113000Z
DTEND:20090624T123000Z
UID:TALK17901@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Prof. Jim Kaufman
DESCRIPTION:The interaction of natural killer (NK) cell receptors with MHC
  Class I ligands modulates NK cell development and activity\, to aid comba
 ting disease or during pregnancy. We have been investigating the genetic d
 iversity of human NK receptors\, and how they have evolved to interact wit
 h the highly polymorphic HLA system. We have been performing large-scale g
 enetic studies of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR)\, and th
 e population genetics shows that strong balancing selection is acting on t
 he KIR molecules. \nWe also demonstrate co-evolution of HLA and KIR that h
 as been targeted specifically to the amino acids that influence their inte
 raction. The hypotheses that we derive from population genetic and sequenc
 e-based analysis are tested in the laboratory\, and this is showing that t
 he naturally-selected variation directly affects NK cell function. Taken t
 ogether we are uncovering enormous potential for genetically-defined varie
 ty in human immune function.\n
LOCATION:Lecture Theatre\, Department of Pathology\, Tennis Court Road
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