Research
Supervisor: Leo James
I am a MB/PhD student with an interest in interactions between pathogens (bacteria, viruses or protozoa) and the host. These can be divided into two components: the actions of the host, in the defence against infection; opposed to the pathogen subverting host machinery for infection and antagonising the host defence.
Most recently, I have been working in Leo James’ group, investigating the role of translocated serum proteins (antibodies and complement C3), which can be carried into cells by intracellular pathogens. These serum proteins are recognised in the cytosol, and are able to initiate immune signalling, alongside direct proteosome-dependent intracellular neutralisation of non-enveloped viruses.
Publications
Tam JCH, Bidgood SR, McEwan WA, James LC. (2014) Intracellular sensing of complement C3 activates cell autonomous immunity., Science, 345(6201):1256070, DOI:10.1126/science.1256070
Bidgood SR, Tam JCH, McEwan WA, James LC. (2014) Serum IgA mediates intracellular neutralization and innate immune activation via TRIM21., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, published ahead of print August 28, 2014, doi:10.1073/pnas.1410980111
Tam JCH, Jacques DA. (2014) Intracellular immunity: finding the enemy within - how cells recognize and respond to intracellular pathogens., J Leuc Biol, 96:p233-244, DOI:10.1189/jlb.4RI0214-090R
McEwan WA, Tam JCH, Watkinson RE, Bidgood SR, Mallery DL, James LC. (2013) Intracellular antibody-bound pathogens stimulate immune signaling via the Fc receptor TRIM21., Nat Immunol, 14(4):p327-36, DOI: 10.1038/ni.2548
Watkinson RE, Tam JCH, Vaysburd MJ, James LC. (2013) Simultaneous neutralization and innate immune detection of a replicating virus by TRIM21., J Virol, 87(13):p7309-13. DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00647-13
Hyams C, Tam JCH, Brown JS, Gordon SB. (2010) C3b/iC3b deposition on Streptococcus pneumoniae is not affected by HIV infection., PLoS One, 5(1):e8902, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0008902
Tam JCH, Grant NL, Freire-Moran L, Tolmie H, French N, Gordon SB. (2009) Opsonic function of bronchoalveolar lavage IgG following pneumococcal vaccination in HIV infected and uninfected adults., Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 123(6):p1420-1, DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2009.02.037
