Appointments:
1992-1995, Senior Scientist, Immune Network Research Limited
1995-2001, Assistant Professor of Immunology, Division of BioMedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland
2001-2006, Associate Professor of Immunology, Division of BioMedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland
2006-Present, Professor of Immunology, Division of BioMedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland
2008-2011, Chair, Canadian Institutes for Health Research HIV/AIDS Research Advisory Board
2008-2011, Member, Canadian Institutes for Health Research Institute of Infection and Immunity Scientific Advisory Board
2014-present, Member, Board of Directors and Treasurer, AIDS Committee of Newfoundland and Labrador
2015-2016, President Canadian Association for HIV Research
2000-present, Member, Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research Scientific Advisory Board
Affiliations:
Division of BioMedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland
Research Interests:
Immunology of cancer, immunology of chronic viral infection, natural killer cells, cytotoxic T cells, cytomegalovirus, HIV, immune senescence, HCV
Activating Killer Cells Against Cancer and Viruses
My laboratory studies white blood cells called killer cells that provide protection against viruses and cancer. Cancer cells and viruses have evolved ways to avoid these killer cells, but new agents called checkpoint inhibitors block these avoidance mechanisms so that one type of killer cell attacks cancer cells more effectively. We are investigating similar strategies for activating another type of killer cell using superior natural killer cell responses against a common herpesvirus as a model.
Involvement with BHCRI to date:
Dr. Grant is a BHCRI Associate Member
Phone:
(709) 864-6569
Email:
Website:
www.med.mun.ca/Medicine/Faculty/Grant,-Michael.aspx
Contact:
H1803-Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 300 Prince Philip Drive, St. John’s, NL Canada A1B 3V6
Publications:
NK cells generate memory-type responses to human cytomegalovirus-infected fibroblasts. N. Newhook, N. Fudge and M. Grant. Eur. J. Immunol. 47:1032-1039, 2017.
Hepatitis C Virus Infection of Cultured Human Hepatoma Cells Causes Apoptosis and Pyroptosis in Both Infected and Uninfected Bystander Cells. H. Kofahi, N. Taylor, K. Hirasawa, M. Grant and R. Russell. Scientific Reports, 6:37433, 2016.
NKG2D acts as a co-receptor for anti-HIV-1 antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. M.S. Parsons, J. Richard, W-S. Lee, H. Vanderven, M. Grant, A. Finzi and S. J. Kent. AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses, 2016. doi: 10.1089/AID.2016.0099
NKG2C+CD57+ Natural Killer Cell Expansion Parallels Cytomegalovirus-specific CD8+ T Cell Evolution Towards Senescence. J. Heath, N. Newhook, E. Comeau, M. Gallant, N. Fudge and M. Grant. Journal of Immunology Research, vol. 2016, Article ID 7470124, 8 pages, 2016.
Cytomegalovirus Immunity and Exhaustive CD8+ T cell Proliferation in Treated Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection. L. Barrett, N. Fudge, J. Heath and M. Grant. Clin Infect Dis. 2016 doi: 10.1093/cid/ciw148. [Epub ahead of print]
The significance of a common idiotype (1F7) on antibodies against human immune deficiency virus type 1 and hepatitis C virus. S. Muller, M. S. Parsons, H. Kohler & M. Grant. Front Oncol. 2016 Feb 5;6:11. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2016.00011.
Heteroclitic peptides enhance proliferation and reduce phenotypic evidence of human immunodeficiency virus-specific CD8+ T cell exhaustion. A. Adegoke, K. Gladney, M. Gallant, M. Grant. Viral Immunology, epub July 31, 2015.
Enhancing HIV-specific CD8+ T cell responses with heteroclitic peptides. A. Adegoke, M. Grant. Frontiers in Immunology, 2015. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2015.00377 epub July 27, 2015.
Impact of APOBEC mutations on CD8+T cell recognition of HIV epitopes varies with character of the restricting molecule. K. Squires, M. Monajemi, C. Woodworth, M. Grant, M. Larijani. J. Acquir Immun Defic Syndr, epub May 16, 2015.
Protective genotypes in HIV infection reflect superior function of KIR3DS1+ over 3DL1+ CD8+ T cells. K. Zipperlen, S. Stapleton, M. Gallant, J. Heath, L. Barrett & M. Grant. Immunol. and Cell. Biol. 93:67-76, 2015.