Decoding T Cell Function and Metabolism in Early-life Immunity to Malaria - GSS 3.0 (2/5) - Chris Mbianda

ImmunoAfrica's Graduate Student Series offers emerging and aspiring immunologists the opportunity to connect with, learn from, and be inspired by some of the most talented immunology graduate students from Africa.

For its third edition, this year, we feature 5 PhD students representing 5 African countries, namely Zimbabwe, South Africa, Benin, Cameroon, and Ethiopia. Our guests share their unique stories, perspectives, and contributions to the field of immunology, particularly within the African context.

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Hosted by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wealth Okete⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, The Immunology in Africa Podcast explores narratives at the nexus of immunology & Africa. We ask professors, postdocs, PhD students, and everyone in between to tell us about their journey into immunology, the questions driving their current work, and the impact they hope to make on the continent.

To support our efforts towards amplifying African stories of immunology, you can ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠buy us coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠nominate a guest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Chris Marco Nana Mbianda is a passionate immunologist and doctoral graduate of the University of Yaoundé in Cameroon. His research on pregnant women and neonates explores how immune responses to placental malaria can be harnessed for immunotherapeutic strategies. He investigates key immunological and metabolic pathways that could be targeted to improve protection to infection in newborns.

Beyond the laboratory, he is dedicated to mentoring young scientists and promoting inclusive, accessible science through teaching and public engagement. Chris is a recipient of numerous awards including the prestigious Eiffel Excellence Scholarship from the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

This episode explores findings from his PhD research around the function and metabolism of gamma-delta T cells, an unconventional T cell class and the immuno-protective role they could play in neonates.

Timestamps:

00:00 - intro, about guest

01:29 - career background, early journey into immunology and the integration of metabolism in PhD research

04:24 - PhD research: gamma-delta T cells and their roles in placental malaria

06:35 - more on PhD research; maternal-infant immune crosstalk, gamma-delta T cells, and placental malaria

10:54 - key findings and implications for infant immunity to malaria

17:15 - improving the levels / function of gamma-delta T cells: challenges and prospects

19:00 - T cell metabolism and its role in malaria immunity

23:25 - moving from in vitro experiments to animal models

24:30 - the interplay of infection, immunity, and diet in resource-limited settings

26:10 - maternal nutrition, colostrum, and immunity to infections in neonates

28:19 - surmounting challenges of being a French-speaking scientist

34:24 - an immunology-themed acronym for PLACENTAL

38:45 - outro