Characterisation of Terminal Complement Activation, Assembly, and Detection

The complement system comprises more than 50 proteins that undergo a rapid and coordinated reaction to mount an immune response. The final steps of this reaction involve the release of an immune modulator, C5a, and formation of a ring-like structure known as the membrane attack complex (MAC) that kills cells, analogous to a pin popping a balloon. While C5a and MAC are pivotal for eliminating pathogens, their dysregulation can have consequences such as inflammation and autoimmunity. This thesis investigates the unexplored aspects of C5a and MAC, altogether providing novel insights into its molecular biology and a foundation for therapeutic design.