I am a virologist and my overall research activity is to understand the basic biology of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) life-cycle including the role of interactions between viral proteins, and viral proteins and host cell factors in HIV replicati
Interactions Between Herpes Simplex Viral And Neuronal Motor Proteins
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$222,962.00
Summary
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) lies dormant within the nerve cell bodies near the spinal cord in most people. Intermittently the virus reactivates and is transported down the nerve to the skin where it causes blisters-ulcers or is shed without causing symptoms. The aim of this grant is to determine how Herpes Simplex virus is transported within nerve cells at the molecular level. It builds on recent discoveries of a direct interaction between a Herpes simplex viral protein and the nerve cell motor p ....Herpes simplex virus (HSV) lies dormant within the nerve cell bodies near the spinal cord in most people. Intermittently the virus reactivates and is transported down the nerve to the skin where it causes blisters-ulcers or is shed without causing symptoms. The aim of this grant is to determine how Herpes Simplex virus is transported within nerve cells at the molecular level. It builds on recent discoveries of a direct interaction between a Herpes simplex viral protein and the nerve cell motor protein which transports essential components down nerves from the spinal cord to the skin. Ultimately we aim to develop inhibitors of this process which might be candidates for further development as antivirals for control of recurrent herpes simplex.Read moreRead less
RNAi Therapeutic Intervention Of Human Viral Respiratory Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$584,117.00
Summary
Human metapneumovirus (HMPV), causes clinical disease that is very similar to human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and co-circulates with RSV. HMPV is emerging as a major cause of morbidity and life-threatening respiratory tract disease in infants, young children and the elderly worldwide. No treatment is currently available. The objectives of this proposal are to develop novel antiviral drugs that silence the expression of viral genes and to examine protection against the disease.
Roles Of Virus-integrin Interactions And Rotavirus Modulation Of Host Cell Responses In Viral Pathogenesis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$474,000.00
Summary
Rotaviruses are the main cause of severe gastroenteritis in children, and cause 1 in 27 Australian children under the age of 5 years to spend time in hospital. There is currently no rotavirus vaccine available. We aim to discover how rotavirus interacts with host cells. This information is necessary to formulate a safe and effective vaccine, or a therapeutic agent that can block virus growth in host cells. Previously, we showed that rotavirus attaches to cells and enters them using several membe ....Rotaviruses are the main cause of severe gastroenteritis in children, and cause 1 in 27 Australian children under the age of 5 years to spend time in hospital. There is currently no rotavirus vaccine available. We aim to discover how rotavirus interacts with host cells. This information is necessary to formulate a safe and effective vaccine, or a therapeutic agent that can block virus growth in host cells. Previously, we showed that rotavirus attaches to cells and enters them using several members of the integrin protein family that are present on the surface of the cells. Integrins are critical for cell adhesion, survival and communication. In this project, we will identify how rotavirus usage of integrins modulates cell functions. This will help us understand how rotavirus causes disease, how virus spreads in the body and how the immune response defends us from rotavirus. Rotavirus binds integrins using particular stretches of protein sequence that we have shown are also present in other human viral pathogens that cause hepatitis, AIDS and measles. We will determine if these other viruses also recognize integrins.Read moreRead less