Understanding the immune response is proving extremely complex and promising results for disease treatments from animal models are often difficult to translate to new clinical therapies. My research is unearthing weaknesses in our current knowledge of the immune system and seeking to replace them with a foundation that can exploit new developments in computer modelling and systems biology. In this way I aim to rationally manipulate the immune response.
Evaluation Of Antibody Levels And Function In Otitis-prone And Healthy Australian Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$413,040.00
Summary
Middle ear infections are the most common reason for a child to see a doctor, receive antibiotics and undergo surgery. We have collected blood and saliva samples from children with and without ear infections to compare their antibody responses to bacteria that cause middle ear infections. We will also investigate whether there is a good host response at the site of inflammation, i.e. the middle ear.
I am an immunologist focusing on understanding how can we combat chronic infections while preventing autoimmunity. This proposal aims to investigate how a poorly understood subset of lymphocytes called Tfh cells are regulated to promote the formation of protective antibodies, and prevent development of harmful antibodies that go on to cause or exacerbate diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes. Our discoveries will illuminate novel drug targets for these diseases and hel ....I am an immunologist focusing on understanding how can we combat chronic infections while preventing autoimmunity. This proposal aims to investigate how a poorly understood subset of lymphocytes called Tfh cells are regulated to promote the formation of protective antibodies, and prevent development of harmful antibodies that go on to cause or exacerbate diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes. Our discoveries will illuminate novel drug targets for these diseases and help generate more potent vaccines.Read moreRead less
Scabies is a global disease and a major health problem in many developing countries, related primarily to poverty and overcrowding. In remote Aboriginal communities in northern Australia prevalences of up to 50% in children have been described, despite the availability of effective chemotherapy. Scabies is caused by a tiny mite burrowing under the skin and symptoms include intensely itching lesions that can be very distressing, and often become secondarily infected with Group A Streptococcus. Th ....Scabies is a global disease and a major health problem in many developing countries, related primarily to poverty and overcrowding. In remote Aboriginal communities in northern Australia prevalences of up to 50% in children have been described, despite the availability of effective chemotherapy. Scabies is caused by a tiny mite burrowing under the skin and symptoms include intensely itching lesions that can be very distressing, and often become secondarily infected with Group A Streptococcus. These skin sores can result in serious complications, including blood poisoning and kidney damage. Control of scabies is hindered by difficulties with diagnosis, the cost of treatment, evidence for emerging resistance, and lack of effective vaccines. The symptoms of scabies infestations can mimic many other skin diseases such as dermatitis, eczema, impetigo, and allergic reactions, and traditional tests to diagnose scabies are often less than 50% accurate. Control measures in endemic regions include community-based scabies intervention programs and although successful at reducing levels of scabies in the short term, have proved difficult to sustain due to low levels of scabies persisting within communities. Recent developments leading to expression and purification of scabies mite recombinant antigens have identified a number of molecules with diagnostic potential and this study aims to investigate the accuracy of these recombinant proteins to identify scabies specific antibodies in people with active scabies. An effective simple, cheap, rapid, sensitive and specific diagnostic test for scabies will aid in the early identification of disease and thus treatment. Furthermore it will enable the selective treatment of affected children and their families, reducing the requirement for mass treatment and associated costs, decrease the potential for escalating mite resistance, and provide another means of controlling scabies in highly affected areas.Read moreRead less
Prophylactic Vaccine Development For The Elimination Of Hepatitis C
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$936,752.00
Summary
A vaccine that prevents Hepatitis C is urgently needed to prevent infection and assist with global HCV elimination targets. This project grant will advance world-leading HCV vaccine candidates that generate both humoral and cellular immunity for clinical development.
Generating An Effective Vaccine Response Against The Intrinsically Unstructured Malaria Antigen Merozoite Surface Protein 2
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$678,774.00
Summary
The malaria surface protein MSP2 is a promising candidate for inclusion in a malaria vaccine, having shown evidence of protection in phase IIb studies. Our goals are to identify the structural basis for the differential induction of human immune responses to native and recombinant MSP2 and to utilise this information to generate an MSP2 vaccine able to evoke a more effective anti-malarial response.