Harnessing Tyrosine Metabolism To Combat Respiratory Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$866,467.00
Summary
Cross-talk between our immune system and the microbiome is central to health and disease. In particular, the gut microbiome has wide-ranging effects throughout the body, in part through the production of metabolites with immunomodulatory activity. We have discovered a novel subset of microbial metabolites which can protect mice against allergic airway inflammation, a model of asthma. We now aim to discovery how these metabolites work with a view towards developing them as therapeutics.
Targeting A Bacterial Glyco-Achilles Heel To Make New Vaccines For Haemophilus Influenzae And Neisseria Gonorrhoeae.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$526,950.00
Summary
The bacteria that cause gonorrhoea (N. gonorrhoeae), middle ear infections and exacerbations of chronic obstructive lung disease (H. influenzae) have become multi-drug resistant. These diseases are a major health and economic burden. In the absence of new drugs, a vaccine to prevent these diseases has emerged as a major unmet need in human health. In this grant, we will develop a new vaccine that targets a bacterial-specific sugar that we have discovered is the Achilles heel of these bacteria.
The Role Of Host Proteases In Modulating Enteric Infectious Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,267,155.00
Summary
Bacterial pathogens that cause gut diseases result in 2.5 million deaths per year. The gut is a complex environment consisting of numerous factors that must be balanced to maintain enteric health. When these factors are unbalanced, disease can occur, and infections can cause imbalances. This project will increase our understanding of the role that host proteins play in gut infections, providing knowledge critical for developing improved strategies for disease treatment and prevention.