Antibodies To The Invasion Ligand EBA175 And Protection From Plasmodium Falciparum Malaria
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$407,792.00
Summary
Malaria causes disease and death by invading into human red blood cells and it achieves this by using specific parasite proteins. One of these, erythrocyte binding antigen 175 (EBA175), is especially important and parasites have evolved different versions of the protein. This project seeks to understand the importance of these different EBA175 variants in evading antibody responses. This has important implications in understanding natural immunity but also for future vaccine development.
Insights Into The Biology Of The Carcinogenic Blood Fluke, Schistosoma Haematobium – A First Response To The Wake-up Call
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$307,946.00
Summary
Schistosoma haematobium is a seriously neglected parasite that infects > 100 million people. Chronic infection severely affects the urino-genital system and causes malignant bladder cancer. Advanced technologies will be used to explore, for the first time, the molecular biology of this parasite, design new strategies to fight this insidious pathogen and understand how it induces cancer.
Identification And Development Of Proteins Which Interact With The Innate Immune System As Malaria Vaccine Candidates
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$299,564.00
Summary
Parasites causing malaria live inside red blood cells. Some human proteins act in a chain reaction to destroy infected cells. Although these proteins recognise parasite-infected cells and the chain reaction starts, the infected cells are not destroyed due to parasite proteins which inhibit the human proteins. A vaccine could induce antibodies which block the parasite proteins inhibiting the human proteins so the immune system can function normally and kill infected cells, thus stopping malaria.
Utilising Transgenesis To Investigate The Role Of Insulin Signaling In Helminthic Infections
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$316,336.00
Summary
Helminth parasites take an enormous toll on human health, especially in developing countries. Half a billion people suffer debilitating, sometimes fatal illness as a result of these infections. These facts are all the more disturbing when one considers the prospect of nematode parasites developing resistance to the small armamentarium of drugs available for treatment. This proposal will look to further understand the biology of these parasites in order to better comprehend what genes would make ....Helminth parasites take an enormous toll on human health, especially in developing countries. Half a billion people suffer debilitating, sometimes fatal illness as a result of these infections. These facts are all the more disturbing when one considers the prospect of nematode parasites developing resistance to the small armamentarium of drugs available for treatment. This proposal will look to further understand the biology of these parasites in order to better comprehend what genes would make for practical drug or vaccine targets.Read moreRead less