Hepatitis C affects between 1-3% of Australians. Currently, there is no effective vaccine and only 30% will spontaneously clear infection, while the remained develop a chronic disease with a small risk of progression to liver cirrhosis and liver cancer over time. This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a two different treatment regimens among individuals with recent Hepatitis C infection; and define the risk factors and natural history of Hepatitis C superinfection during treatmen ....Hepatitis C affects between 1-3% of Australians. Currently, there is no effective vaccine and only 30% will spontaneously clear infection, while the remained develop a chronic disease with a small risk of progression to liver cirrhosis and liver cancer over time. This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a two different treatment regimens among individuals with recent Hepatitis C infection; and define the risk factors and natural history of Hepatitis C superinfection during treatment.Read moreRead less
Dysregulation Of Cytokine Networks: A Key Determinant Of The Pathogenesis Of Cerebral Malaria.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$480,989.00
Summary
Malaria is a parasitic disease that kills some 2 million people each year. It affects the Australian region, e.g. PNG and SE Asia. One of the most serious complications is cerebral malaria (CM). It affects the brain and is often fatal. This project will show whether the early meeting of the malaria parasite with the host's immune system determines if the infection will be a mild, resolving one or a severe, possibly lethal one causing CM. This is highly relevant to vaccine development strategies.
Finding Therapeutic Targets For An Opportunistic Human Fungal Pathogen
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$404,068.00
Summary
Penicillium marneffei is a fungus that causes disease in patients with depressed immunity. This project models this infection in zebrafish, which have advantages for modelling infectious disease. It uses fluorescent fungi and fish with fluorescent immune cells to study the way white blood cells fight this infection, and mutant zebrafish and mutant fungi to find new therapeutic targets in the host-pathogen interaction.