During injury or infection, our body’s immune system protects us by launching inflammation. But uncontrolled inflammation drives common diseases such as cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson's. This research program will reveal how the body deactivates inflammasomes – protein complexes at the heart of inflammation and disease – so we can design better drugs for treating patients with inflammation-driven disease.
As the first recruited cells, neutrophils direct protective responses against infection, but can also mediate destructive responses in inflammatory disease. This project will determine mechanisms driving neutrophil-dependent inflammation in both settings, by examining a specific inflammation-promoting molecular pathway (the ïinflammasomeÍ) in neutrophils. This research will lead to a better understanding of inflammation, and may suggest therapeutics for treating inflammatory disease.
Microbial Evasion Of A Novel Inflammasome By Salmonella
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$486,174.00
Summary
Microbes quickly evolve to evade detection by the innate immune system, the body’s first line of defence against infection. This project investigates the mechanisms by which the immune system recognises bacterial infection, and pathways used by bacteria to avoid these defences. This research will lead to a better understanding of mechanisms underlying resistance and susceptibility to bacterial infection.