Role Of Exported Proteins In Malaria Parasite Development In The Liver
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$520,613.00
Summary
Each year over 250 million people contract malaria and over 1 million die. The key to the malaria parasite’s success is the ability to live inside host cells, including hepatocytes and erythrocytes. Here, we aim to determine how the malaria parasite lives within hepatocytes, to engineer mutant parasites that can no longer do so and to assess whether mutant parasites confer protection against future malaria. Our program will use the most virulent human parasite P. falciparum and the rodent parasi ....Each year over 250 million people contract malaria and over 1 million die. The key to the malaria parasite’s success is the ability to live inside host cells, including hepatocytes and erythrocytes. Here, we aim to determine how the malaria parasite lives within hepatocytes, to engineer mutant parasites that can no longer do so and to assess whether mutant parasites confer protection against future malaria. Our program will use the most virulent human parasite P. falciparum and the rodent parasite P. berghei.Read moreRead less
Understanding the basic biology of cells will allow us to pinpoint key mechanisms and molecules that underpin multiple diseases and are targets for treatments. The broad aims of this research program include the development of new therapies for chronic inflammatory diseases, understanding how proteins are sorted and trafficked inside cells in processes that are essential to immunity and cancer biology, and identifying new intracellular targets to block bacterial invasion and infectious diseases.
Many bacterial pathogens invade host cells to replicate and avoid detection by the host. These pathogens interact with the host and by manipulating it to its benefit they establish an environment to survive in. A detailed understanding of the targeted hosts pathways and which are essential for pathogen survival is knowledge that will allow future development of therapeutic intervention strategies.
Function And Inhibition Of Plasmepsin V In Targeting Malaria Virulence Proteins Into Human Erythrocytes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$407,845.00
Summary
Malaria parasites dramatically renovate infected erythrocytes to survive and evade the host immune system by delivering hundreds of exported parasite proteins into the cell. The parasite protease Plasmepsin V is essential for protein export. We aim to develop potent inhibitors of this protease in the hope of blocking its function and killing the parasite. We also aim to discover the components of the trafficking pathway after cleavage by Plasmepsin V that sorts virulence proteins to the host cel ....Malaria parasites dramatically renovate infected erythrocytes to survive and evade the host immune system by delivering hundreds of exported parasite proteins into the cell. The parasite protease Plasmepsin V is essential for protein export. We aim to develop potent inhibitors of this protease in the hope of blocking its function and killing the parasite. We also aim to discover the components of the trafficking pathway after cleavage by Plasmepsin V that sorts virulence proteins to the host cell.Read moreRead less
The Role Of Intracellular Protein Trafficking In Alzheimer's Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Summary
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurological disorder and is the most common cause of dementia. The development of therapies must be preceded by a thorough understanding of the molecular processes that underpin the disease. In this project we will examine the interactions between the Alzheimer’s precursor protein (APP) and the molecular machinery that controls its intracellular localization and breakdown to the toxic A? peptide that is central to disease pathology.
Regulation Of The Nedd4 Family Of Ubiquitin Ligases By Adaptor And Accessory Proteins In Normal Physiology And In Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$609,424.00
Summary
In part this proposal is to understand how the body controls iron uptake through iron transporters DMT1 and Nramp1. We will study the regulation of these transporters by proteins called Ndfip1, Ndfip2 and arrestins. We will also study the functions of these proteins in controlling ubiquitination, a fundamental process required for cellular homeostasis. The results from this study may ultimately contribute to the development of novel therapies for certain human diseases.
Autophagy: A New Pathway For Presenting Antigen In Dendritic Cells.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$444,973.00
Summary
Microbes are chopped up and digested before being displayed to the immune system. Here we will investigate a new pathway termed _autophagy� that helps cells to digest material for immune display.
I am a cell biologist investigating the means by which intracellular compartmentalization of signalling proteins determines signalling outcomes and cell fate. I focus particularly on signals that regulate immune function and cancer progression.
How membrane-sensing proteins regulate synaptic vesicle endocytosis. This project aims to elucidate the molecular basis of how membrane-sensing proteins regulate synaptic vesicle endocytosis in mammalian central neurons. Nerve cells’ ability to transmit cellular information to one another is important for normal brain function. Efficient communication between neurons through sustained neurotransmitter release relies on the continuous supply of synaptic vesicles in presynaptic nerve terminals. Ke ....How membrane-sensing proteins regulate synaptic vesicle endocytosis. This project aims to elucidate the molecular basis of how membrane-sensing proteins regulate synaptic vesicle endocytosis in mammalian central neurons. Nerve cells’ ability to transmit cellular information to one another is important for normal brain function. Efficient communication between neurons through sustained neurotransmitter release relies on the continuous supply of synaptic vesicles in presynaptic nerve terminals. Key to this process are membrane dynamics during synaptic vesicle retrieval, but the precise underlying mechanisms are not well understood. The intended outcome of this project is insights into the molecular mechanisms of synaptic transmission, the fundamental process of brain function, increasing understanding of physiological processes such as muscle movement, vision, hearing, touch, learning and memory.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE130100078
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$800,000.00
Summary
Live molecular imaging using super resolution microscopy, two photon and spinning disk confocal microscopy. With recent developments of super-resolution microscopy it is now feasible to image single molecules within the cellular environment in living cells. Such insight is key to understanding basic biological interactions that govern the wiring of our brain, communications between cells and neurons and cell-cell adhesion.