Virulence Mechanisms In Hypervirulent Epidemic Strains Of Clostridium Difficile.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$499,135.00
Summary
The bacterium Clostridium difficile is the major cause of nosocomial diarrhoea in many countries, including Australia. More virulent isolates have emerged since 2000, leading to increased incidence and severity of disease in many countries and resulting in epidemics. This project will make a major contribution to our understanding of how these bacteria cause disease and may help to prevent outbreaks of the hypervirulent strains in Australia by identifying potential new vaccine candidates.
Regulation Of Toxin Production In Clostridium Difficile
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$472,169.00
Summary
The research aims to determine how toxin production is controlled in an emerging bacterial pathogen that is a major cause of gastrointestinal infections in hospitals. We will determine the nature of the external signals and the mechanisms by which the bacterium uses those signals to regulate toxin production. These studies will significantly expand our knowledge of how this important bacterium causes disease, a key to developing new methods for the control and treatment of disease.
The Pathogenesis Of Infections Caused By Clostridium Sordellii.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$400,232.00
Summary
The bacterium Clostridium sordellii causes necrosis and multiorgan failure with a very high mortality rate of 70% in infections of drug users, transplant and post-abortion patients, and 100% for post-partum patients. Little is known about how C. sordellii causes such devastating disease; treatment of these infections is currently ineffective. This project will make a major contribution to our understanding of how disease is caused and may lead to improved prevention and treatment stratetegies.
The aim of this project is to provide a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the development of gas gangrene, an often fatal disease of particular significance to elderly and diabetic patients, who are particularly susceptible following injury, or surgery, or in some cases when suffering from colon cancer. Although research has been carried out on this disease for many years prompt surgical removal of the infected tissue, often including amputation of a limb, is still commonly used ....The aim of this project is to provide a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the development of gas gangrene, an often fatal disease of particular significance to elderly and diabetic patients, who are particularly susceptible following injury, or surgery, or in some cases when suffering from colon cancer. Although research has been carried out on this disease for many years prompt surgical removal of the infected tissue, often including amputation of a limb, is still commonly used to ensure the patient's survival. This project involves the study of the two bacteria that are the major causes of the disease. We aim to find out how the bacteria mediate the disease, in particular to determine which toxic factors produced by the bacteria are involved. The normal host response to a bacterial infection is a rapid influx of white blood cells to the infected tissue, which is part of the normal inflammatory response. These cells engulf and degrade the bacteria, clearing the infection. However, a major characteristic of gas gangrene pathology is that very few white blood cells infiltrate the infected tissue. We aim to determine why the host fails to mount an inflammatory response to this bacterial infection. We will achieve this objective by developing a better understanding of the role of the bacterial toxins in the development of this morbid disease. It is hoped the results from this study will enable the development of more effective therapeutic and prophylactic treatments for this disease and also provide a foundation for studies into the modulation of the host response by other bacterial species.Read moreRead less
Structural Studies On The Conjugative Apparatus Of The Gram-positive Bacteria, Clostridium Perfringens.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$287,321.00
Summary
Antibiotic resistance is a worldwide health problem. It has severely reduced the effectiveness of many antibiotics driving up the health care costs and death rates associated with bacterial infections. This project aims to investigate how antibiotic resistance determinants are transferred in the pathogenic bacteria, Clostridium perfringens. By understanding the mechanism of antibiotic resistance transfer in bacteria we will be better armed to combat antibiotic resistance.
The Mechanism Of Conjugative Transfer Of Antibiotic Resistance Genes In Gram Positive Pathogens
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$628,459.00
Summary
Antibiotic resistant bacteria pose a serious threat to the health of Australians. We will determine how antibiotic resistance genes spread from one bacterium to another. Using a disease-causing bacterium as model we will determine the mechanism by which this gene transfer process occurs and the structure and function of the key components. The result will be major advances in our understanding of the evolution of the antibiotic resistant bacteria that are major causes of human disease.
Global Regulatory Networks That Control Virulence In Clostridium Perfringens
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$531,557.00
Summary
This research focuses on the bacterium that is responsible for clostridial myonecrosis, or gas gangrene, an often fatal human infection. The objective is to determine how this bacterium controls the production of the various factors that are required to cause disease. The aims will be achieved by the integrated application of the latest techniques in microbiology and molecular biology and will result in a significant advancement in our knowledge of this complex regulatory process.