Pathogenic Flaviviruses: Molecular Mechanisms Of Disease, Host Response And Vaccines
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$697,209.00
Summary
The application is aimed at advancing our understanding of the viral and host processes determining outcome of infection with pathogenic flaviviruses (i.e. West Nile virus) to the level allowing most comprehensive design of effective vaccines and anti-viral drugs. One of the aims is also to develop novel viral delivery vectors for cancer therapy based on self-replicating RNA of an attenuated Australian strain of West Nile virus, Kunjin.
Development and commercialization of novel diagnostic assays for the early detection of acute dengue virus infection. Dengue is an emerging disease of the tropics and is endemic in more than 100 countries with up to 100 million cases annually. Of these, 500,000 result in dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF), a serious life-threatening complication of dengue virus infection. Dengue activity in northern Australia has increased in recent years with suggestions that it may be coming endemic in this count ....Development and commercialization of novel diagnostic assays for the early detection of acute dengue virus infection. Dengue is an emerging disease of the tropics and is endemic in more than 100 countries with up to 100 million cases annually. Of these, 500,000 result in dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF), a serious life-threatening complication of dengue virus infection. Dengue activity in northern Australia has increased in recent years with suggestions that it may be coming endemic in this country. Early diagnosis, using NS1 based assays should facilitate containment of such outbreaks through earlier identification, treatment, isolation and strategic mosquito control.Read moreRead less
Virulence Determinants Of Encephalitic Flaviviruses
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$455,670.00
Summary
Murray Valley encephalitis, Japanese enecephaltis virus and West Nile virus are mosquito transmitted pathogens that cause severe and fatal neurological diseases in man and animals. Currenly, it is not clear why these viruses produce such severe diseases and therefore they are difficult to treat and prevent. In this project we will indentify the components of the viruses that allow them to invade the central nervous sytem and cause neurological symptoms. This will provide valuable information on ....Murray Valley encephalitis, Japanese enecephaltis virus and West Nile virus are mosquito transmitted pathogens that cause severe and fatal neurological diseases in man and animals. Currenly, it is not clear why these viruses produce such severe diseases and therefore they are difficult to treat and prevent. In this project we will indentify the components of the viruses that allow them to invade the central nervous sytem and cause neurological symptoms. This will provide valuable information on critical elements of these pathogenic viruses that contribute to their virulence and will identify new candidate vaccines for prevention of the encephalitic diseases they cause.Read moreRead less
The dynamics of viral latency in chronic infection. Although many acute infections can now be controlled, we still suffer from a large number of chronic infections such as HIV or herpes that cannot be eradicated. Many of these infections persist because they can lie dormant in a 'latent' state. How this latent state is established, and how long it lasts are important to understand if we want to control these infections. We have assembled a team of mathematicians, immunologists and virologists in ....The dynamics of viral latency in chronic infection. Although many acute infections can now be controlled, we still suffer from a large number of chronic infections such as HIV or herpes that cannot be eradicated. Many of these infections persist because they can lie dormant in a 'latent' state. How this latent state is established, and how long it lasts are important to understand if we want to control these infections. We have assembled a team of mathematicians, immunologists and virologists in order to study latent infection at the cellular level, and within infected monkeys. This will provide the first insights into the dynamics of latency - how these cells are produced and die - and should lead to novel approaches to controlling chronic infection.Read moreRead less
Influenza remains an important disease and exacts a high toll in both morbidity and mortality each year. This project will identify the carbohydrates that are utilised by influenza virus to initiate infection throughout the body and map how these carbohydrates interact with the key viral surface proteins. This research will provide new insight into the emergence of new influenza virus strains and cross-species pathogenicity.
Novel Insights Into The Mechanisms Of How Chikungunya Virus Cause Disease In Humans
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$554,808.00
Summary
Many of the most dangerous and easily transmitted infectious agents are viruses. The emergence of chikungunya virus globally and the recognition of this pathogen in the aetiology of chronic diseases show the need for a better understanding of how the virus cause disease. The expected outcomes are a better understanding of human alphaviral diseases, with a view to improving prevention and treatment strategies to reduce the disease burden of CHIKV and related viruses.
Improving Treatment Strategies For Chronic Alphaviral Arthritic Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$643,624.00
Summary
Chikungunya virus and Ross River virus cause epidemics of acute and chronic arthritic disease in humans, which is often poorly managed with current treatments. This grant seeks to understand the mechanisms that give rise to disease in order to identify improved treatment strategies. Both the persistence of viral replication in joint tissues and unnecessary inflammatory responses appear to be important factors driving chronic disease.
A single vaccine for influenza and pneumonia. Influenza and bacterial pneumonia collaborate to kill millions of people each year. This project aims to develop a single vaccine that will provide long-lasting protection against both influenza and pneumonia.
The Phylodynamics Of Human Enteroviruses: Informing Vaccine Effectiveness And Outbreak Preparedness
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$564,868.00
Summary
Enteroviruses such as EV-A71 are increasing in frequency and in Australia have resulted in the hospitalization of children with severe encephalitis. However, major aspects of their evolution and epidemiology are unknown. We will provide new insights on these important pathogens by revealing which enteroviruses are circulating in the region and whether they arise in specific localities, whether some are commonly associated with severe encephalitis, and whether some pose a greater epidemic threat.
Are Routine Healthcare Worker Hand Hygiene Protocols (soap/water, Alcohol-based Handrub) Effective Against Influenza?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$99,950.00
Summary
Although influenza is mainly spread from person-to-person by aerosol transmission (coughing, sneezing etc), there is growing evidence that spread also occurs on the hands of infected patients and their carers (non-aerosol transmission). Because of this, health authorities now recommend the use of careful hand hygiene (HH: hand washing with soap-water or use of alcohol-based hand rub solutions [ABHRS]) by healthcare workers (HCWs) and patients. However, despite these recommendations, there are no ....Although influenza is mainly spread from person-to-person by aerosol transmission (coughing, sneezing etc), there is growing evidence that spread also occurs on the hands of infected patients and their carers (non-aerosol transmission). Because of this, health authorities now recommend the use of careful hand hygiene (HH: hand washing with soap-water or use of alcohol-based hand rub solutions [ABHRS]) by healthcare workers (HCWs) and patients. However, despite these recommendations, there are no data that demonstrate the effectiveness of such HH protocols. This project aims to assess the clinical effectiveness of four HH protocols (handwashing with soap-water, alcohol-only ABHRS, two alcohol-chlorhexidine ABHRS) in common use in Australian hospitals to see which protocol is best for killing influenza virus. We also plan to assess how long influenza virus remains infectious on HCWs hands if they fail to use appropriate HH. Since it could be dangerous to use live avian influenza virus in this study, we plan to use the H1N1 influenza A strain that was a component of the influenza vaccine administered to most HCWs in 2005. Thus, only HCWs with protective immunity to H1N1 will participate in a series of tests in which they will have their hands artificially contaminated with a known concentration of live H1N1 before using either no HH, or one of the four HH protocols, followed by an assessment (virus culture and molecular tests) or the amount of H1N1 surviving on their hands after each protocol. Some selected HCWs will also have the amount of surviving virus assessed 30 and 60 minutes after contamination to identify how long H1N1 survives on HCWs hands should they not use appropriate HH. Following all protocols, all HCWs will perform a detailed surgical scrub (similar to surgeons before an operation) to make certain that all H1N1 is killed to avoid any infection of themselves or their contacts. The study will be undertaken in special, secure, negative-pressure rooms at Austin Hospital away from patient care areas to provide maximum safety conditions. All virus culture and molecular tests will be performed in the virus Identification Laboratory at the Victorian Infectious Disease Reference Laboratory (VIDRL), Melbourne. Results of the study should help identify which HH protocol provides the most protection against influenza.Read moreRead less