Discovery And Mechanisms Of Host Cell Factors In HIV Uncoating
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$635,098.00
Summary
HIV entry into the host cell involves release of its capsid, a protein shell protecting the viral genome. The capsid hijacks host proteins to cloak itself from cellular defenses while the cell has evolved sensors that can block viral infection. This proposal aims to discover proteins involved in this arms race between host and virus and decipher how they control capsid disassembly. This insight will help design new drugs against HIV infection and new ways to deliver genes for gene therapies.
Structural And Functional Analysis Of A Cancer-linked Co-regulator Complex
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$729,571.00
Summary
We seek to understand the mechanisms by which genes are switched on and off throughout our lifetime. A number of multi-component protein machines are involved in this process but their make-up and mechanism of action is not understood. We will investigate the structure and function of one of these machines that has been strongly linked to cancer.
Prion-like Behaviour In Immunity: Super-sized Signalling Platforms?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$611,995.00
Summary
Prions have been mostly associated with pathologies but recent discoveries show that prion-like behaviour may be beneficial, enhancing our immune response for example. To test this, we want to systematically explore all human proteins involved in the defence against pathogens, find new prion-like trends and probe their role in the innate immune response.
Structural And Functional Studies On RNA Nuclear Retention Mediated By Paraspeckles: A Novel Gene Regulation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$290,978.00
Summary
Dynamic interactions between proteins and nucleic acids are essential process in gene regulation, where aberrant regulation leads to various diseases including cancers. The project aims to examine the interactions between paraspeckle proteins and nucleic acid molecules via determination of the structures of protein-nucleic acid complexes at the atomic level. The results will provide a better understanding of a recently discovered gene regulation mechanism and a basis for new gene therapy.
The DietAdvice Website A New Innovation For Dietitians In Clinical Practice.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$140,975.00
Summary
Due to the growing incidence of obesity within Australia, use of computer technology may be a method of targeting these people by increasing access to dietary services. Currently available dietary software in the Australian context only allows analysis of nutrient information. Thus when a dietitian sees a patient they must manually translate food intake to nutrient information, a largely time consuming exercise. DietAdvice is a website that was developed for people to enter in their own food int ....Due to the growing incidence of obesity within Australia, use of computer technology may be a method of targeting these people by increasing access to dietary services. Currently available dietary software in the Australian context only allows analysis of nutrient information. Thus when a dietitian sees a patient they must manually translate food intake to nutrient information, a largely time consuming exercise. DietAdvice is a website that was developed for people to enter in their own food intakes. The food information is sent to a dietitian who develops individualised dietary advice for them. A pilot study of the website has already found it to be feasible in the primary healthcare setting. Tested for 12 months the website was used by 224 patients from GP practices in the Illawarra region of NSW. Approximately 73% of patients were overweight and patients with a high BMI were 1.88 times more likely to use the website in the comfort of their home. Further research about the website however was needed. The research to follow on from the pilot study will aim to refine the DietAdvice website, leading towards its commercialisation for dietitians in clinical practice. The research will be broken into 3 phases. Phase 1 will involve a usability test of the website, assessing the underlying algorithms and testing it with dietitians in private practice. Phase 2 will see volunteers using the website on multiple occasions after being given pre-weighed amounts of food to eat. This will determine how reliable and accurate the information is; and phase 3 will evaluate whether the website is cost effective and if it increases accessibility of health services especially in rural areas. By confirming these attributes there will be a sound basis to commercialise the product.Read moreRead less
Many drugs modulate the function of proteins imbedded in cell membranes. Extensive research has been undertaken to better understand drug interactions with these proteins to improve drug therapies, but there has been relatively little progress in understanding the role of the cell membrane. This project will investigate how the cell membrane influences protein function and then use this information to develop novel drugs for the treatment of neurological disorders.
The Structural Basis For Glutamate Transporter Function
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$373,144.00
Summary
Glutamate transporters are vacuum cleaners in the brain that suck the neurotransmitter glutamate into cells. When the glutamate vacuum breaks down or becomes blocked, glutamate levels outside cells increase, leading to cell death in the brain. This process underlies the damage in many brain diseases including Alzheimer’s disease and stroke. The aim of this project is to understand the mechanism of the glutamate vacuum cleaner so we can develop therapeutics to fix it when it breaks down.
Mechanisms Of Oxidised Protein Accumulation In Ageing Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$429,000.00
Summary
Australia has one of the world's most rapidly ageing populations. It is estimated that in 30 years time over 30% of the population will be over 65; many will suffer from a debilitating, age-related disease. The diseases of ageing represent one of the major health challenges this century. Despite their increasing incidence, our understanding of the underlying causes is limited. A common feature is the accumulation of damaged proteins in cells and tissues. Damaged proteins are usually broken down ....Australia has one of the world's most rapidly ageing populations. It is estimated that in 30 years time over 30% of the population will be over 65; many will suffer from a debilitating, age-related disease. The diseases of ageing represent one of the major health challenges this century. Despite their increasing incidence, our understanding of the underlying causes is limited. A common feature is the accumulation of damaged proteins in cells and tissues. Damaged proteins are usually broken down by the cells and replaced, but in many age-related diseases this process fails. The most common source of protein damage is attack by oxygen-derived free radicals. These are by-products of our body's need for oxygen and can originate from atmospheric pollutants. Oxygen rusts metal, makes fat go rancid and can cause irreparable damage to proteins and other biological molecules. Free radical damage contributes to the development of many age-related diseases such as atherosclerosis and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. The accumulation of damaged proteins can cause cell death. Our knowledge of the mechanisms by which cells remove proteins damaged by oxygen and the reasons for their accumulation is limited. In this project we will use a novel technique we have developed to generate oxidised proteins in ageing cells. We will identify cellular mechanisms required for the efficient removal of damaged proteins and those mechanisms which fail in ageing cells. We will focus on a group of proteins which protect damaged proteins from aggregating and accumulating and we will examine how we can prevent the accumulation of oxidised proteins by stimulating the body s defence mechanisms. Since the population of Australia is ageing, diseases of ageing are going to consume an increasing amount of the national health budget. A better knowledge of these cellular mechanisms will allow us to design effective prevention and treatment strategies which are at present lacking.Read moreRead less
Biosensor Based Clinical-decision Support For Patients With Heart Failure
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$691,933.00
Summary
Heart Failure (HF) is a progressive disease and a major global public health concern. HF accounts for a substantial number of hospitalisations, major healthcare resource utilisation and costs. We aim to engineer biosensor platform to stratify the risk in HF patients will revolutionise current management of HF by providing the cardiologist information to risk stratify patients based on protein signature. This will lead to a substantial paradigm shift in clinical practice.
The prevalence of asthma in Australia is amongst the highest in the world yet no trials of primary prevention have been conducted which address the most common known causative agent (housedust mite allergens) and the most common known protective factor (dietary omega-3 fatty acids). Until the effectiveness of interventions which address these factors is certain, the value of the wide array of advice given to asthmatics by various health institutions will not be known. We are applying to continue ....The prevalence of asthma in Australia is amongst the highest in the world yet no trials of primary prevention have been conducted which address the most common known causative agent (housedust mite allergens) and the most common known protective factor (dietary omega-3 fatty acids). Until the effectiveness of interventions which address these factors is certain, the value of the wide array of advice given to asthmatics by various health institutions will not be known. We are applying to continue the Childhood Asthma Prevention Study (CAPS) which has been underway since mid-1997. CAPS is a randomised controlled trial in which 616 infants at high risk of developing asthma because of a family history have been enrolled. The interventions include allergen reduction and dietary supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids. The interventions are designed to have maximum effect but be simple to implement by parents. Several measures of compliance are being collected and regular contact is maintained though telephone calls and frequent home visits. Objective and subjective measurements of exposures, atopy, diet and asthmatic symptoms are being collected at 3 month intervals and at medical assessments when the children are 18 months, 3 and 5 years old. It is essential that we continue the study until all children are aged 5 and we will be able to test conclusively whether the interventions have had a positive effect. If so, CAPS will form the basis for a nationwide public health campaign which will have the potential to reduce the incidence of childhood asthma in Australia.Read moreRead less