Identifying And Characterising The Molecular Determinants Of Fungal Pathogenesis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$315,375.00
Summary
Fungi which infect humans represent one of the fastest growing public health problems. Like bacteria, fungi can pose a serious threat to infected individuals. This is especially true for individuals whose immune system is compromised in any way due to the direct action of another disease such as AIDS, treaments for diseases like cancer or treatment to prevent rejection in organ transplants. The problem is compounded by the lack of safe and effective treament for fungal infections. Many pathogeni ....Fungi which infect humans represent one of the fastest growing public health problems. Like bacteria, fungi can pose a serious threat to infected individuals. This is especially true for individuals whose immune system is compromised in any way due to the direct action of another disease such as AIDS, treaments for diseases like cancer or treatment to prevent rejection in organ transplants. The problem is compounded by the lack of safe and effective treament for fungal infections. Many pathogenic fungi are capable of growing in two very different forms. Usually only one of these forms is pathogenic and causes disease. Therefore, the genes which keep the fungus in the pathogenic form are important factors for infection. By understanding how fungi are capable of infection and avoiding the immune system, good practices and treatments can be development for these life threatening infections.Read moreRead less
Dissecting Virulence Attributes In A Human Pathogenic Fungus
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$814,596.00
Summary
Fungi that infect humans are a major health problem worldwide, particularly for those with compromised immune systems (eg. AIDS, transplant and cancer patients). These fungi cause disease by evading the immune system whilst deriving nutrients for growth. Some fungi evade the immune system by residing within host cells; a hostile and nutrient poor environment. This project will study genes that are required for growth inside host cells. This knowledge will open new avenues for treatment.
Immuno-metabolic Interactions Of The Fungal Superbug Candida Auris
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$674,105.00
Summary
Infections threaten hospital patients and undermine our ability to use advanced medical treatments for conditions such as cancer. Candida auris is an emerging superbug causing infections in hospitals and nursing homes that are commonly resistant to front-line antifungal therapy. To build the knowledge foundation for improved treatments, this proposal aims to define how C. auris escapes immune defences and understand the metabolic mechanisms that shape immune responses and infection outcomes.
An Investigation Into Mitochondrial Dynamics In The Human Pathogen Candida Albicans
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$581,966.00
Summary
Our goal is to find new therapies to treat infections with Candida albicans, a major human pathogen that causes highly fatal hospital-associated disease. We have identified the mitochondrion, the cellular powerhouse, as a promising target for the development of new anti-candida drugs. We will use innovative imaging and molecular approaches, together with experimental animal infection models to understand how mitochondria could be inhibited to treat life-threatening infections with Candida.
An Investigation Into Pathogen-specific Factors Required For Drug-resistance And Viability Of Candida Albicans
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$337,614.00
Summary
We identified proteins required for growth and drug resistance of the fungus Candida albicans, a major hospital-acquired human pathogen. Candida infections target the immunocompromised and mortality is huge (?30-50%). We will use cell biology, genetics and biochemistry to characterise these proteins. Importantly, these factors are present in fungi, but absent from humans. Therefore our study will help development of new strategies for antifungal treatments.
Investigating The Interface Between Host Innate Immune Cells And A Fungal Pathogen
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$578,085.00
Summary
Fungi which infect humans are a major health problem, especially for those with compromised immune systems (eg. AIDS, transplant and cancer patients). These fungi cause disease by evading the immune system whilst deriving nutrients for growth. Some fungi evade the immune system by residing within host cells; a hostile and nutrient poor environment. This project will study a pathway that we have shown is required for growth inside host cells. This knowledge will open new avenues for treatment.
The Role Of Fatty Acid Metabolism In Pathogenicity.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$540,075.00
Summary
Fungi which infect humans are a major health problem, especially for those with compromised immune systems (eg. AIDS, transplant and cancer patients). Pathogenic fungi must evade the host s immune system whilst deriving nutrients for growth. Some fungi evade the immune system by residing within host cells. This poses significant challenges to growth due to the nutrient poor environment. By understanding how these fungi adapt to growth inside host cells, new avenues for treatment will emerge.
Molecular Mechanisms Of Intracellular Growth, Survival And Pathogenicity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$335,816.00
Summary
Fungi which infect humans are a major health problem, especially for those with compromised immune systems (eg. AIDS, transplant and cancer patients). These fungi cause disease by evading the immune system whilst deriving nutrients for growth. Some fungi evade the immune system by residing within host cells; a hostile and nutrient poor environment. This project will study a pathway that we have shown is required for growth inside host cells. This knowledge will open new avenues for treatment.
Identification Of Telomere-specific Recombination Pathways
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$540,075.00
Summary
Human cells stop to grow when the natural ends of chromosomes become too short. One way of how cancer cells evade this growth arrest is by using a copy-mechanism to extend short chromosome ends. Ironically, this copy mechanism is usually used by cells to keep the structure of chromosomes intact in order to prevent mutations that cause cancer. Here we will study a novel protein that contributes to the copy mechanism at short chromosome ends, but not as much in normal mutation prevention.