The Role Of HIV Infection Of Astrocytes In The Development Of HIV Associated Dementia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$144,250.00
Summary
Dementia is an extremely common problem in the late stages of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. HIV-associated dementia is the most common cause of dementia in people under 40 years of age. Despite the development of very good drugs to attack the virus, HIV-associaed dementia continues to be a major clinical problem. We are looking at the reasons why some people infected with HIV become demented and others do not. We are also looking at how best to prevent the development of dementia ....Dementia is an extremely common problem in the late stages of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. HIV-associated dementia is the most common cause of dementia in people under 40 years of age. Despite the development of very good drugs to attack the virus, HIV-associaed dementia continues to be a major clinical problem. We are looking at the reasons why some people infected with HIV become demented and others do not. We are also looking at how best to prevent the development of dementia. We believe that astrocytes (an important brain cell that supports neurons) play a very important role in the development of HIV-associated dementia. With an improved understanding of the steps leading to dementia we can better plan treatments to prevent the development of this devastating complication of HIV-AIDS.Read moreRead less
Elucidation Of Immune Mechanisms Underlying HSV Vaccine Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$573,993.00
Summary
HSV-1 and -2 causes genital herpes, cold sores, encephalitis, potential fatal neonatal herpes, keratitis and blindness as well as severe disease in transplant patients. HSV infection also enhances the acquisition of HIV by 2-3 fold. Investigating the mechanism of immune response to HSV infection or components of HSV will assist in understanding immune control of HSV, HSV vaccine development, and assist in reducing in HIV spread.
THE ROLE OF CELL SURFACE GLYCOSAMINOGLYCANS IN FLAVIVIRUS BIOLOGY: VIRUS ENTRY, TROPISM, VIRULENCE, AND ANTIVIRALS
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$493,764.00
Summary
The flaviviruses are a group of viruses mostly transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes or ticks to vertebrate hosts. They have a world-wide distribution and many flaviviruses are important human and veterinary pathogens. Dengue virus is the most important flavivirus in terms of disease frequency, causing >50 million cases of dengue fever, annually, in tropical and subtropical countries. It has been estimated that 2.5 billion people are at risk of dengue virus infection. Japanese enceph ....The flaviviruses are a group of viruses mostly transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes or ticks to vertebrate hosts. They have a world-wide distribution and many flaviviruses are important human and veterinary pathogens. Dengue virus is the most important flavivirus in terms of disease frequency, causing >50 million cases of dengue fever, annually, in tropical and subtropical countries. It has been estimated that 2.5 billion people are at risk of dengue virus infection. Japanese encephalitis virus is the most important causative agent of viral encephalitis in humans; >35,000 cases of Japanese encephalitis occur annually, with 30-50% mortality and frequent life-long neurological impairment among survivors. Murray Valley encephalitis virus is endemic in northern Australia where it gives rise, in most years, to a small number of human cases of sometimes fatal encephalitis. Dengue, Japanese encephalitis, and Murray Valley encephalitis viruses are a threat to human health in Australia. There is wide-spread speculation that climate change will affect the pattern of transmission of vector-borne pathogens; accordingly , the population at risk of flavivirus infection in Australia (and world-wide) may dramatically increase in future years. This project investigates the role of sulfated sugar molecules present abundantly on cellular surfaces in the biology of flaviviruses. It will address how the binding ability of medically important flaviviruses to these sulfated sugars impacts on the efficiency of virus entry into diverse cell types and, in turn, on the virus ability to cause disease. Ultimately, we aim to exploit the affinity of flavivirus particles to the sulfated sugar molecules on cellular surfaces; we will select synthetic mimetics of these sulfated sugars that block virus attachment to cells, and thus may identify antiviral compounds that may find application as therapeutic agents against flaviviral disease.Read moreRead less
Discovery Of A Novel Immune Evasion Strategy Employed By Mosquito Borne Viruses To Suppress Antiviral Immune Responses
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$418,642.00
Summary
The transition from mosquitoes, ticks, or other invertebrate vectors to the human hosts represents a crucial step in the successful establishment of arthropod borne viruses (arboviruses). The incidence of arbovirus infections such as dengue virus, West Nile virus, Ross River virus is increasing at an alarming rate in various parts of the world. In addition, the emergence of new viruses resulting in significant mortality in the population is of utmost concern. Vaccines for many of these viruses r ....The transition from mosquitoes, ticks, or other invertebrate vectors to the human hosts represents a crucial step in the successful establishment of arthropod borne viruses (arboviruses). The incidence of arbovirus infections such as dengue virus, West Nile virus, Ross River virus is increasing at an alarming rate in various parts of the world. In addition, the emergence of new viruses resulting in significant mortality in the population is of utmost concern. Vaccines for many of these viruses remain elusive. One factor that contributes to this is the ability of viruses to develop ingenious strategies to avoid or suppress the host defence systems, which enable its successful establishment in the host. Understanding how viruses evade-suppress host defence machinery will certainly enhance and improve our approaches to fight them. For the first time internationally we have discovered a new and novel pathway employed by arboviruses to suppress antiviral immune responses in the host. We have discovered that naturally occurring carbohydrates on viruses derived from mosquito cells, would influence these virus s ability to evade-suppress host antiviral proteins such as interferons. This may be a general effect of arboviruses or may even extend to other viruses , which include a number of deadly pathogens (HIV, Influenza). This research has the potential to significantly expand our understanding of how these viruses establish infection and cause disease. Also this discovery has broader implications for understanding inflammatory processes and their regulation.Read moreRead less
Viral Factors Contributing To Flavivirus-induced Cell Death And Pathogenicity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$612,885.00
Summary
West Nile virus is a mosquito-transmitted pathogen that causes severe and fatal neurological disease in humans. There are currently no effective treatments or vaccines for this disease. In this project, we will investigate how West Nile virus and other viruses of the same group use a novel translational regulatory mechanism to modulate the host antiviral response and facilitate viral pathogenicity. This will provide valuable information for the development of effective treatments against this me ....West Nile virus is a mosquito-transmitted pathogen that causes severe and fatal neurological disease in humans. There are currently no effective treatments or vaccines for this disease. In this project, we will investigate how West Nile virus and other viruses of the same group use a novel translational regulatory mechanism to modulate the host antiviral response and facilitate viral pathogenicity. This will provide valuable information for the development of effective treatments against this medically important group of viral pathogens.Read moreRead less
Advances In The Understanding Of Autoimmune Encephalitides And Associated Movement Disorders In Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$68,832.00
Summary
Encephalitis in childhood can be devastating with long lasting effects and mortality. This research focuses on children who suffer from encephalitis due to an autoimmune process. In such cases many children present with involuntary abnormal body movements. This project will explore whether differences in the nature of these movements or in electroencephalography or brain imaging with MRI, can help early differentiation of different types of autoimmune encephalitis.
Identification And Early Treatment Of Autoimmune Brain Disease In Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$406,491.00
Summary
Acquired brain injury affects 2% of Australians, particularly young people, and can result in permanent disability. Most acquired brain injury is not reversible, however ‘autoimmune brain disease' is due to an overactive immune system and is treatable with modulation of the immune system. By measuring antibodies in the blood, this fellowship will result in early identification and treatment of autoimmune brain disease, and improve outcomes.
Australia and the adjacent tropics are subject to incursions of exotic mosquitoes and the diseases they vector, especially dengue. The James Cook University Public Health Entomology is modernizing the control of mosquito-borne disease control in Australia. Our strategies involve using the bacteria Wolbachia to prevent dengue transmission, controlling dengue vectors using novel pesticides, and developing simple yet effective surveillance methods to detect dangerous pathogens in remote areas.