Envelope Glycoprotein Determinants Of HIV-1 Subtype C Tropism And Pathogenicity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$657,745.00
Summary
HIV-1 subtype C is the most common subtype of HIV-w worldwide, yet we know comparatively little about how it causes disease in humans. This study will elucidate how HIV-1 subtype C evolves in patients to become more pathogenic over time.
Controlling Life And Death Of Dendritic Cell Subsets For Immunomodulation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$639,577.00
Summary
Dendritic cells are pivotal in orchestrating immune responses; for example, they can turn immune cells into assassins to kill virus infections. Their function is so diverse that different dendritic cells do different jobs. There are many genes that control life and death of cells but those that are important for each specialised dendritic cell have not been comprehensively studied. Drugs that affect the proteins made by such genes selectively may be a new way of controlling immune responses.
The Cell Death Mechanisms That Control Regulatory T Cell Homeostasis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$583,782.00
Summary
A central question in immunology is how to prevent destructive immune responses (e.g. autoimmune disease) and initiate productive immune responses (e.g. against cancer). A major breakthrough in this area was the discovery of special immune cells, called a Regulatory T Cells. We propose to discover the genes that determine whether these cells live and die. We will use this information to control appropriate numbers and function of Regulatory T Cells to modify the immune system.
Elucidating The Mechanisms And Consequences Of Clinical HIV-1 Resistance To The CCR5 Antagonist Maraviroc
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$622,732.00
Summary
CCR5 antagonists are a new class of anti-HIV drug, and maraviroc (MVC) is the only CCR5 antagonists that is licensed for use as a HIV treatment. Like all HIV treatments, drug resistance to MVC can develop in patients. This study will determine the mechanism of how HIV becomes resistant to MVC, which will permit the development of improved, second generation CCR5 antagonists, and will reveal ways to determine which patients are more likely to develop MVC resistance.
Targeting Novel Sites On Reverse Transcriptase For HIV Treatment And Prevention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$978,994.00
Summary
HIV/AIDS remains a major global threat with 37 million individuals living with HIV in 2014. Antiretroviral drugs have transformed HIV from a death sentence into a chronic disease. Public health organisations recommend dramatic scale up of drugs for HIV treatment and prevention. However, a major threat is that drug options will be exhausted due to drug resistance and toxicity. The major aim of this study is to undertake fundamental studies to advance the development of a new HIV drug class.
Long Term Persistence Of HIV In The Liver And The Clinical Impact On HIV-HBV Co-infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,393,245.00
Summary
This grant will address a major question in HIV cure research - the role of the liver as an HIV reservoir and the impact of HIV persistence in HIV-infected patients on suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART) on liver disease, in the setting of HIV-HBV co-infection. We will trial a novel intervention to reduce HIV infection of the liver that could potentially reduce chronic liver disease in this setting.
Epigenetic Determinants Of Nephropathy In Adults With Type 1 Diabetes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$532,118.00
Summary
The prevention and successful management of diabetic complications are issues of utmost importance for the health of Australians. We hypothesize that epigenetic pathways partly determine why some individuals with diabetes develop complications of their disease, while others do not, despite a similar duration of diabetes, treatment intensity and mean glucose exposure.
Immune Modulatory Effects Of Vaginal Microbiota Metabolites And HIV Susceptibility
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$795,110.00
Summary
This study will advance knowledge on how acid molecules produced by beneficial and harmful bacteria are able to promote or impede HIV infection of the female genital mucosa through their effects on the barrier and immune function of cells that line the vagina and cervix. The results of this study are anticipated to augment the efficacy of topical HIV prevention strategies and lead to the development of safe vaginal hygiene products that help protect against other sexually transmitted infections.
Understanding HIV Resistance To Entry Inhibitors To Advance The Development Of Novel Antivirals
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$877,585.00
Summary
We cannot afford to be complacent in the search for improved anti HIV drugs for 2 principal reasons; First, worldwide a staggering 66% of infected individuals who need treatment are still unable to access therapy; and Second, the main reason why most treated patients are now living longer and more healthy lives is because we have never stopped developing newer therapies to provide options for patients. In this study we will develop and test newer drugs that block HIV infection of cells.
Towards A New Class Of Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor For HIV Prevention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$688,833.00
Summary
There remains an urgent need for new HIV prevention strategies. New HIV drugs that block the virus by distinct ways are needed to prevent transmission of drug resistant HIV. This study seeks to identify very small molecules called “fragments” that bind to previously undiscovered pockets on the HIV reverse transcriptase to stop its function, and that can be used as building blocks to design more potent HIV drugs to be used solely for HIV prevention.