Host-directed Therapy For Malaria: Host Cell Signalome As A Target
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$898,043.00
Summary
Malaria parasites kill 450,000 children a year and impact on the economic development of communities. Spreading drug resistant malaria parasites within Australia's South-East Asian neighbours creates an urgent and unmet need for new drug treatments. We will characterise host signals required for parasite survival in immature erythrocytes and identify host-directed, ready to develop, resistance-proofed drugs to kill malaria parasites.
Plasmodium falciparum is the most lethal malaria parasite that infect humans. Our work will reveal how this malaria parasite governs host tropism, fertilization and immune evasion by using the 6-cysteine family of proteins which are abundantly expressed on its surface. This proposal will explore novel ways using the smallest types of antibodies, called nanobodies, to block the function of these proteins and therefore prevent malaria infection.
Structure And Biophysical Analysis Aided Design Of Novel Toxoid Vaccines For A Major Class Of Bacterial Toxins.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$608,425.00
Summary
Inactivated bacterial toxins (toxoids), such as the tetanus vaccine, are safe and effective vaccines. Cholesterol dependent cytolysins (CDCs) are bacterial toxins produced by many important human pathogens including Group A Streptococcus (GAS) and Pneumococcus. GAS has no available vaccine and Pneumococcus does not have a universal vaccine. We have developed a new way of inactivating CDCs based on new knowledge of how they target human cells and will use this knowledge to make new vaccines.
The Role Of Host Proteases In Modulating Enteric Infectious Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,267,155.00
Summary
Bacterial pathogens that cause gut diseases result in 2.5 million deaths per year. The gut is a complex environment consisting of numerous factors that must be balanced to maintain enteric health. When these factors are unbalanced, disease can occur, and infections can cause imbalances. This project will increase our understanding of the role that host proteins play in gut infections, providing knowledge critical for developing improved strategies for disease treatment and prevention.
Identifying The Correlates Of Protective Immunity Against Invasive Staphylococcus Aureus Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$954,131.00
Summary
The bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) remains a major cause of human infections, and the rise of highly pathogenic, antibiotic-resistant strains is making treatment increasingly difficult. In this project we will examine the immune response to S.aureus to determine which parts of the immune system are involved in responding to the bacteria. This knowledge will lay the foundation for which new innovative S. aureus vaccines will ultimately emerge.
Targeting Pathogenic TAR DNA-binding Protein 43 To Treat Frontotemporal Dementia And Motor Neuron Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$687,444.00
Summary
Frontotemporal dementia and motor neuron Disease are rapidly progressive and fatal neurodegenerative diseases that affect people in their prime. Poor understanding of the processes that lead to these diseases have slowed drug development. Through innovative experimental design, we aim to decipher a novel disease mechanism that involves specific molecular interactions and translate these findings into new therapies for the diseases.
Characterising The Function Of Niche-derived Neuregulin 1 In Colorectal Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$994,246.00
Summary
Colorectal cancer affects thousands of Australians each year. A specialised cell population, named cancer stem cells, continuously produces new tumour cells. Defining mechanisms controlling the behaviour of these unique cells is critical to develop new drugs. We have identified that Neuregulin-1 is a key factor that enhances the action of cancer stem cells. We aim to study how colorectal cancer is mediated and whether targeting Neuregulin-1 is a promising therapeutic option.