Evolution And Function Of A Novel Lateral Flagellar Locus, Flag-2, In Pathogenic Escherichia Coli
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$465,158.00
Summary
This project will study how the bacteria that cause infant diarrhoea colonize the intestine and induce disease. We have identified a novel genetic region that allows E. coli to survive and persist in the intestine. Similar genes are also present in closely related organisms. This project will help us to undestand how new diseases evolve and emerge and may lead to the development of new vaccines to protect against infant diarrhoea.
Inhibition Of Cellcell Actin-based Motility During Poxvirus Infection By The Kinase Inhibitor Glivec
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$92,950.00
Summary
Although smallpox, one of the deadliest human pathogens, was eradicated in 1980, the current global climate has resulted in fears that smallpox may be used as a biological weapon. Unfortunately the smallpox vaccine poses a serious health hazard to certain people. We have shown that Glivec, a drug used to treat cancer, has potent anti-viral affects on poxvirus replication. This project will test the effectiveness of Glivec in treating smallpox in an animal model and study how it acts.
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.
Understanding Virulence In Staphylococcus Aureus And Impacts On Host Response
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$574,890.00
Summary
Golden Staph remains an important cause of serious infections in Australian patients. New strategies to combat this disease require a better understanding of how Golden Staph causes disease and escapes the natural human response to infection. This study will provide new insights into how Golden Staph causes disease, and provide a platform for developing new strategies to prevent and treat Golden Staph infections.
Pathogenomics: New Ways To Exploit Genome Sequence Data From Pathogenic Bacteria.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$547,372.00
Summary
Bacterial pathogens are locked in an evolutionary battle of survival with their eukaryote hosts. The rapidly evolving genes of medically-important pathogens are generally those required for adaptation to the human host. This project aims to exploit the abundance of available bacterial genome sequences to predict rapid evolution in bacterial pathogens using computational methods. The protein products of such genes offer novel targets for therapeutic intervention.
Biology and evolution of intracellular parasitism. This project will investigate the development of intracellular parasitism in environmental amoebae. The outcomes of this work will help to understand the mechanisms by which bacteria have evolved to survive inside cells and in some cases cause disease.
This program will investigate the strategies used by pathogenic bacteria to cause human diseases. The research will focus on how bacteria initiate infections, how they invade, cause cell and tissue damage and respond to their human host. It will also examine how the host’s innate immune system interacts with these bacteria. The results will provide new insights into host-pathogen interactions and reveal new targets for the development of novel antibacterial drugs and vaccines.
Imaging The Hepatitis C Virus Life Cycle In Real-time
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$477,504.00
Summary
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a serious viral pathogen that causes significant liver disease. This proposal plans to examine how two proteins from the HCV, core and NS5A, interact with host proteins and pathways to facilitate viral replication and release of HCV; two processes that are poorly understood. Specifically we will tag viral proteins to allow us to investigate the HCV life cycle in living cells and determine the role of core and NS5A in facilitating HCV replication. This proposal may unco ....Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a serious viral pathogen that causes significant liver disease. This proposal plans to examine how two proteins from the HCV, core and NS5A, interact with host proteins and pathways to facilitate viral replication and release of HCV; two processes that are poorly understood. Specifically we will tag viral proteins to allow us to investigate the HCV life cycle in living cells and determine the role of core and NS5A in facilitating HCV replication. This proposal may uncover novel therapeutic strategies to combat HCV.Read moreRead less
Function And Inhibition Of Plasmepsin V In Targeting Malaria Virulence Proteins Into Human Erythrocytes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$407,845.00
Summary
Malaria parasites dramatically renovate infected erythrocytes to survive and evade the host immune system by delivering hundreds of exported parasite proteins into the cell. The parasite protease Plasmepsin V is essential for protein export. We aim to develop potent inhibitors of this protease in the hope of blocking its function and killing the parasite. We also aim to discover the components of the trafficking pathway after cleavage by Plasmepsin V that sorts virulence proteins to the host cel ....Malaria parasites dramatically renovate infected erythrocytes to survive and evade the host immune system by delivering hundreds of exported parasite proteins into the cell. The parasite protease Plasmepsin V is essential for protein export. We aim to develop potent inhibitors of this protease in the hope of blocking its function and killing the parasite. We also aim to discover the components of the trafficking pathway after cleavage by Plasmepsin V that sorts virulence proteins to the host cell.Read moreRead less
What is killing the honeybees? The role of RNA viruses. This project aims to determine if the Varroa mite, the most important parasite of honeybees, selects for virulent strains of RNA viruses. Before Varroa’s inevitable arrival in Australia, this project will disentangle the effect of Varroa and the bees’ immune system on the evolution of virulence of bee viruses. Australia’s honeybees are Varroa-naïve and don’t carry virulent viruses. There is a known association between Varroa and colonies dy ....What is killing the honeybees? The role of RNA viruses. This project aims to determine if the Varroa mite, the most important parasite of honeybees, selects for virulent strains of RNA viruses. Before Varroa’s inevitable arrival in Australia, this project will disentangle the effect of Varroa and the bees’ immune system on the evolution of virulence of bee viruses. Australia’s honeybees are Varroa-naïve and don’t carry virulent viruses. There is a known association between Varroa and colonies dying from viruses; however, it is not known what is cause and effect. This project will clarify Varroa’s exact role in the evolution of virulence in RNA viruses. The intended outcome is increased knowledge allowing the design of an effective treatment to prevent the death of honeybee colonies.Read moreRead less