Cluster Randomised Trial Comparing One Versus Two Doses Of Ivermectin For Mass Drug Administration To Control Scabies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$540,512.00
Summary
Scabies is a common skin disease in developing countries, in particular in the Pacific region. In the Western Province of Solomon Islands, one in two children suffer from the infestation, and 20% of the population. We know that mass drug administration with two doses of oral ivermectin is effective to reduce the burden of scabies in the community. We now propose a study to determine whether one single dose is as effective. This would have major public health benefits.
Novel Octapeptin Antibiotics Targeting Extremely Drug Resistant 'superbugs'
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$946,024.00
Summary
The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified antimicrobial resistance as one of the three greatest threats to human health. Many clinicians worldwide have already been confronted with the reality of infections caused by extremely drug resistant (XDR) bacterial 'superbugs' resistant to all available antibiotics. This project aims to develop safe and efficacious octapeptin antibiotics for the treatment of life-threatening infections caused by problematic XDR ‘superbugs'.
Does Mass Drug Administration For Scabies Result In Control Of Serious Bacterial Complications? A Proof Of Concept Towards Global Elimination.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$883,760.00
Summary
Scabies is common skin disease in developing countries, in particular in the Pacific region. In Fiji, one in two children suffer from the infestation, which affects over 20% of the population. A recent study conducted in Fiji on 2000 people showed that mass drug administration (MDA) with oral ivermectin is a safe and effective way to reduce the burden of scabies in the community. We will expand the MDA program to 100,000 people, the largest study of MDA ivermectin for scabies ever undertaken.
‘Intelligent’ Antibacterial Coatings For Improving Outcomes With Infections Associated With Dialysis Catheters
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$653,806.00
Summary
The outcomes of this projects will set the framework for the rational design of novel and ’intelligent‘ antibacterial coating that selectively respond to the ‘virulent’ bacteria that cause such significant and recurrent issues in routine kidney dialysis regimens and will underpin future academic and commercial collaborative efforts to rationally-design and manufacture kidney dialysis catheters with substrate surface characteristics that will enhance utility, function and clinical application;
Understanding The Role Of CD4 T Cells In Viral Infection: A Means Of Improving Anti-viral Immunotherapy.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$672,009.00
Summary
Development of therapies to prevent and treat chronic infections is of the highest priority as they cause considerable clinical challenges and on-going health care costs. Efforts to improve treatment of chronic viral infections, such as those caused by HIV, hepatitis C virus and human cytomegalovirus, require a better understanding of the immune responses needed to control these viruses long-term. This proposal will investigate the role of CD4+ T cells in controlling chronic viral infection.
Dissecting The Molecular Basis For Emerging Alcohol Tolerance In VRE
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$836,620.00
Summary
Infections caused by vancomycin resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) are a major and growing problem in health care facilities around Australia. We have observed that VREfm is becoming significantly more resistant to killing by alcohol, probably due the increasing use of alcohol-based hand wash products. This project will identify how VREfm is becoming alcohol tolerant, knowledge that will be used to develop alternative disinfection methods or other intervention strategies to stop its spread.
Anti-sporulation Strategies For Clostridium Difficile Infections
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$651,559.00
Summary
Hospital-acquired infections with the bacterium Clostridium difficile are a major global public health concern with highly virulent isolates emerging overseas in 2002 and in Australia in 2010. These strains have spread through our hospitals and are also found in the community. This project will increase our understanding of how these strains spread and will provide knowledge that is critical for developing improved strategies for preventing these infections.
Long-term Macrolide Therapy; Oropharyngeal Dysbiosis And The Spread Of Resistant Pathogens
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$384,153.00
Summary
Use of macrolide therapy for chronic lung diseases is increasing rapidly. We will determine the impact of long-term macrolide antibiotic use on upper airway bacteria in patients with lung disease, and assess its contribution to antibiotic resistance in the wider community. We will investigate the mechanism by which this therapy achieves benefit and assess interference with bacterial signalling as a means to improve treatment efficacy and reduce induction of antibiotic resistance.
The Role Of Noncoding Viral RNAs In Flavivirus Infection And Exosomal Signalling
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$683,447.00
Summary
The application is aimed at investigating the novel role for viral noncoding RNAs in exosomal antiviral signalling and associated outcome of infection with West Nile virus. We will identify host enzymes involved in generation of viral noncoding RNAs, determine which host proteins they interact with and how these interactions determine their incorporation into secreted exosomes to influence outcome of infection.
Defining A Role For TLR7/8 In Helicobacter Pylori Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$568,007.00
Summary
Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium responsible for chronic gastritis and is associated with development of gastric cancer. In this project, we will investigate how the immune system interacts with H. pylori during colonisation – focusing on a sensor of the immune system, called TLR8 (and its mouse equivalent, TLR7).