The Impact Of Household Infrastructure Improvements On Child Health In Remote Aboriginal Communities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$413,350.00
Summary
The impact of the living environment on health has been well documented in the last 150 years and it is widely acknowledged that improvements in the living, working and social conditions of industrial countries have resulted in dramatic improvements in health. In Australia the close correlation between an unhealthy environment and the poor health of the Indigenous population has been clearly recognised. In 1993-94 the Federal Government established infrastructure projects as a component in the i ....The impact of the living environment on health has been well documented in the last 150 years and it is widely acknowledged that improvements in the living, working and social conditions of industrial countries have resulted in dramatic improvements in health. In Australia the close correlation between an unhealthy environment and the poor health of the Indigenous population has been clearly recognised. In 1993-94 the Federal Government established infrastructure projects as a component in the implementation of the National Aboriginal Health Strategy. The selection of communities for funding has been based on need, and the Northern Territory has attracted funding support disproportionate to its total population, but consistent with the level of need. While there is wide acceptance of the relationship between the household environment and health status, and evidence to support this general relationship, there is a need at an international and local level for research that informs specific social policy decisions. The aim of the proposed study is to determine the impact of improvements in household infrastructure on the health of children living in remote Aboriginal communities with a view to informing the development of infrastructure projects. The outcomes of this project will be a significant advance in the understanding of the relationship between the household environment and health status, and of the improvements in health that can be achieved through improvement in household infrastructure. The relationship between specific components of household infrastructure and the ability to conduct each of a number of healthy living practices will be defined, to our knowledge, for the first time. There is a unique opportunity in the Northern Territory to conduct world class research in this area. The new information will be of value in the planning of infrastructure projects in remote Indigenous communities across Australia and in similar settings internationallyRead moreRead less
Viral Factors Involved In Flavivirus Replication And Virus-host Interactions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$743,696.00
Summary
With our increased understanding of virus-host interactions it has become apparent that small, non-structural proteins and small RNAs of most viruses are vital for numerous, often multiple, functions in the viral life cycle. In the proposed project, we seek to gain a detailed understanding of the functions of small nonstructural protein NS2A and small abundant viral RNAs of medicaly important encephalitic flaviviruses, which have remained so far elusive and are at the cutting-edge in the researc ....With our increased understanding of virus-host interactions it has become apparent that small, non-structural proteins and small RNAs of most viruses are vital for numerous, often multiple, functions in the viral life cycle. In the proposed project, we seek to gain a detailed understanding of the functions of small nonstructural protein NS2A and small abundant viral RNAs of medicaly important encephalitic flaviviruses, which have remained so far elusive and are at the cutting-edge in the research field. We anticipate that with a better understanding of the roles of these factors in flaviviral replication and pathogenesis, novel targets for antiviral therapies and-or molecular determinants for inclusion in candidate vaccines will be identified.Read moreRead less
Copper And Its Antibacterial Action: An Emerging Aspect Of Host Defence Against Bacterial Pathogens
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$454,858.00
Summary
This project will determine the way in which copper is used as an antimicrobial agent to kill Salmonella that reside inside the macrophage (white blood cell) of the host and also determine how Salmonella defends against copper-dependent killing. It will also determine the role of copper in the killing of extra-intestinal pathogens during sepsis. These results will provide information that can be used to manage and control infections intracellular and extracellular bacterial pathogens.
Genetics And Biochemistry Of Biosynthesis Of The Cell Wall Of Mycobacteria
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$260,831.00
Summary
Mycobacteria commolnly cause human disease. The major killer in the group is Mycobacterium tuberculosis which annually causes millions of deaths from tuberculosis (TB) worldwide. Another pathogen from this group is Mycobacterium avium which often infects immunosuppressed people such as those with advanced HIV-AIDS. Mycobacteria have evolved a specialised wall that surrounds their cells which protects them from chemical attack from antibiotics and helps them to establish infections. The major ant ....Mycobacteria commolnly cause human disease. The major killer in the group is Mycobacterium tuberculosis which annually causes millions of deaths from tuberculosis (TB) worldwide. Another pathogen from this group is Mycobacterium avium which often infects immunosuppressed people such as those with advanced HIV-AIDS. Mycobacteria have evolved a specialised wall that surrounds their cells which protects them from chemical attack from antibiotics and helps them to establish infections. The major antibiotic used for TB stops cells from synthesising the protective layer thereby making them very vulnerable to human immune defences. Unfortunately, resistance to this antibiotic is common and new antibiotics are needed to treat mycobacterial infections. We are studying how mycobacteria make the cell wall and are looking for key steps where new drugs might be able to inhibit the process. Our approach is to inactivate genes in the mycobacteria that make the enzymes which control cell wall synthesis. The gene inactivation results in crippled mycobacteria that are unable to make proper cell walls. We analyse the cell wall changes that gene inactivation cause studying the chemical composition of the cell. This helps to identify the steps in cell wall biosynthesis and each step becomes a potential target for new drugs. Each of the weaken mycobacteria can be tested to see how well they can resist antibiotics and to see if they can survive host defences. In this way we can identify which components of the cell wall are critical for them to establish infections and resist antibiotic treatments. Enzymes that participate in the synthesis of such components are prime targets for us to concentrate on to design new antibiotics.Read moreRead less
Application Of Protein Microarrays To Develop A Cross-Species Malaria Vaccine
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$451,821.00
Summary
Malaria remains a significant public health problem worldwide. Five species of malaria parasites infect humans. The ideal vaccine would be effective against all five species. Using a novel protein microarray approach, we will identify Plasmodium proteins that may be excellent targets of a cross-species malaria vaccine. This research will build on Australia's current strengths in biotechnology and will result in significant economic benefits by facilitating the development of a malaria vaccine.
Investigating The Interface Between Host Innate Immune Cells And A Fungal Pathogen
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$578,085.00
Summary
Fungi which infect humans are a major health problem, especially for those with compromised immune systems (eg. AIDS, transplant and cancer patients). These fungi cause disease by evading the immune system whilst deriving nutrients for growth. Some fungi evade the immune system by residing within host cells; a hostile and nutrient poor environment. This project will study a pathway that we have shown is required for growth inside host cells. This knowledge will open new avenues for treatment.
Molecular Mechanisms Of Intracellular Growth, Survival And Pathogenicity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$335,816.00
Summary
Fungi which infect humans are a major health problem, especially for those with compromised immune systems (eg. AIDS, transplant and cancer patients). These fungi cause disease by evading the immune system whilst deriving nutrients for growth. Some fungi evade the immune system by residing within host cells; a hostile and nutrient poor environment. This project will study a pathway that we have shown is required for growth inside host cells. This knowledge will open new avenues for treatment.
Investigation Of The Effects Of Polymicrobial Infection On The Induction Of Otitis Media
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$235,511.00
Summary
Middle ear infection is a highly prevalent paediatric disease characterised by an inflammation of the middle ear and is the most prevalent illness of childhood. It is reported that greater than 80% of children have had at least one episode of acute otitis media by 3 years of age and almost 40% of children have more than 6 episodes by age 7 years. The cause and pathogenesis of middle ear infection are multifactorial and influence of prevalence and chonicity of the infections. Prevention of bacter ....Middle ear infection is a highly prevalent paediatric disease characterised by an inflammation of the middle ear and is the most prevalent illness of childhood. It is reported that greater than 80% of children have had at least one episode of acute otitis media by 3 years of age and almost 40% of children have more than 6 episodes by age 7 years. The cause and pathogenesis of middle ear infection are multifactorial and influence of prevalence and chonicity of the infections. Prevention of bacterial middle ear infection caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis requires a much better knowledge of how these bacteria interact with each other and with the host. The poor efficacy of the current pneumococcal paediatric vaccine for preventing middle ear infections highlights this deficiency in our knowledge and will impede the development of a suitable multvalent vaccine to prevent infection by the 3 major bacterial pathogens. This study will investigate how the bacteria colonising the respiratory tract interact during infection and how they affect the host.Read moreRead less
Identification Of Type III Effectors In Salmonella
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$555,325.00
Summary
Salmonella is a major cause of disease across the world. In order to cause disease, Salmonella injects certain molecules into our own human cells to reprogramme them to promote Salmonella infection. This work aims to identify a large proportion of those molecules injected by Salmonella. Once identified, a more complete understanding of exactly how Salmonella reprogrammes our cells will be possible, enabling new avenues for therapeutics.