Pattern Recognition Receptors In Inflammation And Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$622,655.00
Summary
Innate immunity provides our first line of defence against infections, but pathogens can overcome this system. Understanding how microbes disable innate immunity can teach us how to prevent and/or treat infectious diseases. Innate immunity acts by initiating inflammation. Many important acute and chronic diseases develop when this process is dysregulated. Blocking innate immunity thus has potential to treat many diseases. This project aims to understand innate immunity in these contexts.
Excess inflammation is a major problem after injury and in many diseases. Upon injury molecules are release that act as danger signals to alert the immune system to start the repair process. However, high levels of these dangers signals can impair the final stages of healing. Understanding how to prevent the immune system being excessively stimulated by these danger signals is key to being able to dampen inflammation after injury improve the healing response.
Investigation Of The Use Of Innate And CD1-mediated Immune Responses As Biomarkers In Tuberculosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$144,836.00
Summary
Tuberculosis and other non-tuberculosis mycobacterial infections are major health problems worldwide. There are multiple challenges facing treatment and identification of active versus latent TB infections currently. This project aims to identify and characterise several aspects of the immune system which may be responsible for people developing active infections, including ones which may enable development of diagnostic tests and to monitor treatment. Such a biomarker may also help hasten new d ....Tuberculosis and other non-tuberculosis mycobacterial infections are major health problems worldwide. There are multiple challenges facing treatment and identification of active versus latent TB infections currently. This project aims to identify and characterise several aspects of the immune system which may be responsible for people developing active infections, including ones which may enable development of diagnostic tests and to monitor treatment. Such a biomarker may also help hasten new drug therapies for tuberculosis.Read moreRead less
The Identification And Characterisation Of A New DNA Receptor
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$656,498.00
Summary
The immune system has evolved to fight disease-causing microbes. First, it has to recognize that an infectious agent has invaded. To do this we have developed many probes (receptors) that sense microbial products. Detecting microbial DNA is a critical alarm bell. However, distinguishing pathogen DNA from our own DNA is difficult because both look alike. We have identified a new receptor that helps us identify bacterial DNA and alerts the immune system to the imminent danger.
The Inflammasome In Host Defence And Autoinflammation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,388.00
Summary
Inflammation is one of the bodies first responses to infection. The inflammasome is a protein complex that activates pro-inflammatory cytokines as part of this process. We are investigating pathogens that activate a specific inflammasome complex, and also an inflammatory disease it may cause when activated accidentally, in the absence of infection. We are also investigating pathways that keep this inflammation in check, and how pathogens might hijack these anti-inflammatory pathways to promote i ....Inflammation is one of the bodies first responses to infection. The inflammasome is a protein complex that activates pro-inflammatory cytokines as part of this process. We are investigating pathogens that activate a specific inflammasome complex, and also an inflammatory disease it may cause when activated accidentally, in the absence of infection. We are also investigating pathways that keep this inflammation in check, and how pathogens might hijack these anti-inflammatory pathways to promote infection.Read moreRead less
The Role Of BAFF, Its Receptor TACI And Toll-like Receptors In Autoimmunity And Tolerance.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$486,824.00
Summary
There are 2 types of immune cells, innate cells reacting broadly against microbial elements, and adaptive cells educated to remember pathogens and provide improved immune responses. Most treatments against lupus target the adaptive cells with mixed success. We have discovered a new mechanism driving lupus at the level of innate immunity. This proposal will identify molecular players driving this unappreciated form of lupus and validate new therapeutic targets.
Recognition And Interaction Of Virus By The Innate Immune System
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$307,946.00
Summary
The innate immune system acts rapidly to limit infection of invading pathogens. The interaction and recognition of pathogens such as viruses by the innate immune system, is of importance to understand why particular pathogens induce disease.
Initial Interactions Of Herpes Simplex Virus With Innate Immune Cells In Human Skin
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$522,589.00
Summary
Herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2 cause widespread and occasionally serious diseases including genital herpes, neonatal death and encephalitis. Current vaccine candidates are at best partially effective. This grant will examine the way that the virus enters, initially spreads within the skin and interacts with immune cells to help determine which cells should be stimulated by vaccines.
Toll-like Receptors And Innate Immunity: Genes And Pathways Regulating Infectious And Inflammatory Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$138,367.00
Summary
The innate immune system is the first line of defence against infectious diseases, but also contributes to the pathology of inflammatory diseases (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis). I study specific genes and pathways used by the innate immune system to (1) understand how the innate immune system prevents infections and how microorganisms overcome these defences, and (2) develop approaches to block inflammation. Outcomes may include new therapies for inflammatory and infectious diseases.
Inhibitors Of Class II HDACs In Inflammatory And Metabolic Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$615,774.00
Summary
Inflammatory diseases such as arthritis and inflammatory bowel syndrome are major social and economic burdens on Australian communities. Obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease are also now widely viewed as inflammatory diseases. New specialised types of anti-inflammatory drugs are urgently needed to treat such diseases. This project proposes to create new classes of anti-inflammatory drugs by altering anti-cancer drugs called histone deacetylase inhibitors.