Understanding The Host Pathogen Relationships Of Hendra Virus In Bats, Horses And Humans
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$648,339.00
Summary
We will examine why bats can be infected with Hendra Virus with no apparent symptoms, yet the virus causes severe disease in other mammals including humans. We will examine the innate immune response towards the virus in the natural host (fruit bats), horses and humans. In addition to the innate immune response we will also examine the adaptive immune response in bats and humans. We hope this information can be used to design new drugs or vaccines to Hendra Virus.
Il-18 helps to prevent obesity and type 2 diabetes, however the process by which this cytokine is activated to prevent obesity is not known. We have now found the pathway that drives to this process. This project will seek to extend our observations to show how this can be targeted therapeutically to treat obesity and type 2 diabetes.