Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE110100106
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$350,000.00
Summary
An advanced flow cytometry facility for the Peter Doherty Institute. The establishment of a flow cytometry facility in the new Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity will enhance capacity to investigate immunity to a broad range of very serious diseases. This project will support researchers studying viral and bacterial infection as well as cancer and autoimmunity.
Influenza A Virus PB1-F2 Protein: A Putative Virulence Factor And Initiator Of Inflammation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$474,718.00
Summary
Influenza virus produces a protein of undefined function called PB1-F2. Infection of mice with virus expressing PB1-F2 from virulent strains causes severe lung inflammation, while PB1-F2 from milder seasonal viruses does not. We will examine how PB1-F2 influences virulence of human influenza in the ferret, which exhibits the same illness as humans. This work will help understand the disease severity of newly evolved influenza viruses of humans and the role of PB1-F2 in mediating this.
Host-pathogen Interaction: The Battle For Supremacy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$480,014.00
Summary
This grant will provide salary support for Dr Rowena Bull. Dr Bull's research is focused on understanding the disease process between the human host and the infecting virus. The outcomes of this research will be used to find novel ways to fight viral infections with vaccines and drugs.
I am an infectious diseases physician and virologist/immunologist focused on developing and testing vaccines against the AIDS virus. I intend to achieve this by advancing novel vaccine concepts that stimulate broad and potent immunity and evaluating these vaccines in rigorous laboratory models and then moving them towards clinical trials.
Identification Of Novel HCV-specific B Cell Epitopes Which Induce Broad Neutralising Antibodies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$482,480.00
Summary
This research project will study humans who have been exposed to multiple Hepatitis C virus infections. We will be examining their immune response with the aim to identify subjects with antibodies that are able to neutralise a diverse range of hepatitis C virus variants. These antibodies will be used to identify novel targets for a vaccine directed against Hepatitis C virus.
Dengue Host-cell Signalling Interactions: Novel Insights And Interventions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$124,676.00
Summary
Dengue is a virus transmitted by mosquitoes that occurs in many tropical and subtropical regions. Approximately 40% of the world's population is at risk of this infection. Sometimes it can be mild but it can lead to severe illness and death especially with second infections. The body produces a response that over-reacts to the virus in these severe infections. The project aims to understand why the body does this and what parts of the immune system are affected using a model in mice.
The Role Of Dendritic Cells In Sexual Transmission Of HIV And Viral Reservoir Formation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$654,296.00
Summary
This grant aims to determine the subsets of dendritic cells found in the different tissue of the anogenital tracts and to determine which ones play the key roles in HIV transmission. The relative ability of these cells to transfer the virus to activated T cells leading to productive infection and resting memory T cells leading to latent infection will be investigated. Finally the key receptors which mediate this process will be determined and strategies to block this transfer developed.
Understanding The Role Of NS Segments In Evading Influenza A Virus-specific Humoral And T Cell Immunity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$213,812.00
Summary
Influenza viruses developed two ways to survive against host immune response: (i) mutating in its genes to escape host immune response, which may cause a new pandemic; (ii) using its NS1 protein to impair host immune response. However, little is known on how these two processes occur and whether NS1 could influence the outcome of escape mutants. By using virological and immunological methods, this study will show how viruses use different NS1 to enhance the viral escape mechanism.
Most individuals infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) develop progressive liver disease. A vaccine is urgently needed, and needs to mimic the immune responses seen in the minority of individuals who clear infection. However, there are large gaps in our understanding of these responses as most acute infections cause no illness and pass unnoticed. This project will fill these gaps by detailed immunological and virological analysis of a large group of subjects with early infection.
Improving The Management Of An Emerging Viral Disease In Australia: Determination Of The Mechanisms Of Neuroinvasion By Hendra Virus And Their Control, Leading To Optimisation Of Post-exposure Therapy Following Contact With Hendra Virus
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$675,742.00
Summary
Hendra virus causes severe disease in people with >50% mortality; human infection is acquired following contact with affected horses. In nature, Hendra virus is carried by flying foxes and the cause of spill-over events to horses is unknown. The impact of Hendra virus on human health may rapidly increase in response to continued urban expansion; the outcome of this project will be improved decision support for those charged with the medical management of people exposed to this deadly virus.