Improving Treatment Strategies For Chronic Alphaviral Arthritic Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$643,624.00
Summary
Chikungunya virus and Ross River virus cause epidemics of acute and chronic arthritic disease in humans, which is often poorly managed with current treatments. This grant seeks to understand the mechanisms that give rise to disease in order to identify improved treatment strategies. Both the persistence of viral replication in joint tissues and unnecessary inflammatory responses appear to be important factors driving chronic disease.
Cell Surface Mucins In Gastrointestinal Infection, Inflammation And Cancer Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$469,627.00
Summary
Cell surface mucins are protective molecules that line all the wet surface of the body, including the gastrointestinal tract. Our research has uncovered that mucins regulate cell growth and cell death. Inappropriate control by the mucins, could lead to chronic inflammation and formation of cancers. We will test how important these molecules are in the development of cancers in the intestine, and further explore the mechanism of action.
HLA-G/H2-Bl Is Critical For Regulating Inflammation In The Liver
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$494,050.00
Summary
The key factor to induction of liver fibrosis, progression to cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma is inflammation. Liver transplant and liver regeneration following liver resection are also dramatically impaired by elevation of inflammation. We have identified a potent anti-inflammatory protein, HLA-G, that is critical for regulating post-surgical inflammation in the liver. We will determine if HLA-G can reverse and/or block liver fibrosis and modify HLA-G for improved clinical potential.
Modulation of air-conditioning settings to destroy respiratory viruses. This project aims to prove that manipulating the ambient humidity can rapidly degrade airborne viruses. The relationship between ambient humidity and airborne infection is poorly understood for viral pathogens including influenza and the common cold. The project will prove that indoor environmental conditions can be easily manipulated to kill airborne viruses. The findings will be used to develop indoor air humidity control ....Modulation of air-conditioning settings to destroy respiratory viruses. This project aims to prove that manipulating the ambient humidity can rapidly degrade airborne viruses. The relationship between ambient humidity and airborne infection is poorly understood for viral pathogens including influenza and the common cold. The project will prove that indoor environmental conditions can be easily manipulated to kill airborne viruses. The findings will be used to develop indoor air humidity control guidelines targeting the vulnerabilities of the viruses to minimise airborne infection.Read moreRead less
Role Of HtrA And RseP, Stress Response Proteases, In Development And Persistence Of Chlamydia Trachomatis Infections
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$389,984.00
Summary
This project will research the most commonly reported bacterial sexually transmitted infection Chlamydia trachomatis. Bacterial proteins which could play a role in chronic infections of humans will be investigated. Proteins will be biologically examined to determine their role during disease. This may identify proteins which could be used for diagnostic and therapeutic tools to prevent chronic Chlamydia infection (which can result in infertility and other serious conditions).
Strain-level Characterisation And Visualisation Of The Mucosal Microbial Communities Associated With Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) For The Development Of Novel Biotherapeutics
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,181,878.00
Summary
Australia has one of the highest incidence rates in the world of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), a debilitating inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract. Cutting-edge molecular and visualisation technologies will be used to examine the role of the gut microbiome in IBD, and identify specific members of this community to be used as new therapies to suppress inflammation and improve outcomes for patients with IBD.
Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin is extremely common in Australia, resulting in disfiguring surgeries and deaths. Although cumulative sun exposure is important, some people are very susceptible, and we do not know why. This project hinges on the notion that skin cancer is a complex (many genes involved). We will utilize novel systems to harness this complexity to understand why some people are resistant and others very susceptible so as to design appropriate control measures and treatments.
Recycling Endosomes Governing Cell Polarity And Cytokine Secretion.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$958,412.00
Summary
Cytokines are chemical messengers released by cells to mount inflammatory responses to fight infections. The timing and direction of cytokine release must be tightly regulated. We investigate the cellular compartments and molecules that control cytokine secretion using sophisticated live cell imaging. Uncontrolled cytokine release is the main cause of ongoing inflammation in arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease and our studies aim to identify cellular targets for new drug development.
Regulating The Secretion Of Inflammatory Cytokines
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$558,441.00
Summary
Cytokines or chemical messengers released by cells are essential for controlling immune responses but, in excess, they cause Crohn's disease and arthritis. Our research aims to block cytokine release as a novel way to ameliorate disease. We have identified specific cellular proteins, called golgins, that can be targeted to reduce cytokines. Here, characterization of golgin mediated cytokine transport in cells and in a mouse disease model is necessary to translate these findings for human benefit