Scabies is caused by microscopic mites burrowing through the skin, causing intense itching and providing prime breeding sites for bacteria. The resulting skin sores are very common among Aboriginal children in Australia leading to extreme levels of rheumatic fever-heart disease and renal failure in Indigenous communities. We have discovered mite products termed Serpins which interfere with the patients defence against the mites and the bacteria and aim to develop therapeutics.
Last year an estimated 3.1 million people died of AIDS (source: UNAIDS, Dec 2002) equivalent to the number killed by tuberculosis and malaria combined. AIDS-related opportunistic infections (OIs) are the main cause of death for AIDS patients, especially in resource constrained countries where access to antiretroviral and antibiotic therapy is limited. Attempts to limit the epidemic have failed and new foci have emerged in Eastern Europe, Central Asia and, of particular relevance for us, South Ea ....Last year an estimated 3.1 million people died of AIDS (source: UNAIDS, Dec 2002) equivalent to the number killed by tuberculosis and malaria combined. AIDS-related opportunistic infections (OIs) are the main cause of death for AIDS patients, especially in resource constrained countries where access to antiretroviral and antibiotic therapy is limited. Attempts to limit the epidemic have failed and new foci have emerged in Eastern Europe, Central Asia and, of particular relevance for us, South East Asia, underlining the fact that safe and effective treatment for AIDS-related OIs will be a global health priority for the foreseeable future. People with healthy immune systems do not get OIs since the germs that cause such infections are efficiently ingested and subsequently destroyed by cells called macrophages. We have discovered that the virus that causes AIDS, HIV-1, interferes with the ability of macrophages to ingest opportunistic pathogens by the 2 most important mechanisms used for this purpose. We believe that this is the direct cause for the susceptibility of AIDS patients to many of the opportunistic pathogens that cause their OIs. The purpose of this grant will be to understand the biochemical basis underlying these 2 defects in macrophage function. This will help in the design of safe, adjunctive therapies aimed at improving macrophage function and reducing the risk of HIV-infected individuals developing AIDS-related OIs.Read moreRead less
Role Of Complement Factor H And Related Proteins In Regulating Complement Activation And Microbial Pathogenesis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$377,036.00
Summary
A group of proteins in blood called Complement are activated in the presence of foreign cells or organisms and this generally results in their destruction. It is important to direct this destructive activity against foreign and not self tissue. This is achieved by a further family of proteins, including factor H, which regulate complement activity and how these proteins work is the principal focus of this project. There are many diseases in which damage results from inadvertent complement damage ....A group of proteins in blood called Complement are activated in the presence of foreign cells or organisms and this generally results in their destruction. It is important to direct this destructive activity against foreign and not self tissue. This is achieved by a further family of proteins, including factor H, which regulate complement activity and how these proteins work is the principal focus of this project. There are many diseases in which damage results from inadvertent complement damage and the regulatory proteins have therapeutic potential in this area. In addition many bacteria and other microorganisms, which should be destroyed by complement, escape by binding regulatory proteins. Understanding how this is achieved may reveal new targets for vaccine development. Knowledge of how the production of factor H and related proteins will help understand how inflammation occurs and how it might be controlled.Read moreRead less
DIREKT: Disarming The Intravascular Innate Immune Response To Improve Modalities For Chronic Kidney Disease Treatment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$362,830.00
Summary
Dialysis is the mainstay treatment for patients with end-stage kidney disease while they await transplantation. However, the dialysis process causes inflammation in patients, affecting their health and longevity. This project aims to develop new bioreagents that can be applied to dialysis devices to reduce inflammation and thus improve patient outcomes. These bioreagents will also be used to modify donor kidneys so that they are protected from inflammation associated with transplantation.
A Novel RNA Repressor Element Regulates HIV-1 Replication
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$341,453.00
Summary
HIV-1 causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, with up to 40 million infected people and 5 million infected annually. The spatio-temporal regulation of HIV-1 reverse transcription has recently been recognised as a possible new drug target. Our research has revealed a novel repressor of reverse transcripiton (RRT). The RRT plays a major role in regulating the spatio-temporal regulation of reverse transcripiton. Targetting the RRT function would be a novel means to combat HIV-1 infection.
The Therapeutic Role Of Complement Inhibition In ANCA Associated Glomerulonephritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$600,964.00
Summary
ANCA associated vasculitis is an inflammatory disease involving the kidney filters which is a major cause of chronic kidney failure. Current drugs to treat it are toxic. Less toxic treatments are required. In this study we will explore the potential for new treatments targeting complement (a normal blood protein involved in inflammation) to attenuate this disease in mice. We hope to define the role of complement in this disease and the benefits of inhibiting it before we use it in humans.
Contribution Of Complement C5a To Neuronal Cell Death During Ischemic Stroke
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$455,263.00
Summary
Ischemic stroke remains the second leading cause of death in Australia. This project aims to understand the role the innate immune system plays in neuronal cell death following ischemic stroke. We will use cellular and animal models of ischemic stroke, as well as examine patients affected by stroke, to explore and inhibit potential damaging immune factors generated by stroke tissue. By exploring these immune pathways, we aim to identify novel therapeutic targets to treat ischemic stroke.