The Effect Of Innate Immune Responses On The Induction Of Protective Immunity In Murine Typhoid Fever
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$136,500.00
Summary
Salmonella are important pathogens of humans causing diseases ranging from gastroenteritis, typhoid fever to arthritis. Like most if not all infections, the early interaction between the host and the bacterium is characterised by very non-specific symptoms. These non-specific symptoms arise because the so-called innate immune system is activated by the infection. The purpose of this grant is to establish whether these non-specific symptoms, caused by the release of immunological homrones called ....Salmonella are important pathogens of humans causing diseases ranging from gastroenteritis, typhoid fever to arthritis. Like most if not all infections, the early interaction between the host and the bacterium is characterised by very non-specific symptoms. These non-specific symptoms arise because the so-called innate immune system is activated by the infection. The purpose of this grant is to establish whether these non-specific symptoms, caused by the release of immunological homrones called cytokines, are essential to the development of an effective immune response which can protect against subsequent re-infection. This study has important implications for vaccines, of our understanding of how bacteria cause disease, and the role-capacity of the innate immune system in the development of immunity.Read moreRead less
Immune Correlates Of Protection Against HCV - A Potential Role For NK Cells And NKR Expression On T Lymphocytes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$72,754.00
Summary
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) poses a major public health problem with ~200 million people infected worldwide and no available vaccine. Injecting drug users (IDUs) are the major risk group, with 75% of infected individuals progress to chronic infection, which can then lead to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, about 20% of a given cohort of IDUs remains uninfected. This project is therefore focused on understanding the innate immune mechanisms behind this protection.
The Role Of Novel G-Protein Coupled Receptors In Immunity And Inflammatory Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$69,684.00
Summary
Recent advances in molecular biology techniques have resulted in the identification of many novel GPCRs. Novel GPCRs expressed selectively on immune cells display a potential target for novel therapies for inflammatory diseases such as Asthma and Rheumatoid arthritis. This project aims to define the activity and significance of a novel group of GPCRs, the GPR40 family. Outcomes of this project will be further understanding of immune cell development and inflammatory disease development.
Characterisation Of The Genetic Networks Underlying Macrophage Differentiation And The Resolution Of Inflammation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$405,000.00
Summary
Chronic inflammation is a central player in many common diseases, impacting on the health and well being of millions of Australians. By using innovative genomic approaches to build a map of all of the gene products involved in the inflammatory process, this project aims to identify which are the critical molecules that normally switch off inflammation. Our ultimate aim is to develop new approaches to treating inflammatory disease.
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.
The Role Of Toll Like Receptors In Leukocyte Activation And Adherence In Glomeruli In Auto-immune Glomerulonephritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$82,554.00
Summary
1 in 7 Australians have Kidney disease. Kidney disease tends to be progressive and over 8500 Australians require renal replacement therapy (dialysis). The cost of dialysis from 2004-2010 in Australia will be $ 4.5 billion. Auto-immune disease and Diabetes accounts for nearly 60% of kidney failure. Whilst current regimes exist to treat Kidney disease these are limited because they are deleterious side-effects. Improved understanding of the mechanism of disease will lead to improved treatments.
Argonaute Proteins In The Mammalian Antiviral Response
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Summary
Viruses are the most abundant infectious agents on earth, and the diseases caused by them are a constant threat and cause of mortality worldwide. Awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 2006, RNA interference (RNAi) is a natural process that plants use to attack viruses. Humans possess all of the tools for RNAi, but whether it is used for antiviral defense is unknown. This study aims to uncover this immune process which will open new avenues to treat virus infections, such as influenza and HIV.