A vitamin-sized capsule, containing gas sensors, is to be fully developed for assessing the state of health and diagnosing the diseases relevant to gastrointestinal tract. The capsule travels along the tract, transmitting information about the gas species generated by the microorganisms of the gut, which is closely associated with the health of the human under surveillance. The information will be invaluable for diagnostics and adjusting the diet to mitigate and cure the diseases of the guts.
Neuroimmune Interactions In Functional And Organic Gastrointestinal Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$419,180.00
Summary
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) are chronic, incurable diseases of the lower gastrointestinal tract with unknown causes and poor treatment options. Both the immune and nervous systems are altered in GI disease, but have traditionally been studied in isolation. My research investigates how the neuro-immune axis is altered in these diseases, using animal models and human tissue samples to identify novel treatment options for these debilitating diseases.
Long Term Changes In Excitability Of Enteric Neurons
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$198,414.00
Summary
A large proportion of the community, about 20% at any one time, suffer from functional bowel disorders, the most common of which is the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The bowel in these patients appears normal; there are no overt changes in its appearance. However, the patients have discomfort, pain, abdominal bloating and altered bowel habits, which can include constipation and-or diarrhoea. There is general agreement that an alteration in the responsiveness of sensory neurons of the digestive ....A large proportion of the community, about 20% at any one time, suffer from functional bowel disorders, the most common of which is the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The bowel in these patients appears normal; there are no overt changes in its appearance. However, the patients have discomfort, pain, abdominal bloating and altered bowel habits, which can include constipation and-or diarrhoea. There is general agreement that an alteration in the responsiveness of sensory neurons of the digestive tract occurs in IBS. Until our recent discovery of long-term increases in excitability of intrinsic sensory neurons in the small intestine, no possible cellular basis for altered sensory neuron responsiveness that could underlie IBS had been found. We will investigate the mechanism of the long-term increase in excitability and will investigate drugs that are expected to modify its induction and-or maintenance. We expect that this work will aid in unravelling the genesis of IBS and will eventually lead to strategies to treat this common debilitating condition.Read moreRead less
Vagal Nerve Stimulation As A Novel Therapy In Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$88,502.00
Summary
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is common exerting a large personal and societal burden to the Australian population. Current medications used to treat IBD are expensive, have many side effects and at times require hospitalisation for their administration. We aim to develop the non invasive and inexpensive technique of vagal nerve stimulation as a novel treatment strategy for IBD.
Changing Therapeutic Paradigms For Intestinal Health: Diet As A Therapeutic Strategy In Gastroenterology.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$640,210.00
Summary
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects 1 in 7 adults in Australia. IBS symptoms include abdominal pain, bloating and wind. My team has shown that fermentable short chain carbohydrates (FODMAPs) present in many foods are responsible for triggering these symptoms. The Low FODMAP diet is now being adopted worldwide as first-line management therapy for IBS. The delivery of this research worldwide has been possible through the use of a smartphone app: The Monash Uni Low FODMAP diet.
The Effects Of Intestinal Inflammation On The Currents And Channels Of Identified Enteric Neurons
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$476,264.00
Summary
Intestinal inflammation, in gastroenteritis, Crohn's disease, ileitis or colitis, has effects on the motility (movement) of the gastrointestinal and on secretion within it. The symptoms that are recognised are poor digestion, crampy pains and diarrhoea. The symptoms often continue after the inflammation has subsided. The major disease entity that can develop after inflammation is the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBS is associated with persistent disorders of bowel motility. The symptoms are t ....Intestinal inflammation, in gastroenteritis, Crohn's disease, ileitis or colitis, has effects on the motility (movement) of the gastrointestinal and on secretion within it. The symptoms that are recognised are poor digestion, crampy pains and diarrhoea. The symptoms often continue after the inflammation has subsided. The major disease entity that can develop after inflammation is the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBS is associated with persistent disorders of bowel motility. The symptoms are triggered by changes in the properties of enteric neurons, many of which become hyperexcitable. Enteric neurons are part of the nervous system within the gut wall. However, the neurons that have changed properties after inflammation have not been identified, and the mechanisms of change are not known. This work is designed to determine the molecular basis of the changes in neuron excitability that lead to hyperexcitability. Identification of the molecules whose properties are changed will permit those molecules to be targeted in the design of compounds to treat the abnormalities of intestinal physiology that follow inflammation.Read moreRead less
Mechanisms Of Long Term Excitability Changes In Enteric Neurons
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$308,250.00
Summary
The intestine contains within its walls a nerve circuitry, the enteric nervous system, that controls many of its activities. The intestine itself adapts to circumstances, such as diet, and to pathological changes, such as infection or inflammation. In fact, changes in the intestine can outlast the events that cause them. This implies that there are prolonged changes in properties of control systems in the intestine. We have discovered that the intrinsic sensory neurons of the intestine exhibit l ....The intestine contains within its walls a nerve circuitry, the enteric nervous system, that controls many of its activities. The intestine itself adapts to circumstances, such as diet, and to pathological changes, such as infection or inflammation. In fact, changes in the intestine can outlast the events that cause them. This implies that there are prolonged changes in properties of control systems in the intestine. We have discovered that the intrinsic sensory neurons of the intestine exhibit long-term excitability increases following prolonged, low frequency, stimulation of their inputs from other neurons. This phenomenon has been called sustained slow postsynaptic excitation (SSPE). We have begun to examine the mechanisms behind the SSPE, and have discovered that it involves the enzymatic modification of molecules in the intrinsic sensory neurons. In this work, we will identify the enzymes and their molecular targets. This will add to basic knowledge of how the digestive system performs its task and adapts over time. It will provide data that can be used to predict molecules that might be of therapeutic value in dealing with chronic disorders in the intestine, such as irritable bowel syndrome.Read moreRead less
Silencing Visceral Nociceptors By Targeting NaV1.1: A Novel Therapeutic Approach For Treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$696,809.00
Summary
Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome suffer from chronic abdominal pain and co-morbidities such as over-active bladder. These symptoms arise from sensory nerve fibres in the colon and bladder that signal pain to innocuous stimuli. We are excited to report that a specific voltage-gated sodium channel, called NaV1.1, plays a key pathological role in generating these symptoms. Here, we will specifically target and block NaV1.1 expressing pain-sensing neurons, provide key advances for therapies.
The role of the immune system in pain is emerging from recent discoveries, and may hold the key to novel pain treatments. Most people experience brief gut infections from food or contagion without long-term consequences. Many others suffer symptoms for years afterwards - probably the best example of immune-based pain. Our project investigates how immune cells communicate with sensory nerves, and how these communications change from both angles after gut infection or inflammation.
Use Of Oral Enzymes To Treat Carbohydrate Intolerance: Adjunct Therapy To The Low FODMAP Dietary Treatment Of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$610,197.00
Summary
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting 1 in 7 Australians and fermentation of poorly digested short chain carbohydrates are major dietary triggers. The lack of certain digestive enzymes is a major reason why some carbohydrates are not digested. This project will explore the potential use of oral enzyme supplements to assist with the digestion of these indigestible carbohydrates with the potential for use as adjunct therapy to treat gut symptoms associated with IBS.