A single vaccine for influenza and pneumonia. Influenza and bacterial pneumonia collaborate to kill millions of people each year. This project aims to develop a single vaccine that will provide long-lasting protection against both influenza and pneumonia.
Mosquito-borne alphaviruses such as Ross River and chikungunya viruses cause widespread epidemics and exert extreme pressure on the public health systems of affected regions. Alphaviruses spreads to joints and triggers a severe disease in those affected. There are no effective treatments or vaccines. The project will investigate virus-host interaction at the bite site. The outcome will be new knowledge to treat infection at the mosquito bite site to prevent joint disease.
ARC Centre of Excellence - Structural and Functional Microbial Genomics. The research falls under the National Research Priority Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries, with the priority goal of frontier technologies. The research has commercial applications, such as the development of novel antimicrobials and vaccines, with potentially enormous impact in the biotechnology area of biomedical health and the primary industries. In addition, the project will use ....ARC Centre of Excellence - Structural and Functional Microbial Genomics. The research falls under the National Research Priority Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries, with the priority goal of frontier technologies. The research has commercial applications, such as the development of novel antimicrobials and vaccines, with potentially enormous impact in the biotechnology area of biomedical health and the primary industries. In addition, the project will use state-of-the-art technology, including use of synchrotron radiation at the Monash-based Australian Synchrotron facility from 2007.Read moreRead less
ARC Centre for Structural & Functional Microbial Genomics. Australian Primary Industry will benefit from a team of experts in microbial genetics, bioinformatics and protein structure and function undertaking integrated studies on microbial genomics and phenomics that are focused on fundamental biological processes and host/pathogen interactions. Whole genome expression and protein profiling will be used to characterise genes whose expression is altered in the infected host and to analyse genes i ....ARC Centre for Structural & Functional Microbial Genomics. Australian Primary Industry will benefit from a team of experts in microbial genetics, bioinformatics and protein structure and function undertaking integrated studies on microbial genomics and phenomics that are focused on fundamental biological processes and host/pathogen interactions. Whole genome expression and protein profiling will be used to characterise genes whose expression is altered in the infected host and to analyse genes involved in the control of key cellular processes. The Centre will also determine the shapes of key molecules and their interactions. Practical outcomes will include new veterinary vaccines and the identification of novel antimicrobial targets.Read moreRead less
Microbial community stability dynamics to environmental triggers. This project aims to advance our knowledge of the structural/functional dynamics of complex microbial communities by defining stability in response to environmental influences such as nutrient stress, pathogen invasion and antibiotics/chemicals. Using innovative microbial consortia modelling, to identify communities at risk of homeostatic disruption, we will develop and test pre-emptive microbial manipulation strategies for restor ....Microbial community stability dynamics to environmental triggers. This project aims to advance our knowledge of the structural/functional dynamics of complex microbial communities by defining stability in response to environmental influences such as nutrient stress, pathogen invasion and antibiotics/chemicals. Using innovative microbial consortia modelling, to identify communities at risk of homeostatic disruption, we will develop and test pre-emptive microbial manipulation strategies for restoring community stability. This project will yield significant global impact and economic/health benefit for humans and animals.Read moreRead less
Novel Insights Into The Pathobiology Of Alphavirus Infections
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$827,660.00
Summary
Infections with mosquito-borne viruses are increasing at an alarming rate worldwide. Ross River virus is endemic in parts of Australia, PNG and Pacific islands, while chikungunya virus is distributed globally and causes recurrent pandemics that involve millions of people. These viruses cause severe musculoskeletal disease for several months after infection. This project aims to establish how these viruses interact with the human host to cause disease and may provide a basis for new treatments.
The cellular basis of sex-specific responses to virus infection. This project aims to explore how the sex of cells impacts virus infections in culture. To date, the sex of cells in culture has been overlooked as an important source of biological variability, but may be found to affect basic science through to anti-viral drug discovery. Using a model in which a virus can be adapted to grow better in cells of a single sex, this project expects to generate new knowledge about how sex differences im ....The cellular basis of sex-specific responses to virus infection. This project aims to explore how the sex of cells impacts virus infections in culture. To date, the sex of cells in culture has been overlooked as an important source of biological variability, but may be found to affect basic science through to anti-viral drug discovery. Using a model in which a virus can be adapted to grow better in cells of a single sex, this project expects to generate new knowledge about how sex differences impact virus-host interactions. This project expects to provide new insights into sex-based differences in how cells detect and respond to virus infection, and the extent to which the sex of cells impacts viruses in general.Read moreRead less
Virus and host genes and the outcome of infection. Viruses cause infection of all animals including people and the outcome of infection is highly variable. This project aims to use genetics to explain why some animals are more susceptible to particular virus infections and some strains of virus cause more severe diseases. The project will also explore whether all cells are similarly susceptible to killing by viruses.
Analysing the protective role of platelets during malaria infection. Platelets protect the host during malarial infection. This project aims to study how platelets kill the malaria parasite by investigating the role of host molecules and their potential as novel antimalarial agents. The role of platelets in the pathogenesis of cerebral malaria syndrome will also be investigated.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120102166
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Identification and characterisation of anti-viral immune response genes in mosquitoes. Emerging viral diseases, transmitted by mosquito bite, present an increasing public health risk globally. Most research to date has neglected the infection dynamic in the insect vector. This project aims to characterise the defensive response of mosquitoes to viral infection, a potentially crucial factor in the epidemiology of vector-borne disease.