Novel target of amiloride analogues - picornaviral RNA polymerase. Picornaviruses cause a range of diseases such as poliomyelitis, meningitis, myocarditis, hepatitis A, neonatal sepsis and common cold. No antiviral treatment is available for these infections. Nearly 50% of antiviral drugs used in medicine are viral polymerase inhibitors; however picornaviral RNA polymerase has been largely overlooked as a drug target. We have discovered a group of compounds that inhibit picornaviral RNA polymera ....Novel target of amiloride analogues - picornaviral RNA polymerase. Picornaviruses cause a range of diseases such as poliomyelitis, meningitis, myocarditis, hepatitis A, neonatal sepsis and common cold. No antiviral treatment is available for these infections. Nearly 50% of antiviral drugs used in medicine are viral polymerase inhibitors; however picornaviral RNA polymerase has been largely overlooked as a drug target. We have discovered a group of compounds that inhibit picornaviral RNA polymerase. This project aims to define the inhibition mechanism and to evaluate a potential use of these compounds for antiviral drug development.Read moreRead less
Role of the GxxxG domain in the function of mammalian prion proteins. Prion proteins have been associated with a number of diseases of humans and animals (such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease in humans and BSE, or 'mad-cow' disease in cattle) which have had major public health, social and economic consequences in countries where they have been detected. This project will identify mechanisms by which a highly conserved region of the prion protein plays a role in the conversion to the disease associa ....Role of the GxxxG domain in the function of mammalian prion proteins. Prion proteins have been associated with a number of diseases of humans and animals (such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease in humans and BSE, or 'mad-cow' disease in cattle) which have had major public health, social and economic consequences in countries where they have been detected. This project will identify mechanisms by which a highly conserved region of the prion protein plays a role in the conversion to the disease associated form. This will provide avenues for identifying the normal function of the prion protein, and increase our knowledge of prion biology. This will benefit both in terms of healthy ageing and in protecting the agriculture sector from prion diseases in farmed animals.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100036
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$470,000.00
Summary
A protein molecular interaction and localization facility. This proposal will address a major gap in our mass spectrometry capabilities and aid in our understanding of protein interactions and tissue distribution in areas such as neuroscience, microbiology, immunology, and botany, as well as enhance our understanding of fundamental gas phase chemistry of protein molecules. It brings together a highly successful multidisciplinary team of high-profile researchers with a track record of collaborati ....A protein molecular interaction and localization facility. This proposal will address a major gap in our mass spectrometry capabilities and aid in our understanding of protein interactions and tissue distribution in areas such as neuroscience, microbiology, immunology, and botany, as well as enhance our understanding of fundamental gas phase chemistry of protein molecules. It brings together a highly successful multidisciplinary team of high-profile researchers with a track record of collaboration and delivering outcomes from shared facilities. In addition to these key scientific outcomes this project will also facilitate the training of several new personnel in a skill area for which there is a critical shortage (mass spectrometry) and promote true cross-disciplinary skills.Read moreRead less
Drug targets in malaria parasites. Malaria is rampant throughout our Region and hinders the economies of our neighbours reducing regional prosperity and stability. Australian security and aid personnel deployed in the Region contract malaria infections and global warming could bring malaria-carrying mosquitoes south to Sydney. Australia is pre-eminent in malaria research, making lead discoveries in vaccine and drug development. However, we lack crucial resources to study the parasite in the mo ....Drug targets in malaria parasites. Malaria is rampant throughout our Region and hinders the economies of our neighbours reducing regional prosperity and stability. Australian security and aid personnel deployed in the Region contract malaria infections and global warming could bring malaria-carrying mosquitoes south to Sydney. Australia is pre-eminent in malaria research, making lead discoveries in vaccine and drug development. However, we lack crucial resources to study the parasite in the mosquito phase of its life cycle. The Federation Fellowship will create a malaria mosquito facility to redress this crucial gap in our capability. The Fellowship will double as foreign aid investment by enhancing our capacity to protect ourselves as well as supporting our neighbours.Read moreRead less
Functional proteomics of Giardia. This project will use the latest tools for dissecting and comparing genes and their protein products from one of the most common parasites infecting people, their pets, livestock and wildlife. This protozoan parasite Giardia is also of evolutionary and biological significance in terms of understanding the origin of higher animals from bacteria as well as fundamental questions about the parasitic way of life. Giardia proteins will be identified and characterised ....Functional proteomics of Giardia. This project will use the latest tools for dissecting and comparing genes and their protein products from one of the most common parasites infecting people, their pets, livestock and wildlife. This protozoan parasite Giardia is also of evolutionary and biological significance in terms of understanding the origin of higher animals from bacteria as well as fundamental questions about the parasitic way of life. Giardia proteins will be identified and characterised on the basis of their value in understanding disease processes and treatment, and by working with appropriate industry partners, proteins of commercial value will be exploited.Read moreRead less
An Investigation of Novel Sialylmimetics as Inhibitors of Rotavirus. Rotavirus causes severe gastroenteritis in infants worldwide. Over 125 million cases of diarrhoea and 800,000 deaths annually are attributed to rotavirus. The process that enables this debilitating and sometimes fatal disease to infect cells is poorly understood. This project aims to produce a range of unique chemical entities that will provide information about the way rotavirus infects cells. The chemical compounds produc ....An Investigation of Novel Sialylmimetics as Inhibitors of Rotavirus. Rotavirus causes severe gastroenteritis in infants worldwide. Over 125 million cases of diarrhoea and 800,000 deaths annually are attributed to rotavirus. The process that enables this debilitating and sometimes fatal disease to infect cells is poorly understood. This project aims to produce a range of unique chemical entities that will provide information about the way rotavirus infects cells. The chemical compounds produced in this study will be evaluated for their ability to prevent rotavirus from infecting cells. It is expected that this project will provide compounds that may ultimately be used as drugs for the treatment of rotavirus.Read moreRead less
An Investigation of Novel Sialylmimetics as Inhibitors of Rotavirus. Rotavirus causes severe gastroenteritis in infants worldwide. Over 125 million cases of diarrhoea and 800,000 deaths annually are attributed to rotavirus, primarily in developing countries. The process that enables this debilitating and sometimes fatal disease to infect cells is poorly understood. This project aims to produce a range of unique chemical entities that will provide information about the way rotavirus infects cel ....An Investigation of Novel Sialylmimetics as Inhibitors of Rotavirus. Rotavirus causes severe gastroenteritis in infants worldwide. Over 125 million cases of diarrhoea and 800,000 deaths annually are attributed to rotavirus, primarily in developing countries. The process that enables this debilitating and sometimes fatal disease to infect cells is poorly understood. This project aims to produce a range of unique chemical entities that will provide information about the way rotavirus infects cells. The chemical compounds produced will be assayed for their ability to prevent rotavirus from infecting cells. It is expected that this project will provide compounds that may ultimately be used as drugs for the treatment of rotavirus.Read moreRead less
Design, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Rotavirus Inhibitors. Rotavirus causes, particularly in children under 5 years of age, significant loss of life worldwide. Over 400,000 children under 5 years of age per annum die as a result of rotavirus infection. Australia records over 10,000 hospitalisations per annum due to rotavirus infection. This project aims, using structure-based drug design techniques, to develop inhibitors of a rotavirus protein that is essential in its lifecycle. The ....Design, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Rotavirus Inhibitors. Rotavirus causes, particularly in children under 5 years of age, significant loss of life worldwide. Over 400,000 children under 5 years of age per annum die as a result of rotavirus infection. Australia records over 10,000 hospitalisations per annum due to rotavirus infection. This project aims, using structure-based drug design techniques, to develop inhibitors of a rotavirus protein that is essential in its lifecycle. These inhibitors may lead to the development of useful drugs to treat rotavirus infection and may reduce significant loss of life caused by this deadly virus.Read moreRead less
Investigation of novel sialic acid mimetics to target the spread of cancer. The mortality rates for many cancers afflicting the world's population are extremely high and these rates are consistent with the Australian experience. It is generally accepted that colon cancer, and cancers as a whole, are a significant healthcare issue and have immense socioeconomic impact. Alternative treatments preventing the spread of cancers would be of very significant benefit. This fellowship will provide the ....Investigation of novel sialic acid mimetics to target the spread of cancer. The mortality rates for many cancers afflicting the world's population are extremely high and these rates are consistent with the Australian experience. It is generally accepted that colon cancer, and cancers as a whole, are a significant healthcare issue and have immense socioeconomic impact. Alternative treatments preventing the spread of cancers would be of very significant benefit. This fellowship will provide the opportunity for the discovery and development of such treatments that are based on the processes that utilise carbohydrates to facilitate the spread of tumours.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100150
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$500,000.00
Summary
Beyond Proteomics: structure and function of protein modifications. The world's leading cancer therapeutics have come from the protein phosphorylation field, and glycomics has led to drugs that combat the flu and that stimulate red blood cell production in cancer patients. Thus there is a bright future for discovery of new medicines based on new knowledge in this area. Protein modifications are key to the understanding of disease mechanisms and for searching for new disease markers and new the ....Beyond Proteomics: structure and function of protein modifications. The world's leading cancer therapeutics have come from the protein phosphorylation field, and glycomics has led to drugs that combat the flu and that stimulate red blood cell production in cancer patients. Thus there is a bright future for discovery of new medicines based on new knowledge in this area. Protein modifications are key to the understanding of disease mechanisms and for searching for new disease markers and new therapeutics. In the hands of local experts the instruments will enable identification of these modifications and provide improved understanding of biology, increase the national competitiveness of Australia's scientists, and provide advanced technology training to the next generation of scientists.Read moreRead less