Enhancing Host Defence Mechanisms In Severe Bacterial Infections
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$830,447.00
Summary
New options to treat bacterial infections are needed because of the rapid increase in antibiotic resistance. One very attractive strategy is to boost the body’s own defence mechanisms against bacteria. This project defines novel molecular mechanisms that can be manipulated to better control a bacterial infection. Novel drugs targeting these molecular pathways are already being developed, albeit for cancer. This project will help assess if these drugs may be useful to treat infections.
Mycobacterial Control Of The Establishment And Outcome Of Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$311,956.00
Summary
Tuberculosis (TB) claims almost two million lives every year. TB subverts host immunity by directing the immune cells to launch an ineffective response to infection. One such trick is to hijack control of a class of molecules called eicosanoids from the host. This project will use a validated zebrafish model of TB infection to pinpoint the mechanisms used by mycobacteria to subvert normal eicosanoid production. Findings from this work may to aid the creation of novel anti-TB therapies.
Functional Characterisation Of The SseK/NleB Family Of Type III Secreted Effectors In Salmonella And E. Coli
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$510,183.00
Summary
Salmonella and E. coli cause enteritis and diarrhoea in a large proportion of the world's population including Australia. Certain strains of Salmonella also cause a more serious disease called typhoid fever. Together, diseases caused by Salmonella and E. coli are a major cause of illness and death. In order to cause disease Salmonella and E. coli use a specialised apparatus that functions like a needle and syringe to inject Salmonella proteins into human cells. These proteins that are injected i ....Salmonella and E. coli cause enteritis and diarrhoea in a large proportion of the world's population including Australia. Certain strains of Salmonella also cause a more serious disease called typhoid fever. Together, diseases caused by Salmonella and E. coli are a major cause of illness and death. In order to cause disease Salmonella and E. coli use a specialised apparatus that functions like a needle and syringe to inject Salmonella proteins into human cells. These proteins that are injected into human cells actively reprogram human cells to benefit the disease causing bacteria. We have recently discovered a new family of injected proteins and we aim to determine how these new proteins reprogram human cells and what this contributes to diarrhoea and typhoid fever. This information may lead to the development of more effective treatments for these important diseases.Read moreRead less
Worldwide Molecular Analysis Of Streptococcus Pyogenes Scarlet Fever Outbreaks
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$544,041.00
Summary
The microorganism group A Streptococcus (also called GAS or Streptococcus pyogenes) ranks among the top 10 infectious disease killers of humans. Recently, outbreaks of scarlet fever have occurred in both Asia and the United Kingdom, placing a serious strain on health systems. The reasons underlying these outbreaks remain unknown. Our team will lead the global effort to characterise this rise in scarlet fever, and provide recommendations and solutions to health professionals.
Protein Glycan Interactions In Infectious Diseases.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$9,182,220.00
Summary
Infectious diseases remain a serious threat to human health, accounting for over 10 million deaths each year. This is a broad-based collaborative proposal, building on our previous achievements. Its aim is to better understand the dynamic interactions between major disease-causing microbes and their human hosts, and to directly apply this new knowledge to the development of improved vaccines and novel treatment strategies. These are urgently needed to combat infectious diseases in the 21st centu ....Infectious diseases remain a serious threat to human health, accounting for over 10 million deaths each year. This is a broad-based collaborative proposal, building on our previous achievements. Its aim is to better understand the dynamic interactions between major disease-causing microbes and their human hosts, and to directly apply this new knowledge to the development of improved vaccines and novel treatment strategies. These are urgently needed to combat infectious diseases in the 21st century.Read moreRead less
Comparative And Functional Genomics Of Human Bacterial Pathogens
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$601,484.00
Summary
Bacteria have evolved different ways of causing disease in humans. Some bacteria produce toxins that attack the host or they have developed ways to persist in the host by evading immune responses and resisting antibiotics. This project is concerned with understanding how these processes occur and developing preventative strategies for two important groups of bacteria that cause disease in humans, including the bacteria that cause TB and the devastating skin disease Buruli ulcer, and the hospital ....Bacteria have evolved different ways of causing disease in humans. Some bacteria produce toxins that attack the host or they have developed ways to persist in the host by evading immune responses and resisting antibiotics. This project is concerned with understanding how these processes occur and developing preventative strategies for two important groups of bacteria that cause disease in humans, including the bacteria that cause TB and the devastating skin disease Buruli ulcer, and the hospital superbug "Golden Staph".Read moreRead less
Pathogenesis, Treatment And Prevention Of Bacterial Infectious Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$852,458.00
Summary
Bacterial infectious diseases remain a serious threat to human health, accounting for over 10 million deaths each year. My research program aims to better understand the dynamic interactions between major disease-causing bacteria and their human hosts, and to directly apply this new knowledge to the development of improved vaccines and novel treatment strategies. These are urgently needed to combat bacterial infectious diseases in the 21st century.