False Positives In The Diagnosis Of Sexually Transmitted Chlamydia Trachomatis Infection In Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$724,313.00
Summary
Chlamydia trachomatis causes sexually transmitted infections, and also the eye disease trachoma. The detection of Chlamydia in urine sample from a child can be seen as evidence for sexual abuse. We will assess the potential impacts of three mechanisms that could conceivably lead to urogenital Chlamydia diagnosis in a child in the absence of sexual abuse: contamination of the urogenital site with ocula Chlamydia, contamination of urine samples after collection, and diagnostic test malfunction.
Systematic Investigation Of Conceivable Mechanisms That Could Lead To False Positive Diagnoses Of Sexually Transmitted Infections In Young Children.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,008,839.00
Summary
Diagnosis of a sexually transmitted infection (STI) in a young child has serious social and legal consequences, because it is usually regarded as indicative of sexual abuse. It is therefore critical to understand the probability of such a diagnosis in the absence of sexual abuse. We will investigate false positives that arise by contamination of the urogenital site by STI agents that also infect the eye, and the transfer of contaminants from fingers to diagnostic specimens.
Investigation Of The Effects Of Polymicrobial Infection On The Induction Of Otitis Media
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$235,511.00
Summary
Middle ear infection is a highly prevalent paediatric disease characterised by an inflammation of the middle ear and is the most prevalent illness of childhood. It is reported that greater than 80% of children have had at least one episode of acute otitis media by 3 years of age and almost 40% of children have more than 6 episodes by age 7 years. The cause and pathogenesis of middle ear infection are multifactorial and influence of prevalence and chonicity of the infections. Prevention of bacter ....Middle ear infection is a highly prevalent paediatric disease characterised by an inflammation of the middle ear and is the most prevalent illness of childhood. It is reported that greater than 80% of children have had at least one episode of acute otitis media by 3 years of age and almost 40% of children have more than 6 episodes by age 7 years. The cause and pathogenesis of middle ear infection are multifactorial and influence of prevalence and chonicity of the infections. Prevention of bacterial middle ear infection caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis requires a much better knowledge of how these bacteria interact with each other and with the host. The poor efficacy of the current pneumococcal paediatric vaccine for preventing middle ear infections highlights this deficiency in our knowledge and will impede the development of a suitable multvalent vaccine to prevent infection by the 3 major bacterial pathogens. This study will investigate how the bacteria colonising the respiratory tract interact during infection and how they affect the host.Read moreRead less
Legionella bacteria are the major cause of Legionnaire’s Disease, a common form of acute pneumonia. Here we will study how the bacteria avoid killing in human cells by establishing an intracellular niche that is sequestered from the normal host cell defence pathways. In particular we hope to understand how the bacteria regulate a major protein modification pathway called ubiquitination.
Multiple Antibiotic Resistance In An Acinetobacter Baumannii Global Clone
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$606,580.00
Summary
Antibiotic resistant bacteria that cause infections in hospitals can originate anywhere, then spread world wide. They start off resistant to a few antibiotics, then become resistant to new antibiotics that are introduced to treat them. This project will investigate how resistance to antibiotics was acquired by Acinetobacter baumannii which is now resistant to most antibiotics, and why the old resistance genes are not being lost. This will help track these bacteria moving into and around Australi ....Antibiotic resistant bacteria that cause infections in hospitals can originate anywhere, then spread world wide. They start off resistant to a few antibiotics, then become resistant to new antibiotics that are introduced to treat them. This project will investigate how resistance to antibiotics was acquired by Acinetobacter baumannii which is now resistant to most antibiotics, and why the old resistance genes are not being lost. This will help track these bacteria moving into and around Australia.Read moreRead less
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
E. coli is a normal inhabitant of the human intestine, but some varieties can cause serious infections that may lead to the premature death of children, especially in less developed countries. The aims of this study are to learn more about these harmful varieties of E. coli and to enhance our ability to detect them in samples from patients and the environment.
The Role Of The Chemosensory Receptors Of The Enteric Pathogen C. Jejuni In Virulence And Host - Bacterial Interactions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$517,897.00
Summary
Campylobacter jejuni is the greatest cause of bacterial gastroenteritis in the world. Consumption of contaminated meat or untreated water leads to disease often requiring hospitalisation. Campylobacter infection is also linked to the development of neoroparalytic disorders and reactive arthritis. This project aims to determine how this pathogen utilises surface molecules to sense its environment and cause disease. This information may be exploited to develop new treatments for mucosal infections ....Campylobacter jejuni is the greatest cause of bacterial gastroenteritis in the world. Consumption of contaminated meat or untreated water leads to disease often requiring hospitalisation. Campylobacter infection is also linked to the development of neoroparalytic disorders and reactive arthritis. This project aims to determine how this pathogen utilises surface molecules to sense its environment and cause disease. This information may be exploited to develop new treatments for mucosal infections.Read moreRead less
Genomic Approaches To Understand And Control The Emergence Of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus Faecium (VREfm) In Australia.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$756,163.00
Summary
VRE is a serious hospital superbug that has been increasing in many major hospitals around Australia, while at the same time MRSA (Golden Staph) infections have been decreasing. This project will find out why VRE is increasing by examining what happens to patients at a major Australian hospital from their time of admission to the onset of infection with VRE. At the end of the project we will have the first real understanding of how VRE is transmitted so we can develop effective infection control ....VRE is a serious hospital superbug that has been increasing in many major hospitals around Australia, while at the same time MRSA (Golden Staph) infections have been decreasing. This project will find out why VRE is increasing by examining what happens to patients at a major Australian hospital from their time of admission to the onset of infection with VRE. At the end of the project we will have the first real understanding of how VRE is transmitted so we can develop effective infection control measures.Read moreRead less