A Glycomics Approach Towards Understanding Alphavirus Induced Inflammatory Disease And Discovering Novel Therapeutic Targets
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$316,449.00
Summary
Alphaviruses are transmitted by mosquitoes and cause a variety of serious human infections. This project investigates how alphaviruses cause disease, with special focus on inflammatory musculoskeletal diseases. The expected outcomes are a better understanding of human viral diseases, with a view to improving prevention and treatment strategies to reduce the disease burden of alphaviruses and related viruses. The research strategy is a world-first, and the institute is an international leader in ....Alphaviruses are transmitted by mosquitoes and cause a variety of serious human infections. This project investigates how alphaviruses cause disease, with special focus on inflammatory musculoskeletal diseases. The expected outcomes are a better understanding of human viral diseases, with a view to improving prevention and treatment strategies to reduce the disease burden of alphaviruses and related viruses. The research strategy is a world-first, and the institute is an international leader in this area.Read moreRead less
Investigating The Altered Landscape Of Enteric Viruses Causing Severe Gastroenteritis In Australian Children Following Rotavirus Vaccine Introduction
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$314,644.00
Summary
The rotavirus vaccines were introduced in Australia in 2007, decreasing rotavirus disease. Rotavirus strains naturally evolve during replication, however, high vaccine coverage in the population creates a new environment with different evolutionary pressures where strains not protected by the vaccines may emerge and become dominant. The diminished circulation of rotavirus may create an environment where other viruses capable of causing childhood gastroenteritis may increase.
Understanding The Establishment Of HIV Reservoirs And Development Of HIV Eradication Strategies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$380,891.00
Summary
Understanding why, when, how and at what pace the HIV virus hides and establishes itself in one's body will allow us to design new ways for preventing and eliminating this reservoir of hidden HIV. As a clinician scientist in HIV and infectious diseases, I will drive clinical studies to explore the kinetics of HIV in patients who recently acquired HIV, those who start HIV treatment early, and those chronically infected with HIV so as to investigate novel means to minimise HIV hiding spots.
Tracking B Cell And Neutralising Antibody Responses In Hepatitis C Virus Infections
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$318,768.00
Summary
Hepatitis C virus is one of the most significant human pathogens. There is no vaccine for HCV, and the antiviral treatment is expensive and does not stop reinfection. This project will study how the immune system of people infected with HCV generates antibodies to clear the virus. This will inform research efforts to design successful preventative vaccine to protect against this viral pathogen.
Integrating Genotype And Phenotype In Clinical Molecular Epidemiology
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$316,449.00
Summary
With an ever increasing availability of virus genetic sequences and clinical data, we can apply new approaches to better understand and combat infectious diseases. This study aims to develop new state-of-the-art tools to answer such questions as: Do viruses evolves to become more virulent? How does drug resistance emerge and spread through virus populations? And more generally, how does virus genetics contribute to the variation in disease outcomes?
Characterising The Genotypic And Phenotypic Properties Of The HIV-1 Viral Reservoir
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$316,819.00
Summary
Current drug treatments can not eradicate HIV from the body. This is because HIV can infect and establish a latent or “silent” infection in long-lived cells of the immune system that can re-emerge out of these cells when drug treatment is stopped. This project aims to find out how these cells become infected and what type of HIV is infecting them. The results from this study will help us better understand the latent infection and will help researchers design ways to eradicate HIV.
Nuclear Sirtuins At The Interface Between Epigenetic Regulation And Human Cytomegalovirus Pathogenesis: A Proteomics Perspective
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$399,488.00
Summary
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a human pathogen that infects over 60% of the adult population, and is a major cause of birth defects causing permanent hearing and vision loss, and mental retardation. To investigate the critical involvement of host epigenetic factors, I will study the roles of sirtuins during HCMV infection. Through proteomic, genomic, microscopy, and bioinformatic techniques, I aim to further our understanding of viral pathogenesis, towards developing novel therapies.