Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989564
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$150,000.00
Summary
State-of-the-art facility for human and animal virus research in the Canberra and surrounding regions. New viral diseases continue to emerge and old viruses re-emerge to pose a threat to human and animal health. To combat these, we propose a dedicated viral disease research facility. The centre will include experienced researchers, biotechnology companies and government agencies working on discovery, prevention and treatment of viral diseases. Forging strong scientific links between these organi ....State-of-the-art facility for human and animal virus research in the Canberra and surrounding regions. New viral diseases continue to emerge and old viruses re-emerge to pose a threat to human and animal health. To combat these, we propose a dedicated viral disease research facility. The centre will include experienced researchers, biotechnology companies and government agencies working on discovery, prevention and treatment of viral diseases. Forging strong scientific links between these organisations will considerably enhance the productivity of these researchers, increase their collaborative and scientific outputs and allow for training of students in the latest technologies. The facility will provide researchers with cutting-edge instrumentation for nationally and internationally important projects that would benefit human health.Read moreRead less
Ross River virus - identification of virulence determinants in clinical isolates from across Australia. In Australia, Ross River virus (RRV) is the most common insect borne virus that affects human health. There were more than 60,000 confirmed cases of RRV between 1993 and 2008. While not fatal, the disease is responsible for significant morbidity that has both social and economic costs for the individual, their family and the community. The project has several national benefits. It will elucida ....Ross River virus - identification of virulence determinants in clinical isolates from across Australia. In Australia, Ross River virus (RRV) is the most common insect borne virus that affects human health. There were more than 60,000 confirmed cases of RRV between 1993 and 2008. While not fatal, the disease is responsible for significant morbidity that has both social and economic costs for the individual, their family and the community. The project has several national benefits. It will elucidate whether there is any association between RRV strain and the severity of human disease. It will also identify viral markers that could assist public health officials in determining likely disease outcomes of outbreaks and could provide new avenues for the design of antiviral strategies.Read moreRead less
Mosquito-borne viruses - how they cause disease and novel approaches to prevention. In Australia, Ross River virus (RRV) is the most common insect borne virus that affects human health. There were more than 60,000 confirmed cases of RRV between 1993 and 2008. While not fatal, the disease is responsible for significant morbidity that has both social and economic costs for the individual, their family and the community. This project has several national benefits. It will elucidate whether there is ....Mosquito-borne viruses - how they cause disease and novel approaches to prevention. In Australia, Ross River virus (RRV) is the most common insect borne virus that affects human health. There were more than 60,000 confirmed cases of RRV between 1993 and 2008. While not fatal, the disease is responsible for significant morbidity that has both social and economic costs for the individual, their family and the community. This project has several national benefits. It will elucidate whether there is an association between RRV strain and the severity of disease and if there are human factors that affect the seriousness of symptoms. Knowledge of both of these could provide new avenues for the design of prevention and treatment strategies.Read moreRead less
Development of SELEX technology (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment). A recently developed in vitro genetic selection technique has allowed the isolation of oligonucleotides that can bind target molecules with high affinity and specificity. The strategy know as SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment) uses protein biochemistry and PCR technology, with subsequent repeated rounds of selection and amplification, to screen vast libraries of oligonucle ....Development of SELEX technology (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment). A recently developed in vitro genetic selection technique has allowed the isolation of oligonucleotides that can bind target molecules with high affinity and specificity. The strategy know as SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment) uses protein biochemistry and PCR technology, with subsequent repeated rounds of selection and amplification, to screen vast libraries of oligonucleotides (RNA or DNA) for their ability to bind target proteins. This procedure will be developed by UNSW in collaboration with the biotech company BTF Plc., Ltd., to be used in two applications. The first is the research interest of UNSW and involves the development of aptamers against hepatitis C virus. The second lies within the interests of BTF and will involve the development of aptamers against the water borne pathogen Cryptosporidium parvum.Read moreRead less
Discovery of Novel Respiratory Viruses Causing Influenza-Like Illness in Healthy Australian Adults Aged 18 to 64 Years. This work will inform our understanding of the causes of acute respiratory illnesses in Australia at the present time by looking for both known and previously undiscovered respiratory viruses. Increasing the knowledge base regarding causes of disease will have downstream relevance for health policy planners seeking to assess the burden of disease due to different causes. Early ....Discovery of Novel Respiratory Viruses Causing Influenza-Like Illness in Healthy Australian Adults Aged 18 to 64 Years. This work will inform our understanding of the causes of acute respiratory illnesses in Australia at the present time by looking for both known and previously undiscovered respiratory viruses. Increasing the knowledge base regarding causes of disease will have downstream relevance for health policy planners seeking to assess the burden of disease due to different causes. Early identification and description of new diseases will allow pre-emptive evaluation of new public health threats. This information will help to ensure availability and marketability of vaccines to prevent infection.Read moreRead less
The multiplexed diagnosis of arbovirus infections using combinatorial probes. Viruses that cause serious diseases such as hemorrhagic fever or encephalitis must be quickly identified. Diagnostic tests based on DNA hybridisation are accurate and can be rapid but they are expensive. We will test a method for simplifying DNA tests and increasing their capabilities. DNA probes for detecting arboviruses will be designed at the ANU using new bioinformatic methods and their reliability will be model ....The multiplexed diagnosis of arbovirus infections using combinatorial probes. Viruses that cause serious diseases such as hemorrhagic fever or encephalitis must be quickly identified. Diagnostic tests based on DNA hybridisation are accurate and can be rapid but they are expensive. We will test a method for simplifying DNA tests and increasing their capabilities. DNA probes for detecting arboviruses will be designed at the ANU using new bioinformatic methods and their reliability will be modelled using all the available genetic information. Computer predictions will be experimentally tested in the PANBIO laboratory by using the probes to detect viral nucleic acids. The influence of virus genome complexity will be investigatedRead moreRead less
Detection of imported exotic strains of West Nile virus for national biosecurity surveillance. West Nile virus (WNV) is transmitted by mosquitoes and causes a fatal disease of the brain in animals and humans. WNV is currently exotic to this country, however a closely related, but benign cousin of this virus (Kunjin) can be found in Northern Australia. Currently it is very difficult to differentiate between infections with WNV and Kunjin using standard laboratory tests, therefore it will be diff ....Detection of imported exotic strains of West Nile virus for national biosecurity surveillance. West Nile virus (WNV) is transmitted by mosquitoes and causes a fatal disease of the brain in animals and humans. WNV is currently exotic to this country, however a closely related, but benign cousin of this virus (Kunjin) can be found in Northern Australia. Currently it is very difficult to differentiate between infections with WNV and Kunjin using standard laboratory tests, therefore it will be difficult for public health officials to detect WNV if it is introduced to Australia. In this project we aim to develop more accurate laboratory tests to detect infections with the deadly, exotic WNV using new strategies. Read moreRead less
Dissecting the Parameters for the Generation of Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Immunity. This project aims to identify mechanisms by which antigen-presenting cells, such as dendritic cells, prime CD8+ T cells to generate effector and memory populations at the molecular level. The specific intention is to identify reagents capable of licensing dendritic cells, and examine the down-stream gene products/pathways generated by these signals using microarray analyses. Such knowledge will provide new insight i ....Dissecting the Parameters for the Generation of Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Immunity. This project aims to identify mechanisms by which antigen-presenting cells, such as dendritic cells, prime CD8+ T cells to generate effector and memory populations at the molecular level. The specific intention is to identify reagents capable of licensing dendritic cells, and examine the down-stream gene products/pathways generated by these signals using microarray analyses. Such knowledge will provide new insight into CTL generation by providing greater understanding of how multicellular systems function both at the cellular and molecular level.Read moreRead less
Imaging of immune responses to pathogens in vivo. This proposal represents an excellent opportunity for Australian science to participate in state-of-the-art research into the immune system and to be internationally competitive with the best researchers in the field. By combining advanced microscopy techniques with well developed biological models used by researchers at the University of Melbourne, this project will greatly improve our understanding of the dynamic interactions that occur betwee ....Imaging of immune responses to pathogens in vivo. This proposal represents an excellent opportunity for Australian science to participate in state-of-the-art research into the immune system and to be internationally competitive with the best researchers in the field. By combining advanced microscopy techniques with well developed biological models used by researchers at the University of Melbourne, this project will greatly improve our understanding of the dynamic interactions that occur between cells of the immune system during infectious diseases. The insight provided by this project will facilitate the design of better vaccines for protection against diseases, including influenza.Read moreRead less
Autotransporter proteins of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7. Escherichi (E.) coli O157:H7 has caused hundreds of outbreaks in the United States and United Kingdom. Although not currently a major problem in Australia, the emergence of E. coli O157:H7 here would have serious implications for our meat and livestock industry. This study will provide important information for the selection of vaccine antigens used to prevent the colonisation of cattle with E. coli O157:H7 and other diarrho ....Autotransporter proteins of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7. Escherichi (E.) coli O157:H7 has caused hundreds of outbreaks in the United States and United Kingdom. Although not currently a major problem in Australia, the emergence of E. coli O157:H7 here would have serious implications for our meat and livestock industry. This study will provide important information for the selection of vaccine antigens used to prevent the colonisation of cattle with E. coli O157:H7 and other diarrhoeagenic E. coli serotypes. A direct outcome of this will be improved human health, as E. coli O157:H7 can cause life threatening infections in humans. The study will also examine the contribution of specific adhesins to biofilm formation; measures to prevent biofilm formation may reduce the persistence and spread of E. coli O157:H7 in the environment.Read moreRead less