Dengue Fever Vaccine: Towards Low Cost Production And Delivery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$612,039.00
Summary
With rising populations and a warming climate mosquito borne viral diseases will become more prevalent and low-cost vaccine production & delivery systems will become increasingly important. Here a microalgae based vaccine production platform will be coupled to proven Nanopatch & low cost oral vaccine delivery. The focus is on a Dengue virus vaccine, as Dengue causes 400 million infections & 100 million symptomatic cases annually.
In recent years it has become clear that certain white blood cells called CD8+ T lymphocytes or killer T cells are required to protect people against HIV. Unfortunately, current vaccines that produce or anti-HIV CD8 T cells only produce effective T cells for a short period. In this project we intend to test a novel vaccine vector called a Kunjin replicon, which promises to persistently produce or maintain effective T cells because the vaccine itself persists and continually immunises for extende ....In recent years it has become clear that certain white blood cells called CD8+ T lymphocytes or killer T cells are required to protect people against HIV. Unfortunately, current vaccines that produce or anti-HIV CD8 T cells only produce effective T cells for a short period. In this project we intend to test a novel vaccine vector called a Kunjin replicon, which promises to persistently produce or maintain effective T cells because the vaccine itself persists and continually immunises for extended periods. We intend to test the ability of this vaccine to persist and persistently produce effective CD8 T cells not only systemically in the blood system but also at mucosal surfaces, where HIV usually gains entry during sexual intercourse.Read moreRead less
Translating Novel Vaccine Strategies To Early Phase Clinical Trials
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$855,986.00
Summary
My Fellowship will enable me to further develop and then test in pre-clinical and clinical trials novel vaccine candidates that we are developing to prevent infections with malaria parasites and with Streptococcus pyogenes. Malaria is responsible for the loss of over 600,000 young lives each year and S. pyogenes is responsible for over 500,000 deaths per year. Australia's Indigenous populations suffer the highest reported rates of streptococcal-related pathology worldwide.
Protecting Australia From Future Swine Flu Pandemics-Functional And Structural Studies Of The H1N1 Swine Influenza A Surface Glycoprotein Hemagglutinin
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$401,361.00
Summary
The severity of the present and future pandemic strains of the swine flu will depend on the ability to contain and combat infection via pre-emptive development of appropriate vaccines and drugs. To this end, my study of the surface glycoprotein hemagglutinin, will help predict and prevent future swine influenza pandemics by identifying potentially pandemic strains to be targeted for early vaccine development.
This an integrated program of basic research on antigen discovery and immune mechanisms, and preclinical research on novel vaccine platforms, formulations or delivery systems for the rational design and clinical testing of a next generation vaccine against malaria. This interdisciplinary research fosters strong national and international links and offers the potential for significant economic benefit to Australia.
Improving Subunit Vaccines Against Tuberculosis For Pulmonary Delivery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$635,320.00
Summary
Tuberculosis is an enormous health problem globally and remains a threat to Australia because of our proximity to high burden countries. The development of better vaccines against TB is crucial to reducing disease and preventing transmission. We shall develop and test new TB vaccines composed of a protective TB protein and immune-stimulating molecules in dry powder which can be safely delivered to the lungs. This respirable vaccine will be used to protect against TB and boost the effects of BCG.
A Novel Vaccine Formaultion To Prevent Birth Defects
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$530,922.00
Summary
Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is one of the TORCH infections (toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex) and is one of major cause of birth defects. Transmission of CMV infection from mother to unborn babies can lead to deafness, blindness, small head syndrome (microcephaly), seizures and mental retardation. There is an urgent need to develop an effective vaccine against CMV. This project is aiming to develop a novel CMV vaccine formulation for clinical testing in ....Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is one of the TORCH infections (toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex) and is one of major cause of birth defects. Transmission of CMV infection from mother to unborn babies can lead to deafness, blindness, small head syndrome (microcephaly), seizures and mental retardation. There is an urgent need to develop an effective vaccine against CMV. This project is aiming to develop a novel CMV vaccine formulation for clinical testing in humans.Read moreRead less
RV3 Rotavirus Vaccine: A Human Neonatal Rotavirus Vaccine For The Asia-Pacific Region
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,264,330.00
Summary
Rotavirus infection is the leading cause of severe dehydrating gastroenteritis responsible for ~600,000 deaths per year in children <5 years of age worldwide. In this proposal we outline plans for the development of a human neonatal rotavirus vaccine in Indonesia. The goal is a safe and effective rotavirus vaccine affordable for children within the Asia-Pacific region and worldwide.
Characterisation Of Anti-HBs Responses In Patients Undergoing Functional Hepatitis B Cure: Implication For Future Therapies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$723,649.00
Summary
The hepatitis B virus causes liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. There is no cure for hepatitis B. However, a small number of patients can naturally rid themselves of the virus. We have identified 14 of these individuals and discovered that they have a unique immune response that is responsible for these “natural” cures. We plan to characterise this immune response and turn it into a therapeutic vaccine which can be used to cure patients who are still chronically infected.
Improved Vaccines Against Tuberculosis Based On Dendritic Cell Manipulation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$257,036.00
Summary
The incidence of tuberculosis (TB) is increasing throughout the world. BCG, the only currently available vaccine is only partially protective and better vaccines are urgently required to help limit the spread of TB. We have recently prepared naked DNA vaccines with the genes for three mycobacterial proteins and found that they partially protected against lung TB in mice. Further improvement is required and this project is to design and test improved DNA vaccines. Vaccines will be more effective ....The incidence of tuberculosis (TB) is increasing throughout the world. BCG, the only currently available vaccine is only partially protective and better vaccines are urgently required to help limit the spread of TB. We have recently prepared naked DNA vaccines with the genes for three mycobacterial proteins and found that they partially protected against lung TB in mice. Further improvement is required and this project is to design and test improved DNA vaccines. Vaccines will be more effective if they generate stronger cellular immune response to mycobacteria. Dendritic cells (DC) are the major cells that present mycobacterial antigens to T lymphocytes and thus stimulate T lymphocytes to generate immune responses that protect against TB. Therefore the aim of this project is to identify ways to manipulate DC to improve their ability to activate protective immunity. We will target membrane molecules on DC to activate the antigen- presenting function of these cells by fusing the genes for mycobacterial proteins to genes either for antibodies to surface molecules on DC or receptors for these molecules. These novel DNA vaccines will be tested for their effects on DC function and their capacity to stimulate the protective pattern of immunity in mice. The cytokine environment at the time of stimulation will be modified by giving the DNA vaccine together with two cytokine-expressing vaccines, to 'push' the T lymphocytes to respond more vigorously. Finally, we shall test whether a combination of the new DNA vaccines and BCG is more effective than BCG at protecting against virulent TB infection.Read moreRead less