Randomised Controlled Trial Of Azithromycin To Reduce The Morbidity Of Severe Bronchiolitis In Indigenous Infants
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,456,802.00
Summary
Acute lower respiratory infections are the commonest cause of hospitalisations and retrievals from remote communities. Early severe respiratory infections likely impair lung growth. We will examine whether azithromycin (antibiotic with anti-inflammatory properties) should be used to treat infants hospitalised with bronchiolitis to reduce the severity of bronchiolitis and prevent rehospitalisation. The study potentially improves acute clinical care as well as prevents future respiratory illness.
Studies On The Effects Of RSV Infection During Infancy On Aeroallergen-specific T-cell Immunity And Lung Function
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$130,475.00
Summary
Many infants who develop transient severe wheezing in association with respiratory infections, go on to develop asthma which can persist throughout childhood and some times into adult life. It is not known whether the respiratory infections are a direct cause of later asthma, or whether they simply function as flag which identifies children who have a genetic predisposition to wheeze e.g. because they have abnormally narrow airways. This project will compare the effects of respiratory infection ....Many infants who develop transient severe wheezing in association with respiratory infections, go on to develop asthma which can persist throughout childhood and some times into adult life. It is not known whether the respiratory infections are a direct cause of later asthma, or whether they simply function as flag which identifies children who have a genetic predisposition to wheeze e.g. because they have abnormally narrow airways. This project will compare the effects of respiratory infection in infants with the RSV virus, who contract the disease at different ages, and who have varying levels of genetic risk for respiratory allergies. In particular, it will examine the possibility that in certain cases, infection of genetically susceptible individuals during early infancy will boost the development of allergies to airborne environmental allergens (such as house dust mite) which are known to trigger asthma attacks in older children and adults.Read moreRead less
The Immunoregulatory Domains And Binding Interactions Of Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Non-structural Proteins
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$484,051.00
Summary
Human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) is the leading cause of lower respiratory tract disease in infants and yet there are no vaccines available. HRSV exacerbates disease by interfering with the innate immune response. We aim to establish the mechanism by which this occurs by identifying the cellular-viral protein interactions involved, and by identifying the specific regions of the viral proteins responsible. This information will allow targeted vaccines and antivirals to be developed.
Pneumovirus Infection In Infancy Affects The Development Of Life-long Adaptive Immunity.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,469.00
Summary
Respiratory syncytial virus is the most important cause of acute lower respiratory tract infection (RTI) in young children worldwide. Hospital admission rates in Western societies for RTIs are around 3% for children younger than 1 year. A vaccine to RSV is not yet available and repeat infections occur thoughout life, suggesting that the immune response does not develop correctly. In this project we are exploring the mechanisms that underpin disease development and promote incomplete immunity.
Elucidating Sub-clinical Pathways To Chronic Rejection In Lung Transplantation And Therapeutic Implications
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$416,587.00
Summary
Organ transplantation has become a feasible option for many end-stage clinical conditions, including advanced lung disease. However, despite often dramatic short term successful outcomes, late graft dysfunction due to chronic rejection remains a major obstacle to long-term success. This is particularly the case in lung transplantation despite the use of potent broad spectrum immunosuppressive agents. The three major risk factors that have been identified for chronic rejection following lung tran ....Organ transplantation has become a feasible option for many end-stage clinical conditions, including advanced lung disease. However, despite often dramatic short term successful outcomes, late graft dysfunction due to chronic rejection remains a major obstacle to long-term success. This is particularly the case in lung transplantation despite the use of potent broad spectrum immunosuppressive agents. The three major risk factors that have been identified for chronic rejection following lung transplantation are acute rejection episodes diagnosed on lung biopsy, reactivation of the ubiquitous human DNA virus CMV and persistent lymphocytosis in the transplanted lung suggesting that potent broad spectrum immunosuppression may have both beneficial and harmful effects in lung transplant recipients. This proposal will apply sensitive new immunological techniques to detect and quantitate each of these risk factors at a sub-clinical level with a view to delineating their relationship with each other and with the development of chronic rejection following lung transplantation. This information will help unravel the pathogenesis of chronic rejection in lung transplant recipients and improve clinical management decisions in these patients and therefore long term health outcomes.Read moreRead less
Defining The Requirement For The Inhibition Of Bak To The Pathogenesis Of Cytomegalovirus Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$592,661.00
Summary
Apoptosis, or programmed cell death is a powerful defence mechanism against viral infection. Thus, to replicate efficiently viruses have evolved means to inhibit apoptosis. The central aim of this work is to understand how cytomegalovirus prevents cell death protein during infection. The proposed studies will improve our understanding of the mechanisms that regulate viral replication and will contribute insights into the normal processes that control cell survival.
Current combination antiviral therapy can't cure an HIV infection because long-lived T-cells carrying latent HIV DNA can rekindle the infection when drugs are removed. We will study elements in HIV genetic code that control expression of HIV proteins from latent HIV. A detailed molecular understanding of the structure and function of these HIV RNA elements and the viral and host cell factors that interact with them will expose new targets for therapy of latent HIV.
Polarized Epithelia And The Natural History Of Hepatitis Viruses
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$358,770.00
Summary
The viruses causing hepatitis in man must cross specialised cell layers in the body to reach the liver, and must again cross these cell layers and liver cells in order to be transmitted to subsequent hosts. This research will examine how each of the hepatitis viruses (HAV to HEV) are able to enter and exit the body, and the role that these mechanisms may play in the development of acute disease and of chronic infections with hepatitis B and C viruses. The findings will contribute to development ....The viruses causing hepatitis in man must cross specialised cell layers in the body to reach the liver, and must again cross these cell layers and liver cells in order to be transmitted to subsequent hosts. This research will examine how each of the hepatitis viruses (HAV to HEV) are able to enter and exit the body, and the role that these mechanisms may play in the development of acute disease and of chronic infections with hepatitis B and C viruses. The findings will contribute to development of improved methods for the prevention and control of viral hepatitis.Read moreRead less