Rapid Point Of Care Detection Of Avian Influenza Virus Using Ion-Channel Switch Biosensor
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$425,400.00
Summary
The project aims to demonstrate a rapid, Point-of-Care test based on the Ion Channel Switch (ICS_) Biosensor for the detection and identification of Avian Influenza (AI) Virus in respiratory specimens. This proposal combines the extensive scientific skills and experience of the Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science (IMVS), Adelaide with the experience and existing capability of Ambri Ltd, Chatswood Sydney, to adapt an existing ICS_ Biosensor for the detection of avian influenza virus in cl ....The project aims to demonstrate a rapid, Point-of-Care test based on the Ion Channel Switch (ICS_) Biosensor for the detection and identification of Avian Influenza (AI) Virus in respiratory specimens. This proposal combines the extensive scientific skills and experience of the Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science (IMVS), Adelaide with the experience and existing capability of Ambri Ltd, Chatswood Sydney, to adapt an existing ICS_ Biosensor for the detection of avian influenza virus in clinical specimens. The existing ICS_ Biosensor has been shown to have reactivity with inactivated Influenza A (H1N1 and H3N2 _ current, circulating human strains) and with recombinant Nucleoprotein. This unique mix of experience and infrastructure will permit the demonstration a rapid, point-of-care test for Avian Flu within the tight six months schedule.Read moreRead less
CHARACTERISATION OF NOVEL PICORNAVIRUS-LIKE VIRUSES IDENTIFIED FROM PATIENTS WITH ACUTE RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$366,998.00
Summary
The common cold and serious chest colds are usually due to viral infections, and mostly occur in children. Unfortunately we can only be certain of the virus causing this illness in as little as 15% of cases. We intend to address this lack of research by examining, in detail, a new virus we recently identified in a child with serious respiratory illness that required admission to hospital. Testing by our laboratory suggests that the new virus is related to picornaviruses (which cause some common ....The common cold and serious chest colds are usually due to viral infections, and mostly occur in children. Unfortunately we can only be certain of the virus causing this illness in as little as 15% of cases. We intend to address this lack of research by examining, in detail, a new virus we recently identified in a child with serious respiratory illness that required admission to hospital. Testing by our laboratory suggests that the new virus is related to picornaviruses (which cause some common colds) but seems to be present in children with far more serious illness. Our study plans to more completely identify the new picornavirus-like virus (PLV) using the tools of molecular biology and the expertise of a senior team of Australian scientists and clinicians who have recently made several virus discoveries in Australia, demonstrating that Australian virus research is capable of achieving highly competitive results that benefit our hospitals and especially their young patients. Our studies will develop extremely sensitive tests which rely on the detection of very small amounts of the viral genome. We can use these tests to determine what the whole virus looks like, when it might occur during the year and whether the PLV are found worldwide. Our studies will also produce viral proteins in the laboratory and use these to make new tests for stored blood samples. If a blood sample comes from a patient who has previously been infected by PLV, their blood will contain specific antibodies which we will then be able to detect. We also intend to determine whether some strains of PLV are more or less likely to cause serious illness than others. Improved understanding of these and other viruses minimises the chance of illness spreading within a hospital, helps scientists to decide against which viruses to design vaccines and drugs and aids medical doctors to better identify what once went undiagnosed.Read moreRead less
The Balance Of Signals Received By NK Cells Is Modulated By Viruses As A Mean Of Immune Escape.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$583,175.00
Summary
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) affects about 60% of the population in Australia. Infection is partially controlled by the immune system but CMV is never eliminated and people remain carriers for the rest of their life. Reactivation of CMV in healthy individuals is usually asymptomatic, but it causes severe diseases in people with immune deficiencies. We seek to discover the mechanisms used by CMV to escape immune surveillance, in order to gain insights into the development of improved antiviral therapies
Identification Of The Molecular Hallmarks Of Naevi Progressing To Melanoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$314,644.00
Summary
Melanomas are amongst the most commonly occurring cancers in Australia with >136,000 people living with a previous melanoma diagnosis. One of the highest risk factors for developing melanoma is having a high number of moles (or naevi). It is therefore important to fully understand how and why naevi develop into melanoma. It is hoped that early detection markers will be identified which will help identify early melanomas and as such improve patient outcome.
Herpesviruses infect most Australians and cause recurrent ulcers, birth defects and cancer. Infection lasts lifelong, and spreads to close contacts without obvious clinical signs. Thus disease is hard to prevent. However we can learn much from related animal infections. We have shown that both mouse and human herpesviruses enter mice via cells in the nose. Thus human infections might follow the same route. We will define what body defences work here and whether vaccines can prevent infection.
Human ?-herpesviruses persist for life, cause cancers and emerge with particular virulence when the immune system is weak. Vaccination against them is therefore an important health priority. We have shown for a related ?-herpesvirus of mice that live vaccines protect. Antibody seems to play a major role. We will test whether safer, recombinant vaccines are also sufficient to elicit protective antibody. Thus we can establish a viable strategy for preventing virus-induced human cancers.
Burden Of Respiratory Infection In The First 2 Years Of Life: A Birth Cohort Study Of Emerging Respiratory Pathogens.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,168,963.00
Summary
Respiratory illnesses are extremely common, but there is little information about patterns of infection in the community using modern diagnostic tests. Children have the highest rates of infection and transmit to all other age groups. We intend to recruit 138 newborns to monitor respiratory symptoms and collect specimens for testing in the first two years of life. This will allow us to document illnesses due to known and newly identified respiratory pathogens.
Quantitative Proteomic Analysis Of Faecal Biomarkers For Colon Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$562,398.00
Summary
We have identified a number of potential biomarkers present in the stools of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). We will use quantitative mass spectrometric techniques that we have developed to validate these biomarkers on a large number of faecal samples from patients with CRC and multiple control groups. We believe these studies will lead to a new panel of biomarkers which will improve the detection of early forms of colon cancer, thus reducing death from this disease.
Viral infections of the gut are one of the most debilitating infections one can suffer from. Noroviruses are the most common causative agents of viral-associated gastroenteritis but unfortunately little is known regarding their biology and pathogenesis. Our study aims to investigate the replication and pathogenesis of a mouse norovirus to shed light on similar aspects relating to human norovirus infection. We aim to understand how virus infection in cells leads to disease symptoms.
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.