Understanding The Innate Immune Response To Viral Infection Of The Female Reproductive Tract And Placenta
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$784,273.00
Summary
Viral infection of the female reproductive tract (FRT) can have a significant impact on FRT health and may cause significant birth defects if the virus infects the placenta and developing fetus. In this application we will investigate the role of a novel molecule termed interferon epsilon and how it impacts viral infection of the FRT, the fetus and how the placenta responds to viral infection. This work will develop innovative antiviral strategies to combat viral infections of the FRT.
Exploiting Anti-capsid Humoral Immunity Induced In Infants Receiving Gene Therapy For Spinal Muscular Atrophy To Engineer The Next Generation Of Gene Transfer Vectors
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,105,993.00
Summary
After 25 years of incremental progress the possibility of treating genetic disease by gene therapy has become a therapeutic reality. This has been achieved by harnessing the gene transfer power of viruses made harmless by genetic engineering. A major limitation is that up to 50% of patients are currently excluded by pre-existing immunity to these powerful tools. Using 'evolution in a dish', we will engineer a new generation of these tools capable of bypassing pre-existing immunity by stealth.
THE IMMUNOLOGICAL LEGACY OF OBESITY ON VIRAL PATHOGENESIS
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$652,275.00
Summary
Obesity is a key risk factor for severe viral infections. Our preliminary data suggest that in mice this susceptibility is not reduced by weight loss. In this grant we will investigate a) the mechanisms driving the legacy effect of obesity on antiviral immunity b) whether or not we can reverse this legacy effect by treatment with the drug MCC950 and c) the antiviral response of overweight children and adults who have and haven't recently lost weight.
Developing New Immunotherapeutics Through Studying Immune Effectors In Situ
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,369,054.00
Summary
The immune system deploys pore forming proteins to clear viral and bacterial infections and to eliminate cancerous cells. The unwanted activities of these molecules, however, results in chronic disease and in transplant rejection. We aim to understand how pore forming immune weapons interact with our own cells, with the goal of using this information to develop new approaches to treat immune driven disease and to improve the success of transplantation therapy.
Virulence Associated Small RNAs In Acinetobacter Baumannii
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$964,148.00
Summary
This proposal aims to understand how a superbug that causes severe infections in hospitalised patients worldwide and is known to be resistant to almost all available antibiotics, causes disease. We then plan on using this information to guide the development of a new type of therapy to treat this severe infection.
The Role Of Host Proteases In Modulating Enteric Infectious Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,267,155.00
Summary
Bacterial pathogens that cause gut diseases result in 2.5 million deaths per year. The gut is a complex environment consisting of numerous factors that must be balanced to maintain enteric health. When these factors are unbalanced, disease can occur, and infections can cause imbalances. This project will increase our understanding of the role that host proteins play in gut infections, providing knowledge critical for developing improved strategies for disease treatment and prevention.
Hepatitis B is a leading cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer. Treatments for hepatitis B control the virus, but do not cure it, so people stay on treatment for many years. We have identified an exciting new treatment approach by targeting a gene that controls liver metabolism, called TM6SF2. We will target this gene to develop a cure for hepatitis B.