Inhibition Of Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule Expression By High Density Lipoproteins
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$80,550.00
Summary
It is well known that high levels of cholesterol in blood cause coronary heart disease. However, it is also known that not all of the blood cholesterol is bad. If it is carried in particles called low density lipoproteins or LDLs it causes heart disease. But if it is carried in other particles known as high density lipoproteins or HDLs it does not. In fact, it is now well known that HDLs actually protect against the development of coronary heart disease. There are two main actions of HDLs that c ....It is well known that high levels of cholesterol in blood cause coronary heart disease. However, it is also known that not all of the blood cholesterol is bad. If it is carried in particles called low density lipoproteins or LDLs it causes heart disease. But if it is carried in other particles known as high density lipoproteins or HDLs it does not. In fact, it is now well known that HDLs actually protect against the development of coronary heart disease. There are two main actions of HDLs that contribute to their ability to protect. Firstly, they are known to drain cholesterol out of coronary arteries. We have recently shown that they have a second action. The end result of this second action is a slowing down of the entry into coronary arteries of cells called monocytes that are necessary for the development of the atherosclerosis that causes the heart disease. This project is concerned with this ability of HDLs to slow down the development of atherosclerosis by the second action. We have found that this second action of HDLs is influenced by the type of fats they carry. We propose now to investigate the mechanism by which different fats influence this action of HDLs with a view to devising new strategies for the prevention of heart disease.Read moreRead less
The Role Of Vif In Enhancing HIV Replication And Effecting The Integrity Of The Replication Complexes Of HIV
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$260,200.00
Summary
HIV-AIDS is still one of the leading causes of infectious human fatality worldwide. The genome of HIV encodes six viral accessory proteins that are necessary for viral replication and infection. One of these genes, viral infectivity factor (vif), is essential for production of infectious virus. Exactly how this viral protein works within the cell is not clear at present. Current literature suggests that Vif acts in some way to enhance reverse transcription, one of the early stages of the viral l ....HIV-AIDS is still one of the leading causes of infectious human fatality worldwide. The genome of HIV encodes six viral accessory proteins that are necessary for viral replication and infection. One of these genes, viral infectivity factor (vif), is essential for production of infectious virus. Exactly how this viral protein works within the cell is not clear at present. Current literature suggests that Vif acts in some way to enhance reverse transcription, one of the early stages of the viral life cycle. We aim to investigate the action of Vif in stabilizing early HIV reverse transcription complexes to understand how it acts to enhance HIV replication and viral infection. The early stages of HIV replication are critical for establishing infection and hence ideal targets for therapeutic intervention. This research will help understand how Vif works in a cell and affects the infectivity of HIV viral particles and may be suggestive of potential targets for development of anti-viral drugs.Read moreRead less