Flaviviruses are the agents of many mosquito-transmitted infections such as encephalitis and dengue. Hepatitis C virus is a member of the same virus family. Using Australian flavivirus Kunjin as a model and advanced techniques in molecular biology, biochemistry and electron micriscopy, the research at SASVRC has established international leadership in the area of flavivirus RNA replication and ultrastructure of virus-infected cells. The objectives of this application are to advance further our u ....Flaviviruses are the agents of many mosquito-transmitted infections such as encephalitis and dengue. Hepatitis C virus is a member of the same virus family. Using Australian flavivirus Kunjin as a model and advanced techniques in molecular biology, biochemistry and electron micriscopy, the research at SASVRC has established international leadership in the area of flavivirus RNA replication and ultrastructure of virus-infected cells. The objectives of this application are to advance further our understanding of how the flavivirus RNA replication complex synthesizes RNA and how this RNA is specifically packaged to produce infectious virus. To achieve these goals we will employ state-of-the-art molecular biology techniques based on manipulations with infectious complementary DNA copy of Kunjin virus RNA. The intimate understanding of these mechanisms in flavivirus replication should facilitate the design of efficient antiviral drugs by specifically targeting unique events in RNA replication and-or packaging. This may assist in the development of antiviral drugs for treatment of infections caused by other higly pathogenic flaviviruses in Australia, such as dengue, Japanese encephalitis and Murray Valley encephalitis, and in the rest of the wirld such as New York strain of West Nile virus as well as the related heptitis C virus. Understanding the mechanisms of Kunjin virus replication and assembly will also aid in the further development of this virus as a safe vaccine vector against other viruses, e.g. HIV, and diseases such as cancer.Read moreRead less
Developing And Applying Biologically Plausible Statistical Models For Normal And Non-normal Family Data
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$339,700.00
Summary
Although molecular and computing advances have enabled more detailed investigations of inherited diseases and the ability to fit realistic statistical models to these data, limitations still exist when analysing family data. Often only basic statistical analyses are performed, due to the lack of understanding of complexities within the data and-or inability of researchers to fit appropriate statistical models. These factors have hampered the search for genes and environmental factors influencing ....Although molecular and computing advances have enabled more detailed investigations of inherited diseases and the ability to fit realistic statistical models to these data, limitations still exist when analysing family data. Often only basic statistical analyses are performed, due to the lack of understanding of complexities within the data and-or inability of researchers to fit appropriate statistical models. These factors have hampered the search for genes and environmental factors influencing common diseases. This project aims to develop novel, biologically realistic statistical models for investigation of common, complex diseases, such as heart disease and cancer, in families. These models will incorporate both measured and unmeasured genetic and environmental factors, and will be applicable to both normally distributed and non-normally distributed traits. Model fitting will use computer-intensive simulation techniques. Application of the models to data from two large pre-existing studies of international renown, the Victorian Family Heart Study and the Australian Prostate Cancer Family Study, will enable a better understanding of the genetic and environmental factors influencing heart disease and cancer. The models will also be applicable to many other studies of diseases which use data from families, and allow more accurate and useful information to be obtained from data. Software will also be made freely available to other researchers. This will ultimately translate into better outcomes from familial genetic research, and eventually, better prevention, detection, and treatment of the diseases.Read moreRead less
Development And Evaluation Of Statistical Methods And Software For Analysis Of Complex Genetic Disease Data
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,250,371.00
Summary
What are the major factors underpinning complex genetic diseases like diabetes, bipolar disorder or cancer? To answer this question new tools are needed, including software for mining the human genome with interactions between the genome and environment being incorporated. This is our focus. It will form the basis of a superior understanding of the overall process leading to disease and hence better predictions with important ramifications for new treatments and health care planning.