The biology, structure and function of bacterial virulence effectors. This project is closely aligned with the National Research Priority of Promoting and Maintaining Good Health and will establish a research framework to investigate novel virulence processes that allow bacterial pathogens to infect humans and cause disease. This fresh approach to the study of bacterial pathogenesis will sit outside classic genetic methods to investigate infection and immunity which rely heavily on genetic manip ....The biology, structure and function of bacterial virulence effectors. This project is closely aligned with the National Research Priority of Promoting and Maintaining Good Health and will establish a research framework to investigate novel virulence processes that allow bacterial pathogens to infect humans and cause disease. This fresh approach to the study of bacterial pathogenesis will sit outside classic genetic methods to investigate infection and immunity which rely heavily on genetic manipulation of the pathogen. Other than providing fundamental information on host-pathogen interactions, this work may lead to novel disease interventions by inhibition of bacterial virulence factor activity and/or enhancement of host inflammatory and immune responses.Read moreRead less
Developmental genetics of malaria parasites. This project aims to improve our understanding of malarial genetics. The sexual cycle of malaria parasites occurs in mosquitoes. After sex, parasite progeny multiply to form infective spores that are injected into people by mosquito bite. Development of male and female malaria parasite gametes and their fusion to produce a diploid zygote are well understood, but the subsequent process of meiosis, development of a cyst stage and the sporogenic process ....Developmental genetics of malaria parasites. This project aims to improve our understanding of malarial genetics. The sexual cycle of malaria parasites occurs in mosquitoes. After sex, parasite progeny multiply to form infective spores that are injected into people by mosquito bite. Development of male and female malaria parasite gametes and their fusion to produce a diploid zygote are well understood, but the subsequent process of meiosis, development of a cyst stage and the sporogenic process to create haploid progeny for new infections are poorly understood in molecular genetic terms. The project aims to dissect the unique genetics of these insect stages using a rodent malaria model to generate crosses of different malaria parasite lines to determine when recombination takes effect.Read moreRead less
Functional And Structural Studies Of A Glycosyltransferase Essential For Complex Glycolipid Biosynthesis In Mycobacteria
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$508,838.00
Summary
Tuberculosis (TB) kills more than three million people each year while the causative bacterial species, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, infects one-third of the entire human population. An alarmingly high rate of TB exists in Australia's indigenous population. This proposal aims to identify and characterise essential processes involved in synthesis of the outer coat of the bacterium which are potential targets for new drugs for the treatment of this devastating disease.
Emerging Infectious Neurological Diseases In Australia; From Enhanced Recognition To Improved Response
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$189,384.00
Summary
Infectious neurological diseases(IND) such as encephalitis are severe and frequently cause long term disability. New IND like Zika pose a real threat. During his PhD, Dr Britton identified outbreaks of encephalitis in children and described serious consequences. Here, Dr Britton proposes to extend his work across all ages, include other types of IND and explore novel methods to detect outbreaks. He will work with experts at leading national research centres in surveillance and infectious disease
Urinary tract infections (UTI) are among the most common infectious diseases of humans and a major cause of morbidity and mortality. In the USA, UTI accounts for >$1.6 billion in medical expenses each year. It is estimated that 50% of women will develop a UTI in their lifetime. This research aims to understand the processes by which bacteria colonize the human bladder. The work has implications for the development of new approaches to prevent and treat UTI.
Lipocalin 2 In Host Defence Of The Central Nervous System
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$575,014.00
Summary
Lipocalin 2 is a protein that is involved in protection of the host organism against bacterial infections. We have found that high levels of lipocalin 2 are produced by a variety of cells in the brain in response to not only bacterial products but also to infection with West Nile virus (WNV). WNV is a dangerous virus known to cause lethal encephalitis. This project will determine the role of lipocalin 2 in the defence of the host against WNV encephalitis.
Diversity And Virulence Determinants Among 1000 Clinical And Environmental Isolates Of Burkholderia Pseudomallei
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$517,639.00
Summary
Melioidosis is an important infection in tropical northern Australia. It is a common cause of fatal pneumonia and blood infection in the region. Melioidosis results from infection with a soil bacterium. This project builds on the existing melioidosis collaboration between researchers in northern Australia and overseas to determine how the melioidosis bacterium can be so virulent and whether only a subset of the melioidosis bacteria found in the environment are capable of infecting humans.
Genetic Dissection Of Biofilm Development By Non-typeable Haemophilus Influenzae
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$418,516.00
Summary
The bacterial pathogen non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is a common cause of chronic infections of the middle ear and of the airways of patients suffering cystic fibrosis, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). These infections are associated with bacterial biofilms that are significantly resistant to both antibiotics and immune defences. This project aims to characterise the process of NTHi biofilm development so that novel diagnostic tools and therapeutics can be developed.
Molecular Basis Of Asymptomatic Colonization Of The Human Urinary Tract
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$461,894.00
Summary
Urinary tract infections (UTI) are among the most common infectious diseases of humans and a major cause of morbidity and mortality. In the USA, UTI accounts for >$1.6 billion in medical expenses each year. It is estimated that 50% of women will develop a UTI in their lifetime. This research aims to understand the processes by which bacteria colonize the human bladder and the surface of urinary catheters. The work has implications for the development of new approaches to prevent and treat UTI ....Urinary tract infections (UTI) are among the most common infectious diseases of humans and a major cause of morbidity and mortality. In the USA, UTI accounts for >$1.6 billion in medical expenses each year. It is estimated that 50% of women will develop a UTI in their lifetime. This research aims to understand the processes by which bacteria colonize the human bladder and the surface of urinary catheters. The work has implications for the development of new approaches to prevent and treat UTI.Read moreRead less
Identification And Quantification Of HIV Latency Biomarkers In The Central Nervous System
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$814,618.00
Summary
One major obstacle in curing HIV is the brain’s role as a potential reservoir of HIV infection. It is unknown if “reawakening” of HIV may lead to uncontrollable brain damage given that current antiretroviral drugs vary in their ability to treat brain infection. Not all patients have HIV brain infection so eradication therapies in themselves may be safe. We aim to identify and quantify biomarkers of HIV latency in the brain to stratify patients into these two cohorts.