The Biology Of Ross River Virus And Its Cellular Receptor
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$252,750.00
Summary
Ross River virus (RRV) causes a principally rheumatic disease in up to 8000 Australian annually. The disease is severe at onset comparable to that suffered by patients with osteoarthritis awaiting hip replacement. However, the disease usually resolves within 6 months. This grant intends to continue our studies on how and why RRV causes disease and develop an understanding of why only 1 person in 20 infected with RRV actually develops disease. We believe RRV arthritis is cause by RRV persisting i ....Ross River virus (RRV) causes a principally rheumatic disease in up to 8000 Australian annually. The disease is severe at onset comparable to that suffered by patients with osteoarthritis awaiting hip replacement. However, the disease usually resolves within 6 months. This grant intends to continue our studies on how and why RRV causes disease and develop an understanding of why only 1 person in 20 infected with RRV actually develops disease. We believe RRV arthritis is cause by RRV persisting in specific white blood cells residing within joint tissues. The grant intends to exploit the recent observation that to infect cells RRV uses a receptor, which human cells normally use to bind to collagen. Armed with this new information we intend to unravel how RRV can persist despite the patient making good antibody responses against the virus, and determine whether high levels of this receptor predispose to disease. The ultimate goal for these studies is the identification of potential new treatments for this and perhaps other arthritic diseases caused by viruses. We have also recently identified a new virus in seals that is related to RRV, but fortunately appears not to pose a health threat to humans. However, we intend to test whether this new virus uses the same receptor as RRV and begin to explore using computer technology some of mutations these viruses would need before they could successfully infect humans.Read moreRead less
Ross River virus - identification of virulence determinants in clinical isolates from across Australia. In Australia, Ross River virus (RRV) is the most common insect borne virus that affects human health. There were more than 60,000 confirmed cases of RRV between 1993 and 2008. While not fatal, the disease is responsible for significant morbidity that has both social and economic costs for the individual, their family and the community. The project has several national benefits. It will elucida ....Ross River virus - identification of virulence determinants in clinical isolates from across Australia. In Australia, Ross River virus (RRV) is the most common insect borne virus that affects human health. There were more than 60,000 confirmed cases of RRV between 1993 and 2008. While not fatal, the disease is responsible for significant morbidity that has both social and economic costs for the individual, their family and the community. The project has several national benefits. It will elucidate whether there is any association between RRV strain and the severity of human disease. It will also identify viral markers that could assist public health officials in determining likely disease outcomes of outbreaks and could provide new avenues for the design of antiviral strategies.Read moreRead less
Mosquito-borne viruses - how they cause disease and novel approaches to prevention. In Australia, Ross River virus (RRV) is the most common insect borne virus that affects human health. There were more than 60,000 confirmed cases of RRV between 1993 and 2008. While not fatal, the disease is responsible for significant morbidity that has both social and economic costs for the individual, their family and the community. This project has several national benefits. It will elucidate whether there is ....Mosquito-borne viruses - how they cause disease and novel approaches to prevention. In Australia, Ross River virus (RRV) is the most common insect borne virus that affects human health. There were more than 60,000 confirmed cases of RRV between 1993 and 2008. While not fatal, the disease is responsible for significant morbidity that has both social and economic costs for the individual, their family and the community. This project has several national benefits. It will elucidate whether there is an association between RRV strain and the severity of disease and if there are human factors that affect the seriousness of symptoms. Knowledge of both of these could provide new avenues for the design of prevention and treatment strategies.Read moreRead less
Novel Insights Into The Mechanisms Of How Viruses Cause Arthritis/Arthralgia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$78,187.00
Summary
Viruses cause many diseases today and new viruses emerge to post threats to future health and well being. The proposed work investigates how viruses cause disease in people, particularly how viral infections can lead to arthritis or muscle pain. This understanding will be used in the development of new prevention strategies and treatments.
Regulation Of Immune And Inflammatory Responses By Short Chain Fatty Acids And GPR43
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$549,092.00
Summary
Innate immune mechanisms provide essential signals that determine the outcome of immune responses. The identity of these innate mechanisms may provide opportunities for manipulating immune responses, or controlling inflammatory responses. This proposal centers around a new and little-studied receptor, GPR43, which binds products of bacterial metabolism. This molecular pathway may explain how diet affect immune responses.
Prof McGuckin is studying common chronic diseases (gut and respiratory inflammatory diseases, arthritis, and obesity and diabetes) that are major contributors to poor health in the Australian community and are major contributors to healthcare expenditure. His research includes basic studies elucidating the biological basis of these diseases and then uses this new knowledge to develop new therapeutic approaches to treatment. The new therapeutic approaches will be tested in model systems as a prel ....Prof McGuckin is studying common chronic diseases (gut and respiratory inflammatory diseases, arthritis, and obesity and diabetes) that are major contributors to poor health in the Australian community and are major contributors to healthcare expenditure. His research includes basic studies elucidating the biological basis of these diseases and then uses this new knowledge to develop new therapeutic approaches to treatment. The new therapeutic approaches will be tested in model systems as a prelude to clinical trials.Read moreRead less
Toll-like receptors in infectious and inflammatory diseases: the double-edged sword of innate immunity. The innate immune system is the first line of defence against invading microorganisms. This project will explore the role of specific innate immune genes in the control of infections and the development of inflammatory diseases.
Toll-like Receptors And Innate Immunity: Genes And Pathways Regulating Infectious And Inflammatory Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$138,367.00
Summary
The innate immune system is the first line of defence against infectious diseases, but also contributes to the pathology of inflammatory diseases (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis). I study specific genes and pathways used by the innate immune system to (1) understand how the innate immune system prevents infections and how microorganisms overcome these defences, and (2) develop approaches to block inflammation. Outcomes may include new therapies for inflammatory and infectious diseases.