The Therapeutic Role Of Complement Inhibition In ANCA Associated Glomerulonephritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$600,964.00
Summary
ANCA associated vasculitis is an inflammatory disease involving the kidney filters which is a major cause of chronic kidney failure. Current drugs to treat it are toxic. Less toxic treatments are required. In this study we will explore the potential for new treatments targeting complement (a normal blood protein involved in inflammation) to attenuate this disease in mice. We hope to define the role of complement in this disease and the benefits of inhibiting it before we use it in humans.
Phagocytic Clearance And Immune Activation In Malaria
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$564,644.00
Summary
Macrophage white blood cells clear malaria infected cells by eating them, by three routes- by recognising ANTIBODIES or COMPLEMENT on the cell surface, or by the cell BINDING directly to the macrophage. Each has different results, such as amounts of cytokines produced. Cytokines clear malaria; in excess they can cause fatal immune pathology. We will investigate how variations in amount of antibody and complement and route of uptake of malaria infected cells might determine malaria outcome.
The routes of infection with sheep scrapie and agents that cause related prion diseases. We will define the routes by which the infective agents for scrapie, a debilitating disease of sheep, reach the nervous system after being consumed with food. Scrapie is from the same disease group (prion diseases) as mad cow disease. There would be a large economic cost were prion diseases to infect agricultural animals in Australia, through bioterrorism or accident. An outbreak in sheep could ruin the indu ....The routes of infection with sheep scrapie and agents that cause related prion diseases. We will define the routes by which the infective agents for scrapie, a debilitating disease of sheep, reach the nervous system after being consumed with food. Scrapie is from the same disease group (prion diseases) as mad cow disease. There would be a large economic cost were prion diseases to infect agricultural animals in Australia, through bioterrorism or accident. An outbreak in sheep could ruin the industry, as our export markets would be immediately blocked, and thousands of animals would be killed to stop disease spread. The benefit of clearly understanding how the infective agents reach the nervous system is that this may lead to strategies to intervene, and thus limit the spread and seriousness of infection.Read moreRead less
The Molecular Basis Of Bacterial Infectious Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$16,230,996.00
Summary
Bacterial infectious diseases are a serious threat to human health, accounting for over 10 million deaths each year. This multidisciplinary collaborative team is investigating the complex interactions between major disease-causing bacteria and their human hosts, in order to determine how they cause disease. These studies will make a major contribution to fundamental knowledge in this field. This information is also essential for the development of cheaper and more effective vaccines, as well as ....Bacterial infectious diseases are a serious threat to human health, accounting for over 10 million deaths each year. This multidisciplinary collaborative team is investigating the complex interactions between major disease-causing bacteria and their human hosts, in order to determine how they cause disease. These studies will make a major contribution to fundamental knowledge in this field. This information is also essential for the development of cheaper and more effective vaccines, as well as novel drugs. These are urgently needed to reduce death and illness due to bacterial infectious diseases in the 21st century. 11Read moreRead less
Harnessing innate immunity to mitigate bovine respiratory disease. Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) is the most significant health problem faced by the beef industry worldwide, causing economic losses of up to $40 million annually in Australia alone. This Project aims to assess an immunostimulant for its ability to induce resistance to infection with bovine respiratory viruses associated with BRD. The Project is expected to generate fundamental new knowledge in veterinary virology. Expected outc ....Harnessing innate immunity to mitigate bovine respiratory disease. Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) is the most significant health problem faced by the beef industry worldwide, causing economic losses of up to $40 million annually in Australia alone. This Project aims to assess an immunostimulant for its ability to induce resistance to infection with bovine respiratory viruses associated with BRD. The Project is expected to generate fundamental new knowledge in veterinary virology. Expected outcomes include scholarly publications. The Project will provide significant benefits, such as advances to fundamental knowledge, training of higher research degree students and proof-of-concept data to promote collaborations with commercial partners to develop novel treatment strategies to limit BRD.Read moreRead less
Determinants of Audio-Visual effects in degraded and non-degraded speech. Seeing a speaker's face can affect the perception of their speech in a number of ways. This project proposes a detailed comparison of factors that affect Audio-Visual (AV) facilitation of degraded speech detection and identification. Detection-based tasks should be more sensitive to signal based correlations whereas identification-based effects more sensitive to complementary information. The significance of the current pr ....Determinants of Audio-Visual effects in degraded and non-degraded speech. Seeing a speaker's face can affect the perception of their speech in a number of ways. This project proposes a detailed comparison of factors that affect Audio-Visual (AV) facilitation of degraded speech detection and identification. Detection-based tasks should be more sensitive to signal based correlations whereas identification-based effects more sensitive to complementary information. The significance of the current proposal is that it offers both a strategy and a connected series of experiments for determining key behavioural constraints on AV speech integration. Understanding AV interactions will build links between neurophysiological processes and coherent perception and have important implications for AV application.Read moreRead less
Development of an attenuated vaccine to control the emerging bovine respiratory pathogen Mycoplasma bovis. The project will develop an attenuated vaccine to control the emerging bovine respiratory pathogen Mycoplasma bovis. This pathogen is a major contributor to bovine pneumonia in the feedlot industry and improved control will reduce reliance on antibiotics in cattle production.
Insecticide targets in the nervous system: Discovery and design for sustainable insect pest control. Insect pests impose massive costs in food production, in human health and in the wellbeing of our companion animals. Chemical insecticides remain a major weapon in the control of these pests, but the use of insecticides has some downsides. The way in which insecticides kill insects is poorly understood and insecticide usage has negative impacts in the environment – the persistence of chemical r ....Insecticide targets in the nervous system: Discovery and design for sustainable insect pest control. Insect pests impose massive costs in food production, in human health and in the wellbeing of our companion animals. Chemical insecticides remain a major weapon in the control of these pests, but the use of insecticides has some downsides. The way in which insecticides kill insects is poorly understood and insecticide usage has negative impacts in the environment – the persistence of chemical residues and the killing of beneficial insects along with the pests. Further, insects become resistant to insecticides, so pest control is lost. This proposed research seeks to identify the ‘achilles heal’ in insect pests and to target them with new generation insecticides to gain safe, effective and sustainable control.Read moreRead less
Development of a proto-type vaccine against gastrointestinal nematode larvae. Gastrointestinal parasites are the major cause of production losses in the Australian sheep and wool industries. Drug treatment is predominantly used to control infections but drug resistance has reached critical levels and is threatening the viability of sheep production in many rural areas. In collaboration with an international Animal Health company, we aim to develop vaccines against these parasites and provide a c ....Development of a proto-type vaccine against gastrointestinal nematode larvae. Gastrointestinal parasites are the major cause of production losses in the Australian sheep and wool industries. Drug treatment is predominantly used to control infections but drug resistance has reached critical levels and is threatening the viability of sheep production in many rural areas. In collaboration with an international Animal Health company, we aim to develop vaccines against these parasites and provide a clean, non-toxic alternative to drug treatment. The groundbreaking research involved in this project will also keep Australian animal scientists at the forefront of vaccine research and increase their capacity to attract further support from Industry.Read moreRead less