Interactions Between Host And The Gut Microbiome In The Pathogenesis Of Ankylosing Spondylitis And Crohn's Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$572,227.00
Summary
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and Crohn's disease (CD) are common immune-mediated diseases affecting primarily the joints of the spine and the gut respectively. Genes play a major role in determining the risk of each disease, and it is likely that those genes cause the disease by interaction with some environmental factor, most likely bacteria residing in the gut. This study aims to test that hypothesis by profiling the bacteria in the gut of patients with the diseases and healthy subjects.
Bacterial Inhibition Of Cell Signalling And Apoptosis During Gastrintestinal Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$542,011.00
Summary
E. coli are a major cause of severe diarrhoeal disease. In order to establish infection, E. coli inhibits a host response where cells with bacteria stuck to them are ‘killed off’ and excreted as waste. This recent discovery illuminated an unknown role for cell death in the immune response during bacterial gastroenteritis. This project will study this phenomenon further to better understand the host immune response to infection and also other gut diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease.
A Novel Therapeutic Target For Preventing Helicobacter Pylori-associated Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$750,336.00
Summary
Gastric cancer mainly results from chronic inflammation (gastritis) caused by the stomach-dwelling bacterium, Helicobacter pylori. We have identified a potassium channel which our data suggest could be a new therapeutic target for protecting against gastric cancer caused by H. pylori infection. This project will test the role of this channel in H. pylori gastritis and see whether drugs that target this channel can protect mice against H. pylori-associated disease.