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Innate Immunity In Premature Infants: The Role Of Toll Like Receptors In Susceptibility To Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$440,312.00
Summary
Premature infants are extremely vulnerable to severe infection in early life. This study will examine how well premature infants mount an initial immune response against infection (innate immunity) compared to infants born on time and adults. This study will also look at factors that affect this response and whether we can predict which babies will develop severe infection or other complications. This information will help develop new strategies to treat and prevent infections in these infants.
Inflammasome Function In Gastrointestinal Immunity And Inflammation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$421,116.00
Summary
The immune system in the gut provides a vital defence against microbes. If these defences are ineffective we become infected leading to gastroenteritis, a major cause of death in the third world and hospitalisation in developed countries. Conversely, excessive or inappropriate activation of these defences can cause inflammatory disease. This project will investigate microbial detection in the gut, and aims to discover new, more effective ways to treat gastrointestinal infection and inflammation.
Modulation Of HIV-1 Latency In Primary CD4 T Cells By Chemokines And Dendritic Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$380,167.00
Summary
Although treatment of HIV using antiretroviral drugs has dramatically improved outcome the presence of latent infection in long lived T cells has so far prevented cure of HIV infection. This study examines the roles of chemokines (proteins that control cell migration) and a special type of infection fighting cell, the dendritic cell, in generating latent infection in resting T cells. These studies could potentially identify new ways to treat and potentially cure HIV infection.
While current influenza vaccines blunt winter epidemics, they must be updated frequently to keep up with virus mutation and they do not protect against pandemics caused by new flu viruses (such as bird flu). This program will define how flu virus interacts with the immune system to generate immunity mediated particularly by “killer” T cells. We will use this knowledge to develop and evaluate vaccines that induce long-lasting T-cell immunity that can protect against both seasonal and pandemic flu ....While current influenza vaccines blunt winter epidemics, they must be updated frequently to keep up with virus mutation and they do not protect against pandemics caused by new flu viruses (such as bird flu). This program will define how flu virus interacts with the immune system to generate immunity mediated particularly by “killer” T cells. We will use this knowledge to develop and evaluate vaccines that induce long-lasting T-cell immunity that can protect against both seasonal and pandemic flu.Read moreRead less
The Role Of Fc RIIa In Antibody Dependent Tissue Destruction In Autoimmunity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$538,206.00
Summary
These studies will attempt to identify the cause autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus we are using a unique strain of mice carrying a unique human protein called Fc receptor that triggers inflammatory cells. We will identify the processes that start inflammation, and those that continue throughout chronic autoimmune disease. These studies will be applied to the development of new treatments for autoimmune disease.
Molecular Basis Of T Cell Receptor Bias In Viral Immunity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$540,075.00
Summary
Viral infection results in the activation and proliferation of T cells that eradicate infected cells. Recognition of infected cells is meditated by presentation and recognition of viral protein fragments via specific cell surface receptors. This proposal plans to examine the factors that determine the diversity of the immune response and the consequences of such diversity on anti-viral immunity. This has implications for the development of vaccines.
The Role Of Proteinase Inhibitor 9 In Cytotoxic Lymphocyte Function
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$820,136.00
Summary
Cytotoxic lymphocytes eliminate virus-infected or cancerous cells from the body. This is achieved by the release of powerful cytotoxins that kill the abnormal cell. Unless carefully targeted these cytotoxins can damage surrounding normal tissue or the cytotoxic lymphocyte itself, and lead to autoimmune disease. One of the most important cytotoxins is a protease called granzyme B. We have discovered a natural inhibitor of granzyme B that is present in cytotoxic cells and testis. Our studies are a ....Cytotoxic lymphocytes eliminate virus-infected or cancerous cells from the body. This is achieved by the release of powerful cytotoxins that kill the abnormal cell. Unless carefully targeted these cytotoxins can damage surrounding normal tissue or the cytotoxic lymphocyte itself, and lead to autoimmune disease. One of the most important cytotoxins is a protease called granzyme B. We have discovered a natural inhibitor of granzyme B that is present in cytotoxic cells and testis. Our studies are aimed at understanding the role of the inhibitor in human immune and reproductive function. We will also design and evaluate synthetic compounds based on the natural inhibitor that will enable us to easily measure granzyme B levels and control its activity.Read moreRead less
Heterosubtypic T Cell-inducing Vaccines For Influenza In Humans
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$352,307.00
Summary
Bird flu virus poses a large risk to the world if it mutates to become easily spread between people. If this occurs vaccines will be made to the mutated strain but there will be a time lag before these are available. We have been working on a novel vaccine that induces protective T cell immunity to parts of the virus that are common to all influenza strains and will be effective against any new virus. Our information from animal models will be used to create a human vaccine of this type .