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Inhaled Mannitol For The Treatment Of Mucociliary Dysfunction- Its Effect And Mechanisms On The Clearance Of Mucus
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$324,100.00
Summary
Excessive secretion of mucus is a problem in asthma and bronchiectasis. Mucus is secreted from submucosal glands and goblet cells as a result of inflammation present in the airways. Excessive mucus is not easily transported by the cilia (hair like structures) in the airways and accumulation leads to productive cough and to recurrent infections. Cough is a secondary mechanism to clear mucus when the mucociliary system fails. Cough generates high airflow rates that can move mucus. However, patient ....Excessive secretion of mucus is a problem in asthma and bronchiectasis. Mucus is secreted from submucosal glands and goblet cells as a result of inflammation present in the airways. Excessive mucus is not easily transported by the cilia (hair like structures) in the airways and accumulation leads to productive cough and to recurrent infections. Cough is a secondary mechanism to clear mucus when the mucociliary system fails. Cough generates high airflow rates that can move mucus. However, patients with moderately to severely obstructed airways cannot generate high airflow rates. In addition, cough becomes very inefficient in moving mucus if it is sticky and viscous. As the cilia cannot transport large quantities of mucus the best approach is to alter the properties of mucus that would facilitate cough clearance. Increased hydration of mucus could change its surface and rheological properties. Increased hydration can be achieved by the osmotic movement of water into the airway lumen in response to inhaling an aerosol of salt or sugar. We have evidence using radioactive aerosols, that mannitol, a sugar, increases clearance of mucus acutely in patients with excessive secretions. We also have new evidence that mannitol taken daily over two weeks increases the health status in patients with bronchiectasis. Further we now have preliminary data demonstrating that mannitol changes the surface properties of mucus. We aim to study the properties of mucus in relation to its clearance in vivo in humans. This has not been done before. If we can demonstrate that changes in clearance in response to mannitol relate to the changes in mucus then we will be able to easily evaluate current treatments and doses for patients with excessive secretions and to identify new treatments. Mannitol is a potential treatment for diseases with excessive secretions and understanding of how it works will hopefully lead to better outcomes for patients.Read moreRead less
Compounded by massive global food and water shortages, neglected tropical disease (NTD) pathogens have a devastating and long-term impact on billions of humans worldwide. Unlocking the fundamental molecular biology of these pathogens, particularly carcinogens, employing a raft of Frontier Technologies, will lead to new ways of controlling NTDs and will have substantial outcomes through the development of new drugs, vaccines and/or diagnostic tests. We will use cutting-edge molecular technologies ....Compounded by massive global food and water shortages, neglected tropical disease (NTD) pathogens have a devastating and long-term impact on billions of humans worldwide. Unlocking the fundamental molecular biology of these pathogens, particularly carcinogens, employing a raft of Frontier Technologies, will lead to new ways of controlling NTDs and will have substantial outcomes through the development of new drugs, vaccines and/or diagnostic tests. We will use cutting-edge molecular technologies to tackle this area head-on.Read moreRead less
Using Metagenomics To Determine The Causative Agent(s) Of Tick-Borne Disease In Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$639,428.00
Summary
Tick-borne disease has emerged as a topical and controversial public health problem in Australia. We will employ state-of-the-art techniques in metagenomics to determine what microbial species (bacteria, viruses and eukaryotes) circulate in Australian ticks and whether these or different microbes are also present in humans diagnosed with tick-borne disease. The data generated will provide key information on whether tick-borne disease has a microbiological cause and, if so, the microbes involved.
Activated Protein C Utilises Protease Activated Receptors And Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor To Heal Wounds
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$436,882.00
Summary
Chronic leg ulcers are a major burden to the individual sufferer and to the health system. We have discovered that activated protein C (APC) potently stimulates wound healing in the laboratory and now have exciting positive results from a small pilot clinical trial showing that applying APC solution to leg ulcers also helps healing in patients. This study plans to discover how APC works at the molecular level.