Cell Surface Lectin Receptors For Attachment And Entry Of Influenza Viruses Into Cells Of The Innate Immune System
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$530,094.00
Summary
Influenza virus is a leading cause of respiratory infection and death worldwide. Infection of humans is initiated when the virus contacts cells lining the respiratory tract. Infection of epithelial cells leads to virus amplification whereas infection of immune cells results in virus destruction. Despite extensive research efforts, it is not clear how the virus infects these cells. This project aims to identify receptors on human cells used by influenza virus to attach to and infect immune cells.
The Role Of Noncoding Subgenomic Flavivirus RNA In Virus-host Interactions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$624,429.00
Summary
Flaviviruses such as Dengue, Japanese encephalitis , and West Nile are major human pathogens causing more than 50 million infections per year. Elements in viral genome responsible for pathogenesis of these viruses are not well defined. Recently we have identified a unique for these viruses noncoding subgenomic flavivirus RNA (sfRNA) and showed that it is contributing to viral pathogenesis. In this proposal we aim to determine mechanisms by which sfRNA facilitates viral pathogenesis.
Roles Of The Hepatitis C Virus Glycoprotein E2 Variable Regions In Virus Entry, Immunogenicity And Immune Evasion.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$682,820.00
Summary
Hepatitis C Virus infects 200 million people world-wide with over 200,000 Australians infected with the disease. This project will examine how the surface proteins of HCV change their shape to evade antibody responses and how this effects the outcome of infection. We will further characterize a vaccine that elicits protective immunity to HCV to identify the optimal formulation for clinical trials.
Immunopathogenesis Of Varicella Zoster Virus Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$346,250.00
Summary
Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is a herpesvirus which infects up to 90% of the population. VZV causes chicken pox (varicella) predominantly in childhood and shingles (herpes zoster) in middle to old age people. Whilst VZV usually causes relatively mild disease in healthy individuals, VZV still causes significant morbidity in children and adults. VZV causes life-threatening disease in immunocompromised individuals such as patients who are elderly or have HIV disease. Shingles affects many elderly i ....Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is a herpesvirus which infects up to 90% of the population. VZV causes chicken pox (varicella) predominantly in childhood and shingles (herpes zoster) in middle to old age people. Whilst VZV usually causes relatively mild disease in healthy individuals, VZV still causes significant morbidity in children and adults. VZV causes life-threatening disease in immunocompromised individuals such as patients who are elderly or have HIV disease. Shingles affects many elderly individuals and a major complication is prolonged severe pain or post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), which can be severely debilitating and often requires follow-up medical care for months or even years after the initial attack. Despite its significant impact on the community, little is known about how this virus functions and causes disease. This project aims to improve our understanding of how VZV infection affects specialised human cells in order to provide novel information for the development of therapies aimed at lessening the impact of VZV disease on the community. This project has four components: (1) We will continue studies which have shown that VZV causes programmed cell death (apoptosis) in human skin cells (fibroblasts) but not human nerve cells (neurons). We aim to identify viral genes responsible for the cell-type specific modulation of apoptosis in human neurons and fibroblasts (2) We will examine human sensory ganglia (clusters of human nerve cells) during shingles and determine what immune cells are present and whether neurons are undergoing apoptosis (3) To assess the impact of VZV infection on the ability of specialized immune cells (called dendritic cells) to mature properly (4) We have shown that VZV may actively avoid immune detection by interfering with the function of dendritic cells. We aim to identify the mechanism responsible for the virus interfering with the expression of immune molecules which are essential for our immune system.Read moreRead less