The Role Of Fractalkine In Leukocyte Recruitment In The Periphery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$215,196.00
Summary
This research will determine whether a new type of gene plays an important role in inflammation in tissues in the periphery. If it does, we will design strategies to inhibit its function, thereby controlling its effects in inflammation. Such treatment may be useful for diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes as well as allergies.
Characterisation Of Cell-mediated Immune Responses In Burkholderia Pseudomallei Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$239,250.00
Summary
The bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei, causes a life threatening condition known as melioidosis. Melioidosis is emerging as an important infectious disease in tropical regions of Australia and South East Asia. Death rates following acute disease are extremely high. Despite the importance of B. pseudomallei in tropical public health, very little is known regarding how the body's defence mechanisms prevent the spread of infection. The wide distribution of melioidosis in tropical Australia and ot ....The bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei, causes a life threatening condition known as melioidosis. Melioidosis is emerging as an important infectious disease in tropical regions of Australia and South East Asia. Death rates following acute disease are extremely high. Despite the importance of B. pseudomallei in tropical public health, very little is known regarding how the body's defence mechanisms prevent the spread of infection. The wide distribution of melioidosis in tropical Australia and other parts of the world, and the lack of basic scientific information regarding this disease, has prompted this study. The bacterium lives within the body's cells and therefore does not respond well to standard antibiotic treatment. Although some of the basic immune mechanisms have been identified, how protection to the organism develops remains unclear. In this project we will investigate the effect of B. pseudomallei on immune cells or lymphocytes. This study will determine the patients' immune responses to the bacteria causing the disease. Our research team has already successfully carried out work on several different aspects of melioidosis. The characterisation of the basic immune function determined in the proposed study will provide the scientific basis for improvement in treatment and the development of possible preventive strategies against melioidosis.Read moreRead less
A Prospective Study Of The Development Of Innate Immunity In Preterm Infants And Susceptibility To Neonatal Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$377,773.00
Summary
Life-threatening infection is extremely common in preterm infants, affecting at least 25% of those born before 28 weeks. Infection results in huge human and economic costs. There is currently no way of predicting which preterm infants will develop infection. This project will enrol preterm infants at birth and track the development of their protective immune system over the period of greatest vulnerability. This will lead to development of targeted treatement for those at greatest risk.
Mechanisms Regulating Establishment Of Persistent Herpesvirus Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$511,446.00
Summary
Herpesviruses are a major cause of disease worldwide and are amongst the most successful human pathogens, with some viruses infecting more than 80% of the world's population. This group of viruses persist and reactivate in hosts and induce immunosuppression.The control of herpesviruses infections thus represents an important clinical goal. Understanding the mechanisms involved in the induction of viral persistence and immunosuppression is a crucial step towards developing better therapies.
Transcriptional Regulation Of T Cell Memory Programming
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$549,092.00
Summary
Differentiation of T cells is required to protect against disease. A group of proteins, called transcription factors, critically regulate this fundamental process, during which T cells become effector cells (that can kill pathogen infected cells) or memory cells (that are essential for protection against secondary infections). To identify the functions and hierarchy of these regulators is critical to therapeutic treatment of autoimmune and infectious disease and is the aim of this application.
Antibodies Against Erythrocyte Invasion Ligands Of Plasmodium Falciparum And Protection From Malaria
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$358,184.00
Summary
Malaria is a leading cause of childhood death globally. Malaria parasites infect red blood cells and multiply inside them, resulting in severe illness if untreated. Currently there is no vaccine available and effective treatments are limited. In studies of children in Africa and PNG, we aim to identify immune responses that block infection and growth of malaria in the blood. With this knowledge, vaccines can be designed that target malaria to prevent serious illness and death.
Transcriptional Regulation Of T Lymphocyte And Dendritic Cell Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$605,096.00
Summary
Differentation of lymphocytes is a fundamental process in protection against disease . A small number of proteins critically regulate the decisions the cells make in becoming effective antigen presenting cells (that stimulate other immune cells), effector cells (that kill pathogen infected cells) or memory cells (that are essential for protection against secondary infections). Understanding this process and its regulation is critical to therapeutic treatment of autoimmune and infectious disease.