Macfarlane Adaptive Changes In HIV-1 Subtype C Envelope Glycoproteins Contributing To Pathogenicity.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$310,787.00
Summary
HIV exists as multiple subtypes. The most commonly studied is type B (B-HIV). B-HIV is common in developed countries, but accounts for only a small fraction of HIV infections worldwide. Type C HIV (C-HIV) in Africa and Asia accounts for the majority of infections worldwide, yet very little is known about how C-HIV causes AIDS. We aim to understand how C-HIV causes AIDS. This is critical for development of drugs and vaccines specifically designed for those who are most urgently need.
The world has suddenly been alerted to the threat of pandemic influenza with the recent deaths in Asia of patients and their close contacts from which the avian influenza H5N1 virus has been isolated. Experts believe that it is only a matter of time before this virus mutates and acquires the ability to rapidly spread within the human population. The currently available vaccines have virtually no capacity to prevent infection by a new pandemic virus. Once the virus strikes appropriate vaccines ca ....The world has suddenly been alerted to the threat of pandemic influenza with the recent deaths in Asia of patients and their close contacts from which the avian influenza H5N1 virus has been isolated. Experts believe that it is only a matter of time before this virus mutates and acquires the ability to rapidly spread within the human population. The currently available vaccines have virtually no capacity to prevent infection by a new pandemic virus. Once the virus strikes appropriate vaccines can be made against it but this procedure takes at least 6 months, the time predicted for the virus to have already spread throughout the globe. We are proposing that a vaccine designed to induce killer T cells (called CTLs) that target the conserved regions shared by all influenza viruses, could be used as a preventative measure without prior knowledge of the exact type of virus that will emerge. This sort of vaccine will not prevent against infection but will greatly lessen the severity of the disease. We have already designed a vaccine that that will induce high levels of CTLs that can greatly speed up the clearance of viruses of the type that are currently in the human population, when tested in animal models. However, we predict that a new pandemic virus will be much more vigorous in its growth and so our vaccines will have to be improved to cope with this. This project looks at ways of increasing the number and effectiveness of the CTLs that are induced by our vaccines. This will require an understanding of how we can modulate the function of other specialised cells, dendritic cells and helper T cells, that play a role in starting and maintaining the CTL response, as well as modulating the CTLs themselves.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 .
Characterisation Of The Adiponectin Receptors - AdipoR1 And AdipoR2
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$445,158.00
Summary
The increasing incidence of cardiometabolic disease highlights an unmet need for novel therapeutic approaches. Greater understanding of the detail governing cardiometabolic function is required to provide a foundation to construct effective strategies. We will characterise 2 novel receptors that are important in the regulation and maintenance of cardiometabolic systems, seeking to identify strategies to enhance receptor, improve cardiometabolic function and reduce disease burden.
Molecular Pharmacology Of Chemokine Receptor Signalling In Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$371,770.00
Summary
Molecular pharmacology is the study of how hormones, neurotransmitters and pharmaceuticals interact with our cells through receptors, which transfer a signal across the cell membrane to change the function of that cell. Chemokine receptors are recognised to play a role in the development of many cancers. Understanding how these receptors work has enormous implications for improving our ability to develop better anti-cancer treatments with fewer side effects.
Allosteric Targeting Of The Dopamine D2 Receptor: A Novel Approach For The Treatment Of Parkinson’s Disease And Schizophrenia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$469,644.00
Summary
The dopamine D2 receptor is a brain protein that is the target for drugs that are used in the treatment of schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease (PD). In both cases the current drugs have significant side effects because they simply act to switch the receptor off or on respectively. We will focus on a new class of drugs that, because they act to tune up or tune down the activity of the D2 receptor, may be a safer more effective approach to treat these disorders.
The Novel CXCR4/CCR7 Heterodimeric Chemokine Receptor Is A Key Determinant Of Breast Cancer Metastasis.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$461,252.00
Summary
Novel cellular receptor has been identified that works as a switch to turn on cellular functions that are responsible for the metastatic dissemination of cancer cell to distant organs. The make-up and regulatory mechanisms of this novel receptor will be studied together with its potential utility as the marker of metastatic breast cancer.
This research will push the boundaries of current knowledge in receptor pharmacology and translate this knowledge into clinical outcomes. Receptors are proteins on the surface of our cells that bind hormones, neurotransmitters and pharmaceuticals. By better understanding the complexities of how these receptors work at the molecular level, the objective is to develop improved treatments and better clinical management for a range of medical conditions.