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The Role of RNA interference in the induction of immune responses. Our work will allow us to understand a new means by which to alert the immune system to the presence of cancer cells using a new technology called RNA interference. This will hopefully lead to new investment in biotechnology products based on RNA interference, improved treatments for cancers and better health for Australians
Translation Of Genetic, Genomic And Transcriptomic Discoveries Into Clinical Practice
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$638,517.00
Summary
This project will progress studies on genes affecting common diseases to clinical application. Specifically, I aim to (1) establish the basis for the association of the identified MS risk factors with MS susceptibility; (2) establish if the three MS blood immune types we have identified, which are tagged by MS susceptibility genes, and altered by MS therapy, predict clinical response to therapy; and (3) determine the effect of host genetic variation in response to therapy for HCV, HIV and flu.
Discovering genes and mechanisms regulating immune responses. The Fellowship will retain and expand a pioneering Australian research program, and attract to Australia major international investment and technology linkages, making use of the DNA sequence of humans and other mammals to advance understanding of immunity and infection control in public health, agriculture and industry. The program will build on Australia's pre-eminent research strengths in the field of immunity and infection, and w ....Discovering genes and mechanisms regulating immune responses. The Fellowship will retain and expand a pioneering Australian research program, and attract to Australia major international investment and technology linkages, making use of the DNA sequence of humans and other mammals to advance understanding of immunity and infection control in public health, agriculture and industry. The program will build on Australia's pre-eminent research strengths in the field of immunity and infection, and will create new knowledge and resources to improve human and animal health through vaccines, pharmaceuticals and public health policy. Read moreRead less
Monotreme immune system provides insights into their evolutionary relationships. Genes of immunological importance will be cloned and characterised from the short-beaked echidna with the purpose of investigating the immune system in monotremes, gaining insights into the timing and order of evolutionary separation of the three extant mammalian groups:- the Prototherians (monotremes), the Metatherians (marsupials) and Eutherians (placentals), increasing understanding of the evolution of the verteb ....Monotreme immune system provides insights into their evolutionary relationships. Genes of immunological importance will be cloned and characterised from the short-beaked echidna with the purpose of investigating the immune system in monotremes, gaining insights into the timing and order of evolutionary separation of the three extant mammalian groups:- the Prototherians (monotremes), the Metatherians (marsupials) and Eutherians (placentals), increasing understanding of the evolution of the vertebrate immune system and providing the basis for making immunological reagents which are necessary for studying monotreme diseases (as a precautionary conservation strategy).Read moreRead less
From the pouch to the grave: age and sex related changes in immunity in the Tasmanian devil. Tasmanian devils face extinction in the wild due to the emergence of a contagious cancer: Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD). A comprehensive understanding of the devil immune system is necessary to better understand the disease and develop a vaccine against it. This project will characterise immune responses of healthy devils throughout life, from the pouch, to onset of puberty, to old age. This project ....From the pouch to the grave: age and sex related changes in immunity in the Tasmanian devil. Tasmanian devils face extinction in the wild due to the emergence of a contagious cancer: Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD). A comprehensive understanding of the devil immune system is necessary to better understand the disease and develop a vaccine against it. This project will characterise immune responses of healthy devils throughout life, from the pouch, to onset of puberty, to old age. This project will then compare these responses in DFTD-affected devils to determine why DFTD affects older animals first and does not affect sexually-immature devils. Additional outcomes will include the development of novel antibiotics against human and animal diseases and an atlas of devil development using the latest imaging technologies.Read moreRead less
The mucosal immune system of fish: analysis of the immune repertoire in gut-and gill-associated lymphoid tissues in trout. Infectious disease causes major economic loss to the aquaculture industry, highlighting the need for effective vaccination strategies. While oral or immersion vaccination represents the most cost effective means of protecting fish against infectious disease there are problems associated with inducing an effective immune response in fish that will assist our industry partner ....The mucosal immune system of fish: analysis of the immune repertoire in gut-and gill-associated lymphoid tissues in trout. Infectious disease causes major economic loss to the aquaculture industry, highlighting the need for effective vaccination strategies. While oral or immersion vaccination represents the most cost effective means of protecting fish against infectious disease there are problems associated with inducing an effective immune response in fish that will assist our industry partner (Novartis Animal Vaccines Ltd) to develop improved fish vaccines. The project will provide postgraduate training in the area of fish immunology that is vital to the developing Australian aquaculture industry.Read moreRead less
Functional And Genetic Analysis Of PHF11, A New Gene Associated With Atopic Dermatitis And Asthma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$483,261.00
Summary
Atopic dermatitis, or eczema, is an increasingly common severe allergic condition affecting the skin that afflicts up to 30% of all Australian children. Eczema has significant financial impact on families as well on the health and well being of the affected child. The majority of asthmatics are also allergic, explaining why many children who suffer from eczema often go on to develop asthma as well. A familial history of asthma or eczema is an important risk factors for a child developing the dis ....Atopic dermatitis, or eczema, is an increasingly common severe allergic condition affecting the skin that afflicts up to 30% of all Australian children. Eczema has significant financial impact on families as well on the health and well being of the affected child. The majority of asthmatics are also allergic, explaining why many children who suffer from eczema often go on to develop asthma as well. A familial history of asthma or eczema is an important risk factors for a child developing the disorder, meaning that allergy is to a large extent determined by the genes we inherit from our parents. Our genes consist of four different building blocks, called nucleotides, which are identified by four letters: A, G, C and T. Each gene has a specific spelling of these four letters, although between any two people there will invariably be small single letter differences in the way a gene is spelt. Normally, these differences have no effect. In an allergic individual, however, these differences do have an effect. Identifying differences in the way a gene is spelt and why this should lead to eczema or asthma is a major research goal. In the past several years a number of genes have been identified that play an important role in allergy and we have recently identified a spelling difference in a new gene that we believe is important in the allergic response of eczema and asthma. At the moment, we can only guess how this gene might work. We know it is expressed in cells of our immune system that are important in allergy. We also suspect it might be an on or off switch for other genes important for allergy. This project will test these ideas and show how differences in the way this gene is spelt lead to differences in how this gene works. This will be important in adding another piece to the puzzle of how genes control allergy and could lead to better and earlier treatment of these disorders with improved health for affected children as well as adults.Read moreRead less
Mitigating ecosystem impacts by improving the way we breed and manage devils. The Tasmanian ecosystem faces irreversible change due to the decline of the apex predator. An insurance population of Tasmanian devils has been established to prevent extinction of the species. Using the latest sequencing technologies the project aims to determine whether the Tasmanian ecosystem can be restored with Tasmanian devils that are more resilient to a changing environment by improving the way that devils are ....Mitigating ecosystem impacts by improving the way we breed and manage devils. The Tasmanian ecosystem faces irreversible change due to the decline of the apex predator. An insurance population of Tasmanian devils has been established to prevent extinction of the species. Using the latest sequencing technologies the project aims to determine whether the Tasmanian ecosystem can be restored with Tasmanian devils that are more resilient to a changing environment by improving the way that devils are bred and managed in captivity.Read moreRead less
The genetics of resistance to devil facial tumour disease. Tasmanian devils are on the brink of extinction due to a new contagious cancer: Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD). The aim of this project is to determine the genetic nature of DFTD resistance in order to directly contribute to the conservation management of this iconic and ecologically important species. This research will generate fundamental information about genetic diversity in Tasmanian devils and establish the feasibility of bree ....The genetics of resistance to devil facial tumour disease. Tasmanian devils are on the brink of extinction due to a new contagious cancer: Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD). The aim of this project is to determine the genetic nature of DFTD resistance in order to directly contribute to the conservation management of this iconic and ecologically important species. This research will generate fundamental information about genetic diversity in Tasmanian devils and establish the feasibility of breeding resistant animals for release into the wild. Read moreRead less