Linkage Projects - Grant ID: LP0347269

Funding Activity

Website
http://dataportal.arc.gov.au/NCGP/API/grants/LP0347269

Funding Status
Closed

Does something not look right? The information on this page has been harvested from data sources that may not be up to date. We continue to work with information providers to improve coverage and quality. To report an issue, use the .

Funded Activity Summary

Mammalian chitinases and gene therapy: new weapons to combat fungal and insect attack in mammals. Plants combat fungal and insect attack by producing chitin degrading enzymes. Related, chitinolytic enzymes have been identified in mammals, but their functions are unclear. We found that chitinases from human macrophages inhibited fungal growth. We hypothesise that, like plants, mammalian chitinases are produced to fight chitin containing pathogens. We will transform cells with a chitotriosidase gene and encapsulate them, creating bioreactors secreting chitinases. Therapeutic effects will be tested by grafting bioreactors to mice inoculated with Aspergillus. The research is a new approach to fighting chitin containing pathogens, with potential applications from parasite infestations in livestock to fungal infections in humans.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-2003

End Date: 10-2006

Funding Scheme: Linkage Projects

Funding Amount: $69,099.00

Funder: Australian Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Gene Therapy | Medical Biotechnology | Therapies And Therapeutic Technology | Animal Protection (Pests And Pathogens)

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

Infectious diseases | Prevention—biologicals (e.g. vaccines) | Prevention—biologicals (e.g. vaccines) |

Related Links