GENETIC ANALYSIS OF POLYSACCHARIDE CAPSULE BIOSYNTHESIS AND REGULATION IN STREPTOCOCCUS PNEUMONIAE

Funded Activity Summary

Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus) is an important cause of invasive diseases such as pneumonia, meningitis and bacteraemia in humans. Many people carry this organism in the nasopharynx asymptomatically. However, in a small proportion, the organism overcomes host defences and invades the body causing life-threatening disease. An essential virulence factor of the pneumococcus is the polysaccharide capsule which protects it from the immune defences of the host during an infection. Until recently, very little was known of the pneumococcal genes involved in production of this antigen. This project aims to continue characterization of these genes, and examination of the factors which regulate their expression. This regulatory mechanism may be very important, because production of increased levels of the polysaccharide capsule is believed to be an crucial step in the transition from carriage to invasion. An understanding of the molecular events involved in biosynthesis and regulation of capsule production will improve our understanding of the disease process and identify alternative targets for antimicrobial therapy.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2001

End Date: 01-01-2003

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $377,036.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Allergy

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

There are no SEO codes available for this funding activity

Other Keywords

Streptococcus pneumoniae | bacteraemia | capsular polysaccharide biosynthesis | genetic regulation | invasive pneumococcal disease | meningitis | otitis media | pneumonia | virulence

Related Links