Characterisation of cell-mediated immune responses in Burkholderia pseudomallei infection

Funding Activity

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Funded Activity 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 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.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2004

End Date: 01-01-2006

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $239,250.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Infectious Diseases

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

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Other Keywords

Burkholderia pseudomallei | Cell-mediated immunity | Cellular Immunity | Cytokine responses | Immunity to infection | Infectious Diseases | Infectious diseases | Pathogenesis | Protective immunity | T cell immunity