Development Fo A Novel Treatment For Asthma: The Identification Of Lead Small Molecule Antagonists Of The IL-13/IL-13 Re
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$99,750.00
Summary
In developed countries Asthma ranks among the most common chronic illnesses. Over two million Australians now have this condition and the cost to our community is estimated to be in excess of $720 million per annum. In 1996 researchers at The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute discovered a new member of the cytokine receptor family, IL-13Ra1, which further research has strongly implicated in the pathology of this disease. The main goal of the proposed research is to discover small molecule antagoni ....In developed countries Asthma ranks among the most common chronic illnesses. Over two million Australians now have this condition and the cost to our community is estimated to be in excess of $720 million per annum. In 1996 researchers at The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute discovered a new member of the cytokine receptor family, IL-13Ra1, which further research has strongly implicated in the pathology of this disease. The main goal of the proposed research is to discover small molecule antagonists of IL-13Ra1 and to identify those suitable for development as novel asthma therapeutics.Read moreRead less
Rapid HIV-1 Tropism Testing Using Novel, Soluble Mimics Of The HIV-1 Coreceptors CCR5 And CXCR4
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$163,426.00
Summary
This proposal seeks to develop an inexpensive assay to determine whether HIV patients will benefit from treatment with new drugs referred to as CCR5 antagonists. These are effective against HIV strains that use the CCR5 coreceptor, therefore a patient�s HIV coreceptor usage must be assessed before commencing therapy. Current assays are complicated, slow and expensive. Using novel, soluble mimics of the coreceptors we will develop an ELISA based test that can be operated using standard equipment.
Recombinant Bacteria Expressing Oligosaccharide Receptor Mimics For Prevention Of Enteric Infections
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$451,056.00
Summary
Gastrointestinal infectious diseases kill more than 3 million people each year. The principal microbial pathogens responsible for these infections are known to exploit oligosaccharides on the surface of host cells as receptors for ahesins or toxins. We have developed (and patented) a novel anti-infective strategy, based on mimicry of oligosaccharide receptors for toxins and adhesins produced by enteric pathogens on the surface of harmless carrier bacteria. Oral administration of such recombinant ....Gastrointestinal infectious diseases kill more than 3 million people each year. The principal microbial pathogens responsible for these infections are known to exploit oligosaccharides on the surface of host cells as receptors for ahesins or toxins. We have developed (and patented) a novel anti-infective strategy, based on mimicry of oligosaccharide receptors for toxins and adhesins produced by enteric pathogens on the surface of harmless carrier bacteria. Oral administration of such recombinant probiotics has the potential to prevent enteric infections by binding and neutralizing toxins in the gut lumen and by blocking adherence of the pathogen to intestinal epithelial cells. As a prototypic example, we have developed a bacterium capable of preventing the serious consequences of Shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC) infections; this agent binds Shiga toxin with very high efficiency and is 100% protective in animal models. The strategy has very broad applications, however, and receptors for virtually any pathogen can be mimicked by expression of appropriate glycosyl transferases in a suitable harmless host bacterium. This proposal involves extension of our existing work to develop therapeutic agents for other important life threatening diarrhoeal diseases including cholera, travellers' diarrhoea, dysentery, antibiotic-associated colitis, rotavirus, etc.Read moreRead less
Development Of Anti-CXCR7 MAbs For The Treatment Of Fibrosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$399,998.00
Summary
Fibrosis is a serious biological process that occurs in many disease conditions, including cancer, inflammation and infections. We have produced antibodies to CXCR7, and these antibodies completely inhibit fibrosis in a mouse model. We plan to develop these antibodies in to a suitable drug for human clinical trials.
Novel Vaccine Formulation For Immunotherapy Of Adenocarcinomas
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$178,400.00
Summary
We have designed a vaccine based on a unique delivery system. Mice immunised with vaccine were protected from a tumour challenge. We will now design a vacine with a cancer associated protein so that people once immunised can make killer cells. Since humans have different genetic makeup we will produce a vacine which is more effective and will benefit everyone. This vaccine will be more effective than a current vacine in that has yielded promising results in humans.
Commercialisation Of A Glycoprofiling Diagnostic Kit And Novel Therapies For Biofilm Related Respiratory Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$203,050.00
Summary
Our preliminary studies have shown that a group of patients who suffer from chronic inflammatory disease and have bacterial biofilm identified on their mucosa have worse outcomes even after surgery. We have shown that they lack certain small protein and sugar molecules on their respiratory lining. We aim to use this technology as a diagnostic tool to aid the doctor in prescribing the appropriate treatment for these patients to prevent bacteria regrowing in their respiratory tract.