Molecular Epidemiology Of Antibiotic Resistant Salmonella Enterica Strains Causing Human Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$493,767.00
Summary
Salmonella infections are responsible for a substantial proportion of reported food poisoning cases caused by bacteria and many of these infections are due to antibiotic resistant strains. Infections caused by antibiotic resistant organisms are hard to treat and generally more severe, of longer duration, and result in longer hospital stays. These strains are mostly acquired from foods, e.g. meats, dairy products, poultry, eggs, and other contaminated food products but can also be derived from ot ....Salmonella infections are responsible for a substantial proportion of reported food poisoning cases caused by bacteria and many of these infections are due to antibiotic resistant strains. Infections caused by antibiotic resistant organisms are hard to treat and generally more severe, of longer duration, and result in longer hospital stays. These strains are mostly acquired from foods, e.g. meats, dairy products, poultry, eggs, and other contaminated food products but can also be derived from other sources. Salmonella strains harboured by food-producing animals are the source of most of the food contamination.Tracing the source of individual resistant strains is essential for eradication and as there are many Salmonella types, some of which are found associated only with specific animals or birds, accurate identification is needed. The proposed work will make this process more accurate by using molecular techniques to unequivocally establish suspected connections and reveal further ones that are difficult to discern using current data and methods. This should decrease the number of infections due to resistant strains.Read moreRead less
The Mechanism Of Action Of New 5-nitroimidazole Drugs Which Are Effective Against Metronidazole-resistant Giardia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$292,216.00
Summary
We have discovered new 5-nitroimidazole drugs which can overcome giardial resistance to metronidazole, the most prescribed 5-nitroimidazole drug to treat giardiasis. We will focus on defining mechanisms of action of these new 5-nitroimidazole drugs in the anaerobic gut protozoan parasite Giardia. Using biochemical techniques, we will determine whether our potent new drugs are activated more efficiently by the same mechanisms as metronidazole or by novel enzyme pathways in the parasite.
The Role Of Estrogen-receptor Alpha (ERa) In The Pathogenesis Of Diabetes And Cardiovascular Disease.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$374,757.00
Summary
Cardiovascular disease (CVD), including heart attack and stroke, causes more deaths in Australia than any other disease. A major risk factor for CVD is diabetes, which affects more than 1 million Australians. Therefore, treating diabetes will reduce the number of people likely to die from CVD. This project aims to investigate a recently identified role for estrogen in the protection against diabetes. If successful, findings from this project may lead to new treatments against diabetes and CVD.
Centre Of Clinical Research Excellence In Cardiovascular Disease And Metabolic Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,000,000.00
Summary
Cardiovascular complications are the main cause of morbidity in a number of metabolic diseases, including diabetes and renal failure. The Centre's objective is to bring together six successful clinical research groups in cardiovascular and metabolic disorders in collaboration with specialists in telemedicine, to address the interface between these diseases and to train a group of clinical researchers skilled in multi-disciplinary research. The planned research includes mechanistic studies as wel ....Cardiovascular complications are the main cause of morbidity in a number of metabolic diseases, including diabetes and renal failure. The Centre's objective is to bring together six successful clinical research groups in cardiovascular and metabolic disorders in collaboration with specialists in telemedicine, to address the interface between these diseases and to train a group of clinical researchers skilled in multi-disciplinary research. The planned research includes mechanistic studies as well as interventional studies that will be translated to clinical practice.Read moreRead less
Adipose Distribution, Hepatic Lipid Partitioning And Pathogenesis Of Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$133,601.00
Summary
The rising prevalence of obesity and diabetes has led to increase incidence of fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a form of liver damage that can result in cirrhosis and liver cancer. Currently, approximately 30% people store fat poorly, resulting in increased waist circumference and higher risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and NASH. Animal studies are now underway to determine the switch which turns “good fat” to “bad fat”, to identify ways of preventing diabet ....The rising prevalence of obesity and diabetes has led to increase incidence of fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a form of liver damage that can result in cirrhosis and liver cancer. Currently, approximately 30% people store fat poorly, resulting in increased waist circumference and higher risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and NASH. Animal studies are now underway to determine the switch which turns “good fat” to “bad fat”, to identify ways of preventing diabetes, NASH and other adverse outcomes of obesity.Read moreRead less
Drug Targeting To Sites Of Lymph-adipose Interaction To Transform The Treatment Of Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$515,172.00
Summary
Insulin resistance (IR) underpins the development of inadequately treated heart and metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes. Recently we demonstrated that high fat diets promote increased leakage of fluid from lymph vessels to abdominal fat, and that increased access of lymph fluid to fat stimulates fat expansion and changes in fat function that promote IR. This project seeks to optimise novel drug delivery strategies that target lymph and fat and more effectively treat IR.
Interactions Between The Malaria Parasite's Chloroquine Resistance Transporter And Antimalarial Drugs
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$485,641.00
Summary
The malaria parasite is a single-celled organism which invades the red blood cells of its host. The aim of this project is to characterize the parasite protein responsible for conferring resistance to chloroquine, and to study its interaction with other antimalarial drugs. The parasite's susceptibility to chloroquine, and other drugs, is altered by small changes in this protein. This work will advance our understanding of the increasingly widespread phenomenon of antimalarial drug resistance.
Molecular And Cellular Determinants Of Tubulin-targeted Drug Action
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$484,500.00
Summary
Cancer is the leading cause of death in developed countries. Despite advances in the use of combination chemotherapy, drug resistance is the major cause of treatment failure. An important component in the treatment of many childhood and adult cancers are the antimicrotubule agents. These drugs target an important part of the cell skeleton called the tubulin-microtubule system that is responsible for many important events including cell division. It is the ability of these drugs to disrupt cell d ....Cancer is the leading cause of death in developed countries. Despite advances in the use of combination chemotherapy, drug resistance is the major cause of treatment failure. An important component in the treatment of many childhood and adult cancers are the antimicrotubule agents. These drugs target an important part of the cell skeleton called the tubulin-microtubule system that is responsible for many important events including cell division. It is the ability of these drugs to disrupt cell division in cancer cells that makes them so effective and such important targets for new drug design. Unfortunately, the reasons why tumours develop resistance to these drugs or even why some tumours do respond well is not understood. This proposal will determine how the makeup and stability of the tubulin-microtubule proteins influences how these drugs work in both childhood and adult tumour cells. Finally, components of drug resistant tumour cells will be examined using technology that allows us to simultaneously separate and identify hundreds of proteins some of which may provide useful targets for the design of new drugs for the treatment of cancer. To improve cancer survival rates it is essential to accurately target the use of existing drugs and to identify new targets for anticancer drug development.Read moreRead less