CCR9 Expressing T Helper Cells In Immunity And Autoimmunity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$729,571.00
Summary
We have identified a unique subset of immune cells in autoimmune lesions named Tccr9 cells. You find these cells in the gut, but when the body shifts into disease mode, Tccr9 cells disseminate to the accessory organs of the digestive system. Understanding the relationship between gut Tccr9 cells and the Tccr9 cells that contribute to chronic inflammation and autoimmunity is the focus of this research proposal.
Interleukin 37 – A Novel Cytokine Therapy For Necrotizing Enterocolitis In The Preterm
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$748,848.00
Summary
Neonatologists are adept at keeping extremely premature babies alive. But the price is a rising incidence of life-threatening diseases that include necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), a progressive and destructive intestinal inflammation that may require surgery, after which just 30% survive. We have created highly potent variants of the anti-inflammatory molecule interleukin 37 whose actions will improve our understanding of NEC pathogenesis and reveal their therapeutic potential in NEC.
Diet And The Gut Microbiota As The Basis For Food Allergies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$669,091.00
Summary
Diet and the composition of the gut microbiota represent new avenues to prevent or treat human diseases. We propose that allergies in western countries result from altered gut homeostasis. This application seeks to understand all the molecules involved, and to discover new bacteria that associate with, or protect from allergies.
Host Cell Death Signaling And Susceptibility To Bacterial Gut Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$682,321.00
Summary
Bacterial infections are a major cause of infectious disease worldwide. Here we aim to characterise immune responses that help fight infection by E. coli and Salmonella. These bacteria have evolved ways to shut down many of our immune responses during infection, allowing them to survive and cause disease. This work will help understand the complex relationship between gut bacteria and our immune system and provide solutions for controlling infection and treating immune disorders of the gut.
Modulating Gastrointestinal Function For Control Of Diabetes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$883,469.00
Summary
It is now recognized that gastrointestinal function, particularly the rate that meals empty from the stomach, and the secretion of hormones from the small intestine in response to nutrients, is fundamental to blood glucose control in people with diabetes. This project seeks to understand how these processes can best be modified by dietary or pharmaceutical means to improve blood glucose control and thereby prevent complications in type 2 diabetes
Effects Of Dietary Amino And Fatty Acids On Energy Intake And Glycaemia - Implications For Novel Approaches To The Management Of Obesity And Type 2 Diabetes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$584,032.00
Summary
Current obesity treatments are limited in efficacy or have adverse effects. Our research has shown that specific fatty acids and amino acids markedly suppress energy intake and reduce blood glucose, without adverse effects. The goal of the proposed work is to evaluate the translational potential of these discoveries in obese diabetic patients. Ultimately, we hope to develop the findings from this research into novel, nutrient-based strategies for the management/prevention of obesity/diabetes.
Bitter Taste As A Mediator Of Food Intake And Postprandial Glycaemia In Health And Type 2 Diabetes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$735,430.00
Summary
The gut “tastes” contents passing through it in a similar manner to the tongue. Recent evidence suggests that bitter substances in the gut can reduce appetite and slow the emptying of meals from the stomach, by stimulating gastrointestinal hormone release. We propose studies to understand how this system functions in health and type 2 diabetes, and whether it can be targeted to provide new diabetes treatments
Determining The Role Of DOCK8 In CD4+ T And B Cell Differentiation And Its Implications On Autosomal Recessive Hyper IgE Syndrome (AR-HIES)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$512,600.00
Summary
Autosomal recessive hyper IgE (AR-HIES) syndrome due to mutations in DOCK8 is a rare primary immunodeficiency whereby patients present with susceptibility to severe and recurrent viral infections as well as an increased risk of developing cancer, severe food and environmental allergies, and atopic disease characterised by hyper IgE and extreme eosinophilia. This grant will investigate how abnormal DOCK8 function in CD4+ T cells and B cells contributes to disease pathogenesis in AR-HIES patients.
Mechanisms And Targets Of Antibody-complement Interactions That Neutralize Malaria
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$647,977.00
Summary
Our project aims to identify immune mechanisms that neutralize malaria from the moment of inoculation by a mosquito, before infection can become established to prevent the development of malaria disease. Furthermore, we will discover specific targets of protective immune responses. We expect this project will provide major new advances in our knowledge of human immunity to P. falciparum malaria, one of the world’s most significant causes of mortality and morbidity, and we will use this knowledge
An Investigation Into The Molecular Basis Of MAIT Cell Recognition Of Vitamin B Based Metabolites
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$883,762.00
Summary
Mucosal associated invariant T cells (MAIT cells) are an abundant T-cell population in humans, that is found mostly in the gastrointestinal mucosa. We have recently shown that MAIT cells can be activated by metabolites of vitamin B. This proposal will investigate how the MAIT cells "see" vitamin B metabolites. This research will pave the way for novel therapeutics that can modulate MAIT cell activity.