Vaccinating Against Helicobacter Pylori-induced Gastric Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,088,714.00
Summary
Stomach cancer is the 3rd leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Most stomach cancers result from inflammation due to Helicobacter pylori infection. Most infections are treatable with antibiotics but this does not protect against cancers that develop before infection is diagnosed. Normal vaccine approaches aimed at this infection have been unsuccessful. We have identified a new approach for protecting against stomach cancer by preventing inflammation; this project aims to develop this vaccine.
Gastrokine 2 Promotes Gastric Homeostasis And Inhibits Bacterial Pathology
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$621,335.00
Summary
Gastrokine 2 is a small regulatory protein secreted by the stomach lining. Its function is unknown but data from our lab suggests that it may be important in maintaining stomach integrity. This project will investigate how gastrokine 2 maintains stomach function, how this can be compromised when bacterial infection is ongoing, and how we might be able to turn up gastrokine 2 expression to prevent inflammation and precancerous changes in the stomach lining.
Defining The Role Of Reserve Stem Cells In Gastric Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$563,739.00
Summary
Over 800,000 deaths from stomach cancer occur annually. This often fatal disease is caused by chronic inflammation of the stomach lining. This proposal will investigate how stomach inflammation ‘reprograms’ a new type of 'cancer stem cell' to form tumours and evaluate ways to therapeutically target these cells to prevent disease. Collectively, these studies will inform new approaches for stomach cancer prevention and treatment.
A specialised set of T lymphocytes called Mucosal Associated Invariant T (MAIT) cells react against bacteria and yeast, and reside at mucosal sites where the body's immune defences are most easily breached, e.g. respiratory tract and intestinal mucosa. This study investigates the role of MAIT cells in both protection and pathology in bacterial infections. Controlling MAIT cells could help in treating these conditions.
A Novel Therapeutic Target For Preventing Helicobacter Pylori-associated Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$750,336.00
Summary
Gastric cancer mainly results from chronic inflammation (gastritis) caused by the stomach-dwelling bacterium, Helicobacter pylori. We have identified a potassium channel which our data suggest could be a new therapeutic target for protecting against gastric cancer caused by H. pylori infection. This project will test the role of this channel in H. pylori gastritis and see whether drugs that target this channel can protect mice against H. pylori-associated disease.