Dynamic Trafficking Of Amino Acid Transporters At Synapses And Their Role In Regulating Neurotransmission
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$421,219.00
Summary
Brain cells release chemical neurotransmitters to activate their neighbours. The most abundant neurotransmitter is glutamate, which mediates most of the communication in the brain. Following release, this neurotransmitter must be rapidly recycled to prevent levels being depleted and neurotransmission failing. The subject of this grant is to understand what molecules and pathways are used to recycle glutamate in the brain, and how its supply is controlled to sustain continual brain activation.
Understanding The Role Of The Putative Phospholipid Translocase ATP11c In B Cell Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$455,153.00
Summary
The immune system protects humans against recurrent infections with a wide range of pathogens. Formation of antibodies is a crucial element of the immune response. Defects in the production of antibodies can lead to recurrent and often life-threatening infections. This project seeks to understand a genetic defect in mice resulting in an almost complete absence of antibody producing cells, thereby causing a disease that is similar to some forms of human immunodeficiency.
Targeting An Ion Pump In The Malaria Parasite With Multiple Compound Classes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$384,686.00
Summary
Large-scale antimalarial drug screening projects have identified three different classes of compound that kill the malaria parasite at extremely low doses and which hold real promise as next-generation antimalarials. Genetic evidence, as well as preliminary data from our own lab, has led us to the hypothesis that all three compound classes exert their antimalarial effect by blocking a molecular ion pump on the parasite surface. The aim of this study is to test this.