The Contribution Of Subunit Interfaces To Receptor Activation In Ligand Gated Ion Channels
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$309,070.00
Summary
This project seeks to provide insights into new mechanisms that could be used to enhance or inhibit neuronal signalling. The family of pentameric neurotransmitter receptors that are key components in the process of neuronal signalling and are the target of this study. It will investigate the molecular motions that occur when the receptor shifts from the resting state to the activated state in the presence of neurotransmitter. This critical to understanding the normal function of these receptors ....This project seeks to provide insights into new mechanisms that could be used to enhance or inhibit neuronal signalling. The family of pentameric neurotransmitter receptors that are key components in the process of neuronal signalling and are the target of this study. It will investigate the molecular motions that occur when the receptor shifts from the resting state to the activated state in the presence of neurotransmitter. This critical to understanding the normal function of these receptors in the brain and how they can be modulated.Read moreRead less
How Do Anaesthetics Work? A Rational Basis For Safer General Anaesthesia.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$592,008.00
Summary
General anaesthetics are a mainstay of modern medicine, but have a small safety margin, requiring skilled anaesthetists for their safe use. There is growing evidence that general anaesthetic exposure may have long-term effects on brain function in both newborns and the elderly. This project will provide a detailed molecular description of anaesthetic action and specificity. It will provide the basis for designing new anaesthetics that are safer, both immediately and for long-term brain function.
Most individuals infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) develop progressive liver disease. A vaccine is urgently needed, and needs to mimic the immune responses seen in the minority of individuals who clear infection. However, there are large gaps in our understanding of these responses as most acute infections cause no illness and pass unnoticed. This project will fill these gaps by detailed immunological and virological analysis of a large group of subjects with early infection.
A New Paradigm For Class I Cytokine Receptor Activation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$954,946.00
Summary
Class I cytokine receptors include around 30 receptors with diverse functions such as controlling metabolism and inflammation. Cytokine receptors are molecular switches on cells that receive signals from other cells and transmit this signal into the cell’s nucleus to control the regulation of genes. This project will determine the molecular mechanisms involved in class I cytokine receptors and use this knowledge to develop novel ways to modulate these receptors for clinical applications.
Structural Biology Of Bacterial Lipid II-glycopeptide Antibiotic Interactions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$605,190.00
Summary
Drug resistant bacteria are threatening our ability to successfully treat serious life-endangering infections, with many common antibiotics no longer effective. We will study in atomic detail how one class of antibiotics interacts with bacteria in order to design new members of this group that can overcome resistance.
Selective Targeting Of Microbes By Peptides Of The Innate Immune System.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$626,644.00
Summary
Cytolytic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are key components of the innate immune system of many organisms including man. They act by disrupting the outer membranes of bacteria, fungi and enveloped viruses. These simple peptides are highly specific and increasingly seen as a new source of antibiotic agents capable of combating the rising resistance to current drugs. Our aim is to determine the mechanism by which cytolytic AMPs act and to understand the factors that give rise to membrane and cell s ....Cytolytic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are key components of the innate immune system of many organisms including man. They act by disrupting the outer membranes of bacteria, fungi and enveloped viruses. These simple peptides are highly specific and increasingly seen as a new source of antibiotic agents capable of combating the rising resistance to current drugs. Our aim is to determine the mechanism by which cytolytic AMPs act and to understand the factors that give rise to membrane and cell specificity.Read moreRead less
Molecular Epidemiology And High Resolution Surveillance Of Salmonella Enterica Serovar Typhimurium In Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$583,180.00
Summary
Salmonella typhimurium is a leading cause of the food-borne disease – salmonellosis. It is responsible for considerable morbidity and has an enormous economic cost. Molecular typing is the key to rapidly identify and control outbreaks. This project will employ next generation sequencing technology to develop a new molecular typing scheme. A surveillance system that integrates molecular typing data and epidemiological data will be developed for outbreak investigation and disease prevention.
Epigenetic Determination Of Neuronal Vulnerability And Neurodegenerative Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$617,857.00
Summary
Neurons are faced with diverse forms of stress everyday. Neural diseases exacerbate this stress, causing interference to genes that normally allow neurons to function correctly. As a result, neurons die, and severe loss can result in diseases such as dementia. We have discovered new molecular factors in neurons that insulate their genes from stress, thereby protecting neuron function and health. The proposed research will exploit these mechanisms to better protect neurons from disease.
Optimising Temporal Genomic Surveillance Of Salmonella Infections In Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$763,447.00
Summary
Salmonella is a leading cause of the food-borne disease – salmonellosis. It is responsible for considerable morbidity and has an enormous economic cost. Molecular typing is the key to rapidly identify and control outbreaks. This project will optimise the use of whole genome sequencing for outbreak investigation and long term epidemiology. A surveillance system that integrates genome sequence and epidemiological data will be highly significant for outbreak investigation and disease prevention.
To Investigate The Role Of ATM Protein In Protecting Against Neurodegeneration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$953,662.00
Summary
The overall aim of the project is to employ a rat model to investigate neurodegeneration in patients with ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T). Ataxia-telangiectasia is a complex multisystem disorder characterised by progressive neurological impairment, variable immunodeficiency and cancer predisposition. The rat model recapitulates the neurodegeneration in patients and thus this project will provide important insight into the nature of the defect as well as approaches for the treatment of the disorder.