Identification Of The Plasmodium Falciparum Translocon That Exports Parasite Proteins Into Their Erythocytic Hosts.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$409,027.00
Summary
Up to 10% of the world's population will suffer from malaria in any given year and for over a million this disease will be fatal. This devastating disease is caused by the parasite Plasmodium falciparum that infects and destroys our red blood cells. Infected red cells are greatly modified by the parasites so they can feed and avoid elimination by the human immune system. We wish to investigate the red blood cell modification process and assess it as a potential target for anti-malarial drugs.
Use Of Novel Transfection Protocols To Study Protein Trafficking In Malaria-infected Erythrocytes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$211,527.00
Summary
Malaria kills between 1 and 3 million children each year. In addition, the disease debilitates the adult population in malaria-endemic areas, thereby contributing to the cycle of poverty in many third world countries. As resistance to existing antimalarial drugs increases, there is an urgent need to understand the workings of the parasite at a molecular level to enable the development of alternative antimalarial strategies. During part of its life cycle, the malaria parasite infects the erythroc ....Malaria kills between 1 and 3 million children each year. In addition, the disease debilitates the adult population in malaria-endemic areas, thereby contributing to the cycle of poverty in many third world countries. As resistance to existing antimalarial drugs increases, there is an urgent need to understand the workings of the parasite at a molecular level to enable the development of alternative antimalarial strategies. During part of its life cycle, the malaria parasite infects the erythrocytes of its human host. The parasite transports proteins to the erythrocyte membrane so as to modify the properties of its adopted cellular residence. The parasite proteins that are deposited at or in the erythrocyte membrane increase the leakiness and the stickiness of the parasitised erythrocytes. This allows more efficient uptake of nutrients and allows the parasitised erythrocytes to adhere to blood vessel walls, thereby avoiding passage through the spleen. Adherence of parasitised erythrocytes to capillaries in the brain is thought to lead to the development of the complication known as cerebral malaria. This complication is responsible for most of the deaths due to malaria. In order to traffic the adherence proteins to the erythrocyte surface, the parasite establishes a novel transport pathway for moving proteins across the erythrocyte cytoplasm. As the uninfected erythrocyte has no means, nor requirement, for moving proteins, this novel transport mechanism may represent a target for drugs that kill the malaria parasite without being toxic to humans. The pathways for the movement of proteins around the infected erythrocyte are largely unknown. We propose to use techniques to introduce foreign genes into malaria-infected erythrocytes to unravel the details of the molecular machinery and the ticketing system that the parasite uses to traffic proteins to their correct destinations in its adopted home.Read moreRead less
Protein Trafficking In Malaria Parasite-infected Erythrocytes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$417,750.00
Summary
Malaria kills between 1 and 3 million children each year. In addition, the disease debilitates the adult population in malaria-endemic areas, thereby contributing to the cycle of poverty in many third world countries. As resistance to existing antimalarial drugs increases, there is an urgent need to understand the workings of the parasite at a molecular level to enable the development of alternative antimalarial strategies. During part of its life cycle, the malaria parasite infects the erythroc ....Malaria kills between 1 and 3 million children each year. In addition, the disease debilitates the adult population in malaria-endemic areas, thereby contributing to the cycle of poverty in many third world countries. As resistance to existing antimalarial drugs increases, there is an urgent need to understand the workings of the parasite at a molecular level to enable the development of alternative antimalarial strategies. During part of its life cycle, the malaria parasite infects the erythrocytes of its human host. The parasite transports proteins to the erythrocyte membrane so as to modify the properties of its adopted cellular residence. The parasite proteins that are deposited at or in the erythrocyte membrane increase the leakiness and the stickiness of the parasitised erythrocytes. This allows more efficient uptake of nutrients and allows the parasitised erythrocytes to adhere to blood vessel walls, thereby avoiding passage through the spleen. Adherence of parasitised erythrocytes to capillaries in the brain is thought to lead to the development of the complication known as cerebral malaria. This complication is responsible for most of the deaths due to malaria. In order to traffic the adherence proteins to the erythrocyte surface, the parasite establishes novel transport pathways for moving proteins across the erythrocyte cytoplasm. As the uninfected erythrocyte has no means, nor requirement, for moving proteins, this novel transport mechanism may represent a target for drugs that kill the malaria parasite without being toxic to humans. The pathways for the movement of proteins around the infected erythrocyte are largely unknown. We propose to use cell biology techniques and techniques to introduce foreign genes into malaria-infected erythrocytes to unravel the details of the molecular machinery and the ticketing system that the parasite uses to traffic proteins to their correct destinations in its adopted home.Read moreRead less
Structural Studies On Cell Signalling Via The LIF Receptor And Gp130
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$453,943.00
Summary
The cytokines play important roles in the immune system during blood cell development and inflammation, and in nerve growth, bone remodeling, reproduction and heart development. Cell responses are initiated by a cytokine bringing together on the cell surface a receptor complex made up of multiple molecules. This project will investigate the atomic structure of the cell surface macromolecular complex, and hence the underlying mechanism by which cytokine signals are initiated.
Tumor Specific Variants Of The EGFR: Characterization, Function And Target For Immunotherapy.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$140,880.00
Summary
Antibodies are a major component of the bodies immune system that bind (i.e. stick) to foreign substances such as viruses. Once bound, these antibodies can activate other parts of the immune system, which help destroy the foreign substance. Analogous to the situation above, a number of institutions are testing antibodies that bind to cancer cells, in order to determine if they are able to destroy these cells. This therapeutic approach requires an antibody that specifically binds to cancer cells ....Antibodies are a major component of the bodies immune system that bind (i.e. stick) to foreign substances such as viruses. Once bound, these antibodies can activate other parts of the immune system, which help destroy the foreign substance. Analogous to the situation above, a number of institutions are testing antibodies that bind to cancer cells, in order to determine if they are able to destroy these cells. This therapeutic approach requires an antibody that specifically binds to cancer cells but not normal cells. In this proposal, we wish to test a novel antibody that binds to a protein on the cell surface called the EGF receptor. While the EGF receptor is found on the surface on many cells, our antibody recognizes a modified version of the EGF receptor that is found exclusively on cancer cells. Previous EGF receptor antibodies tested in the clinic all recognized the normal EGF receptor and thus proved unsuitable as they bound to cells in the liver causing significant side effects. It is anticipated that the specificity of our novel antibodies will overcome this problem. Eventually this antibody could be used to treat patients with brain, breast, prostate and lung cancer. We will also conduct a number of studies to determine the function of this modified receptor. This work will improve our understanding of those events associated with development of tumors.Read moreRead less
A hierarchical quantum mechanical and classical simulation of biological ion channels. I aim to develop a methodology incorporating molecular quantum
mechanics and classical Brownian mechanics in a way that can be
applied practically to large macromolecular systems, thus relating
fine structural details to experimentally measurable
properties. Specifically, I will apply this methodology to study ion
channels in which the challenge is to relate electronic and atomic
structure to the conduct ....A hierarchical quantum mechanical and classical simulation of biological ion channels. I aim to develop a methodology incorporating molecular quantum
mechanics and classical Brownian mechanics in a way that can be
applied practically to large macromolecular systems, thus relating
fine structural details to experimentally measurable
properties. Specifically, I will apply this methodology to study ion
channels in which the challenge is to relate electronic and atomic
structure to the conductance properties of the channel. Accurately
determining these relationships provides a pathway to developing cures
for many neurological, cardiac, and muscular diseases.
Read moreRead less
Approaches to combat AIDS and its causative agent, the human immunodeficiency virus HIV-1, have thus far proved ineffective. The proposed research program intends to investigate the nuclear import of two HIV-1 proteins which have central roles in HIV infection. We will apply our expertise in the area of the regulation of nuclear import of viral proteins, and build on our observations with respect to these proteins to attempt to establish the mechanistic basis of their nuclear import, and how thi ....Approaches to combat AIDS and its causative agent, the human immunodeficiency virus HIV-1, have thus far proved ineffective. The proposed research program intends to investigate the nuclear import of two HIV-1 proteins which have central roles in HIV infection. We will apply our expertise in the area of the regulation of nuclear import of viral proteins, and build on our observations with respect to these proteins to attempt to establish the mechanistic basis of their nuclear import, and how this differs from the conventional nuclear import pathways used by normal cellular proteins. We already have evidence that nuclear import of HIV-Tat is regulated in novel fashion by cellular factors, and intend, through determining its mechanistic basis, to be able to form the basis of a strategy to block this import pathway specifically, and thereby inhibit HIV replication. This may form the basis in the future of a new pharmaceutical approach to combat HIV-AIDS.Read moreRead less
Co-ordinated Action of ATM and DNA-PK in DNA damage recognition. The aim of this project is to investigate the mechanism of repair of double straind breaks in DNA sustained after radiation damage. Specifically we will focus on two proteins ATM (mutated in the genetic disorder ataxia-telangiectasia) and DNA-PK mutated in scid mice. There two proteins recognize double straind breaks in DNA and signal this damage to the DNA repair machinery of the cell and to cell cycle checkpoints. The emphasis ....Co-ordinated Action of ATM and DNA-PK in DNA damage recognition. The aim of this project is to investigate the mechanism of repair of double straind breaks in DNA sustained after radiation damage. Specifically we will focus on two proteins ATM (mutated in the genetic disorder ataxia-telangiectasia) and DNA-PK mutated in scid mice. There two proteins recognize double straind breaks in DNA and signal this damage to the DNA repair machinery of the cell and to cell cycle checkpoints. The emphasis here will be in the relationship between the two proteins in co-ordinating the repair of breaks in DNA. This information will be important in understanding mechanisms for maintaining the integrity of the genome.Read moreRead less
To investigate the role of the protein kinase SMG-1 in the stress response. This project is included in the designated priority area of research Promoting and Maintaining Good Health and Ageing Well. It represents a mouse model to assist in the study of human disease. It is the first mouse model for SMG-1, a protein kinase that protects against a variety of different forms of stress. The strength of the model is that it can be combined with other mouse models to interrogate and elucidate the eve ....To investigate the role of the protein kinase SMG-1 in the stress response. This project is included in the designated priority area of research Promoting and Maintaining Good Health and Ageing Well. It represents a mouse model to assist in the study of human disease. It is the first mouse model for SMG-1, a protein kinase that protects against a variety of different forms of stress. The strength of the model is that it can be combined with other mouse models to interrogate and elucidate the events occurring in different pathways for stress. The expectation is that ground-breaking data will be generated with this model providing scientific leadership on the role of this protein. It will also assist in establishing new collaborations.Read moreRead less
Identification of functionally important autophosphorylation site(s) on ataxia telangiectasia and Rad 3 - related (ATR) protein kinase. The integrity of our genetic material must be maintained so that it can be passed on from one generation to the next and also to minimize the risk of cancer and other pathologies in an individual. There are multiple proteins involved in protecting our DNA including several enzymes that detect and signal DNA damage to a series of pathways involved in halting the ....Identification of functionally important autophosphorylation site(s) on ataxia telangiectasia and Rad 3 - related (ATR) protein kinase. The integrity of our genetic material must be maintained so that it can be passed on from one generation to the next and also to minimize the risk of cancer and other pathologies in an individual. There are multiple proteins involved in protecting our DNA including several enzymes that detect and signal DNA damage to a series of pathways involved in halting the passage of cells through the cell cycle so that repair can occur. This project studies the mechanism of action of one of these enzymes which will be of benefit in designing new compounds to fight disease. Read moreRead less