Contribution Of Shigella And Escherichia Coli Pathogenicity Islands To Diarrhoeal Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$303,677.00
Summary
Diarrhoea resulting from infection with Shigella and Escherichia coli is a major cause of sickness and death in the developing world, especially in children. Even in Australia, these bacteria, which may be food borne, are occasionally responsible for life threatening infections. In this study, we will investigate the contribution to diarrhoeal disease of large fragments of foreign DNA which have been recently acquired by these bacteria. We will characterise several of these elements in detail, i ....Diarrhoea resulting from infection with Shigella and Escherichia coli is a major cause of sickness and death in the developing world, especially in children. Even in Australia, these bacteria, which may be food borne, are occasionally responsible for life threatening infections. In this study, we will investigate the contribution to diarrhoeal disease of large fragments of foreign DNA which have been recently acquired by these bacteria. We will characterise several of these elements in detail, identifying novel virulence determinants and toxins in the process. We will also explore the means by which these packages of nasty DNA transfer between bacteria and investigate their potential to give rise to new, more virulent strains of bacteria. This study is particularly significant because it will lead to an improved understanding of how bacteria cause disease and may help to guide us in developing better strategies for the prevention of bacterial diarrhoea. Specifically, the work done on characterising large clusters of virulence genes will allow us to construct safer bacterial vaccines and we expect that in the future this knowledge will contribute to the development of new and better diagnostic and therapeutic agents against these harmful bacteria.Read moreRead less
Functional Characterisation Of A Maurer's Cleft Protein Involved In Adhesion Of Malaria-infected Red Blood Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$160,500.00
Summary
Malaria is a serious disease that affects half of the world's population and frequently kills humans after a bout of high fever and coma. Many of those who die are young children who live in areas of the world where health care is very poor. The effectiveness of drugs that we currently have available to prevent or treat malaria is rapidly reducing and there is no vaccine available to prevent people from catching the disease. Our research is important because in order to make better medicines for ....Malaria is a serious disease that affects half of the world's population and frequently kills humans after a bout of high fever and coma. Many of those who die are young children who live in areas of the world where health care is very poor. The effectiveness of drugs that we currently have available to prevent or treat malaria is rapidly reducing and there is no vaccine available to prevent people from catching the disease. Our research is important because in order to make better medicines for malaria we have to get to know more about how the malaria parasite makes people sick. The most vicious form of malaria is caused by a tiny parasite called Plasmodium falciparum that lives inside the red blood cells in our bodies. As these minute parasites grow, they make a lot of major changes to the red blood cells and as a result they become very stiff and sticky. This is very bad for the infected person because instead of flowing around the body like normal red blood cells, the infected cells become trapped in small veins and can no longer do their normal job. The ability of the parasite to redecorate red blood cells and make them stiff and sticky is what makes this type of malaria so dangerous, particularly when red cells get stuck in the brain. The research that we will do here will help us to understand the ways in which the malaria parasite sends out these sticky substances to the walls of red blood cells. Eventually, this will help us to find ways to stop the red blood cells from becoming sticky and prevent so many people from becoming very sick and dying with malaria.Read moreRead less
T Cell PKC Expression As A Novel Neonatal Predictor And Modulator Of Allergic Disease.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$557,939.00
Summary
This application will further assess the role of a novel biological predictor of allergic disease, which appears more accurate than any previous marker (based on preliminary data). This is highly relevant to development of predictive tools that could be ultimately used in clinical practice. We will also assess this marker as a potential target for disease prevention, as our preliminary data also indicates that it can be modified by an early intervention aimed at preventing allergic disease.
Understanding And Preventing Secondary Degeneration Following CNS Injury
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$409,147.00
Summary
After neurotrauma, tissue escaping initial injury undergoes secondary degeneration; tissue loss spreads, function worsens. In the complex brain and spinal cord it is difficult to distinguish vulnerable tissue. Using the visual system as a model I will precisely identify cells and processes of secondary degeneration, determine if vulnerable tissue can be rescued by drugs stopping toxic calcium influx and if rescued circuits work properly. The work has implications for neurotrauma and glaucoma.
Molecular Mechanisms Of Inherited Hypocholesterolaemias: Impact Of APOB And MTTP Mutations On Lipoprotein Assembly And Secretion
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$200,213.00
Summary
Inherited low cholesterol levels can be caused by mutations in either of two genes: APOB and MTTP. These genes encode proteins that are critical for the assembly of fat particles in the body. We plan to use cell lines to study how single amino acid changes out of the 4500 in ApoB and the 900 in the MTTP protein affect protein production, binding with other proteins, and fat particle assembly.