Wolbachia And West Nile Virus In Mosquitoes: Friends Or Foes?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$561,028.00
Summary
Mosquito-borne viruses pose a great risk to human and animal health. Presence of compentent vectors of several viruses in Australia indicates vulnerability of Australia’s biosecurity. This project will define the mechanisms of inhibition of virus replication in mosquitoes by a symbiotic bacterium which can be utilized in virus inhibition.
Role Of Flavivirus-encoded Small Regulatory RNAs In Virus-mosquito Vector Interactions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$547,216.00
Summary
Mosquito-borne diseases are major threats to human health. MicroRNAs are small non-coding ribonucleic acids (RNAs) that play important roles in development, cancer, apoptosis, immunity, longevity, and viral infections. We propose to identify the regulatory microRNAs from flaviviruses and establish their potential function in vector-arboviruses interactions. The project will put Australia at the forefront of research in the most rapidly developing area of microRNA research.
The Role Of Glycans In Arboviral Disease; From Immunomodulation To Glycotherapeutic Treatment Strategies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$419,180.00
Summary
Dengue and chikungunya viruses are leading causes of emerging mosquito-transmitted (arboviral) disease worldwide. Currently there are no available vaccines or therapeutics making combatting these arboviral diseases one of our most pressing global health challenges. Preliminary evidence shows that glycan recognition is critical for disease immunopathogenesis. This project focuses on the role of viral glycans in arboviral disease with the aim of identifying and expanding on new therapeutic targets
The Role Of Capsid Protein Nucleolar Localisation In Chikungunya Virus: Implications For Vaccine Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$520,520.00
Summary
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a globally widespread mosquito-borne alphavirus capable of causing considerable human morbidity and mortality. With no CHIKV vaccine or antiviral available this proposal aims to develop a live attenuated CHIKV vaccine, rationally designed by investigating the host cell nucleolar trafficking of CHIKV capsid protein. This vaccine has the potential to provide cross-protection against additional arthritogenic alphaviruses endemic to Australia such as Ross River virus.
New Vectors, New Diseases: Understanding The Risk Of Chikungunya Transmission In Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$522,580.00
Summary
Chikungunya is a febrile illness that can lead to chronic, debilitating joint pain in adults and severe neurological complications in children. Introductions of this virus into Australia have steadily increased in recent years. We will estimate the risk of chikungunya transmission in Australia now and into the future, and deliver the results to public health authorities to reduce the risk of outbreaks in Australia.
Mosquito-borne alphaviruses such as Ross River and chikungunya viruses cause widespread epidemics and exert extreme pressure on the public health systems of affected regions. Alphaviruses spreads to joints and triggers a severe disease in those affected. There are no effective treatments or vaccines. The project will investigate virus-host interaction at the bite site. The outcome will be new knowledge to treat infection at the mosquito bite site to prevent joint disease.
Novel Insights Into The Pathobiology Of Alphavirus Infections
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$827,660.00
Summary
Infections with mosquito-borne viruses are increasing at an alarming rate worldwide. Ross River virus is endemic in parts of Australia, PNG and Pacific islands, while chikungunya virus is distributed globally and causes recurrent pandemics that involve millions of people. These viruses cause severe musculoskeletal disease for several months after infection. This project aims to establish how these viruses interact with the human host to cause disease and may provide a basis for new treatments.
New Insights Into Viral Inflammatory Disease Mechanisms And Approaches To Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$631,010.00
Summary
This fellowship aims to establish how viruses cause disease, including how they evade the immune response to persist and cause disease for prolonged periods. My vision is that knowing how the virus and the immune system interact to determine disease severity will assist in devising new treatments and prevention programs to lessen the impact of viral diseases in Australia and worldwide.
A Glycomics Approach Towards Understanding Alphavirus Induced Inflammatory Disease And Discovering Novel Therapeutic Targets
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$316,449.00
Summary
Alphaviruses are transmitted by mosquitoes and cause a variety of serious human infections. This project investigates how alphaviruses cause disease, with special focus on inflammatory musculoskeletal diseases. The expected outcomes are a better understanding of human viral diseases, with a view to improving prevention and treatment strategies to reduce the disease burden of alphaviruses and related viruses. The research strategy is a world-first, and the institute is an international leader in ....Alphaviruses are transmitted by mosquitoes and cause a variety of serious human infections. This project investigates how alphaviruses cause disease, with special focus on inflammatory musculoskeletal diseases. The expected outcomes are a better understanding of human viral diseases, with a view to improving prevention and treatment strategies to reduce the disease burden of alphaviruses and related viruses. The research strategy is a world-first, and the institute is an international leader in this area.Read moreRead less
Discovery Of A Novel Immune Evasion Strategy Employed By Mosquito Borne Viruses To Suppress Antiviral Immune Responses
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$418,642.00
Summary
The transition from mosquitoes, ticks, or other invertebrate vectors to the human hosts represents a crucial step in the successful establishment of arthropod borne viruses (arboviruses). The incidence of arbovirus infections such as dengue virus, West Nile virus, Ross River virus is increasing at an alarming rate in various parts of the world. In addition, the emergence of new viruses resulting in significant mortality in the population is of utmost concern. Vaccines for many of these viruses r ....The transition from mosquitoes, ticks, or other invertebrate vectors to the human hosts represents a crucial step in the successful establishment of arthropod borne viruses (arboviruses). The incidence of arbovirus infections such as dengue virus, West Nile virus, Ross River virus is increasing at an alarming rate in various parts of the world. In addition, the emergence of new viruses resulting in significant mortality in the population is of utmost concern. Vaccines for many of these viruses remain elusive. One factor that contributes to this is the ability of viruses to develop ingenious strategies to avoid or suppress the host defence systems, which enable its successful establishment in the host. Understanding how viruses evade-suppress host defence machinery will certainly enhance and improve our approaches to fight them. For the first time internationally we have discovered a new and novel pathway employed by arboviruses to suppress antiviral immune responses in the host. We have discovered that naturally occurring carbohydrates on viruses derived from mosquito cells, would influence these virus s ability to evade-suppress host antiviral proteins such as interferons. This may be a general effect of arboviruses or may even extend to other viruses , which include a number of deadly pathogens (HIV, Influenza). This research has the potential to significantly expand our understanding of how these viruses establish infection and cause disease. Also this discovery has broader implications for understanding inflammatory processes and their regulation.Read moreRead less