Antibiotic Tolerance And Small RNA Networks In Staphylococcus Aureus
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$521,559.00
Summary
Treatment of MRSA is restricted to last line antibiotics and treatment failure is associated with an intermediate tolerance to vancomycin. Regulatory molecules termed small RNA mediate responses to antibiotic challenge but their functions are poorly understood. This proposal will profile sRNA function to understand how they adapt S. aureus to antibiotic challenge. A molecular understanding of vancomycin-tolerance will inform development of diagnostics and treatment strategies.
Tackling Urgent Antimicrobial Resistance Threats In Australia—in Action
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$318,768.00
Summary
Antimicrobial resistance is a major global concern, there are limited new treatment options and current resistance surveillance practices have limitations. As a part of this fellowship I will collaborate with industry partners, utilise geographical mapping and novel DNA sequencing technologies with a view to enhance resistance surveillance for gonorrhoea and other public health threats, inform new treatment strategies and better understand the spread of gonorrhoea in the population.
The Pathogenesis Of Infections Caused By Clostridium Sordellii.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$400,232.00
Summary
The bacterium Clostridium sordellii causes necrosis and multiorgan failure with a very high mortality rate of 70% in infections of drug users, transplant and post-abortion patients, and 100% for post-partum patients. Little is known about how C. sordellii causes such devastating disease; treatment of these infections is currently ineffective. This project will make a major contribution to our understanding of how disease is caused and may lead to improved prevention and treatment stratetegies.
Investigation Of The Localisation, Transport And Vaccine Potential Of Group A Streptococcal Cell Surface Proteins.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$505,523.00
Summary
Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus; GAS) is a bacterium that causes human skin and throat infections as well as highly invasive diseases including necrotising fasciitis. Additionally, serious sequeale, including rheumatic fever and acute glomerulonephritis, may result following repeated infection. We have recently examined the GAS cell wall and identified 23 proteins that are surface exposed, 20 of which are novel. We hypothesise that a number of these surface exposed proteins represe ....Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus; GAS) is a bacterium that causes human skin and throat infections as well as highly invasive diseases including necrotising fasciitis. Additionally, serious sequeale, including rheumatic fever and acute glomerulonephritis, may result following repeated infection. We have recently examined the GAS cell wall and identified 23 proteins that are surface exposed, 20 of which are novel. We hypothesise that a number of these surface exposed proteins represent candidate vaccine antigens capable of conferring protective immunity. We therefore propose to examine these surface proteins as components of experimental vaccines against GAS.Read moreRead less
Circuit Breaker: Investigating The Regulatory Circuits Controlling Expression Of Drug Efflux Pumps In The Nosocomial Pathogen Acinetobacter Baumannii
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$515,244.00
Summary
Hospital-acquired infections caused by drug resistant pathogenic bacteria cost billions of dollars and increase patient pain and morbidity. This research will study the genes controlling multidrug efflux pumps in a major hospital-acquired bacterial pathogen, Acinetobacter baumannii. These efflux pumps make the bacteria resistant to antimicrobials by pumping them out of the cell. The results will allow us to better track drug resistant strains and will inform treatment options.
Essential Gene Regulation In Multi-drug Resistant Golden Staph: A New Path Towards Control
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$784,452.00
Summary
New antibiotics effective against Golden Staph are urgently needed. This project will investigate a new approach to weaken Golden Staph defences with the potential to make existing antibiotics more effective at killing these bacteria.
Understanding The Role Of The Essential Regulator WalKR In Staphylococcus Aureus
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$555,239.00
Summary
Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most common human bacterial pathogens. This project aims to characterise an important global control system in S. aureus, and determine if chemical inhibitors of this control system could be used to treat S. aureus disease in the future.
Combating E. Coli Diarrhoea By Disarming Bacterial Virulence
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$674,737.00
Summary
E. coli causes severe and persistent diarrhoea which affects the health of millions of people worldwide. Although antibiotics may alleviate E. coli diarrhoea, these bacteria are becoming resistant to most drugs. In this study, we will use state-of-the-art technology to discover novel types of drug that treat and prevent infection with E. coli, without harming the beneficial bacteria in the gut.
Global Regulatory Networks That Control Virulence In Clostridium Perfringens
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$531,557.00
Summary
This research focuses on the bacterium that is responsible for clostridial myonecrosis, or gas gangrene, an often fatal human infection. The objective is to determine how this bacterium controls the production of the various factors that are required to cause disease. The aims will be achieved by the integrated application of the latest techniques in microbiology and molecular biology and will result in a significant advancement in our knowledge of this complex regulatory process.