Systems-level Characterisation And Therapeutic Targeting Of Small RNAs In Acinetobacter Baumannii Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$581,990.00
Summary
This proposal aims to understand how a superbug that causes severe infections in hospitalised patients worldwide and is known to be resistant to almost all available antibiotics, causes disease. We then plan on using this information to guide the development of a new type of therapy to treat this severe infection.
Understanding The Contribution Of SRNAs To Antibiotic Resistance In Staphylococcus Aureus
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$587,424.00
Summary
Golden Staph is a major problem in Australian hospitals. This project will use cutting edge technology to investigate how Golden Staph responds to and resists antibiotics used to treat human infections, leading to new strategies for the prevention and treatment of antibiotic resistant bacteria.
Non-coding RNA Regulation Of Virulence In Enterohaemorrhagic E. Coli
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$389,313.00
Summary
Shiga toxins cause potentially fatal haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and are transferred between bacterial pathogens by bacteriophage (bacterial viruses). We have recently found that the Shiga toxin encoding bacteriophage encodes an unusually large number of non-coding RNAs (RNA regulators of gene expression). This Project aims to understand how these RNA regulators benefit the Shiga toxin bacteriophage and use this knowledge to develop interventions that will prevent expression of the toxin.
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.
Novel Perspectives On The Function Of AB5 Toxin B Subunits
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,041,896.00
Summary
AB5 toxins are important virulence factors of pathogenic bacteria. They comprise pentameric B subunits that bind to target cell surfaces and catalytic A subunits that damage host cell functions. This proposal examines a new paradigm wherein the B subunits are significant contributors to cell damage. We will characterize the cytopathic properties of diverse B subunits, particularly those of emerging toxins. This will provide novel insights into pathogenesis and inform development of therapeutics.
How The Intracellular Pathogen Coxiella Burnetii Manipulates Host Small GTPases To Facilitate Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$534,510.00
Summary
This study explores how the bacterium Coxiella burnetii causes the serious infectious disease Q fever. Coxiella is a potential biological weapon because it is stable in the environment and few organisms are required to cause disease. Coxiella is able to manipulate human cells to replicate in a unique location within the cell but little is known about how they do this. Here we will study the host proteins that are important during infection and how Coxiella manipulates these factors to facilitate ....This study explores how the bacterium Coxiella burnetii causes the serious infectious disease Q fever. Coxiella is a potential biological weapon because it is stable in the environment and few organisms are required to cause disease. Coxiella is able to manipulate human cells to replicate in a unique location within the cell but little is known about how they do this. Here we will study the host proteins that are important during infection and how Coxiella manipulates these factors to facilitate intracellular replication.Read moreRead less
Defining Pathogenic Mechanisms Of Intracellular Bacteria
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$494,691.00
Summary
This study explores how the bacterium Coxiella burnetii causes the serious infectious disease Q fever. Coxiella is a potential biological weapon because it is very stable in the environment and few organisms are required to cause disease. Coxiella is able to commandeer human cells to replicate in a specialized vacuole but little is understood about how they do this. We will examine the virulence factors of Coxiella and investigate how they allow the bacteria to replicate inside human cells.