Functional Genomics Of Malaria Liver Infection And Transmission
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$470,144.00
Summary
Chemotherapy is the front line defense against malaria but resistance is emerging. The WHO has advised that new drugs should target parasite stages that perpetuate the transmission of malaria to break the cycle of infection. We have identified proteins that are essential for the two transmissive stages of the most deadly parasite to infect their hosts. We will determine the precise function of these proteins and the mechanisms they govern. This may guide the development of new interventions.
Mechanisms Of Disease Caused By Hospital-acquired Pathogens
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$465,218.00
Summary
We are currently experiencing unprecedented levels of antibiotic resistance in human pathogens. Unfortunately, the drug development pipeline is drying up, with almost no novel therapeutic options expected in the near future. This proposal aims to identify the mechanisms by which the most important antibiotic-resistant human pathogens make us sick. The expected outcomes are the identification of new targets that may be amenable to future drug development. These targets are aimed at making the org ....We are currently experiencing unprecedented levels of antibiotic resistance in human pathogens. Unfortunately, the drug development pipeline is drying up, with almost no novel therapeutic options expected in the near future. This proposal aims to identify the mechanisms by which the most important antibiotic-resistant human pathogens make us sick. The expected outcomes are the identification of new targets that may be amenable to future drug development. These targets are aimed at making the organisms less capable of causing disease in humans.Read moreRead less
The extraordinary virulence of malaria parasites is in part due to their ability to export hundreds of proteins into their host cell to obtain nutrients and avoid the immune system. Recently the investigator has discovered the machinery that provides the gateway for these proteins to enter the host cell. She now aims to characterise this machinery and dissect its functional significance in vivo, so that strategies that block this crucial process can be developed to kill the parasite.
Nerve cell survival is dependent on both growth-promoting factors and factors released by neurotransmission, which can promote recovery in neurodegenerative conditions by overriding cell death pathways. The molecule responsible for activating death pathways in the nervous system is called p75. This project will investigate how p75 results in cell death, how synaptic signals can prevent the activation of the p75 death pathway and whether blocking p75 function can limit neurodegeneration.
Decoding The Transcriptional Program Of Vessel Growth In Health And Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$463,652.00
Summary
Lymphatic vessels are essential to maintain fluid balance in most tissues of the human body. Further the lymphatic vasculature plays a central role during cancer and contributes to tumour metastasis. Despite this integral function in health and disease little is known about the molecular programs that coordinate gene expression to build a functional vasculature. This research project will address this gap in our knowledge and will open up new therapeutic avenues for lymphatic vascular disorders
Development Of Endogenous Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor (G-CSF) Antagonism As A New Therapeutic Approach To Inflammatory Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$401,561.00
Summary
Neutrophils play a pivotal role in inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). G-CSF is a growth factor that is important to neutrophil survival and function. We have shown that in the absence of G-CSF the incidence and severity of experimental autoimmune arthritis are reduced. We will investigate the mechanisms by which this occurs as well as studying the effects of G-CSF blockade on function and survival of human neutrophils from healthy donors and RA patients.
Determining The Bacterial Contributions To Tuberculosis And Identification Of Drug Targets
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$443,946.00
Summary
Serious issues of drug resistance have emerged in tuberculosis prevention and are placing enormous pressure on global health systems. We have identified an enzyme of M. tuberculosis that is essential for its survival. This project will develop potent inhibitory compounds for this enzyme. Further, we will identify new drug targets through a screen to specifically identify the genes of the organism essential for its survival in the body. This information will be used to develop new TB drugs.
Vaccine Discovery For Human Mucosal Pathogens: Identifying Novel Vaccine Antigens That Are Stably Expressed During Host Interactions, Using Analysis Of Cell-contact And Phasevarion Mediated Expression Profiles
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$418,482.00
Summary
The control of several human pathogens depends on vaccine development due to antibiotic resistance and the devastating outcome of infection. This work aims to identify new vaccine targets for diseases including gonorrhoae, ear infections, meningitis and sepsis, based on proteins required for interaction with human cells. Proteins that are randomly switched on and off in these bacteria will also be studied to better understand disease and to rule out variably expressed genes from new vaccines.
Nfi Genes Regulate The Switch Between Neurogenesis And Gliogenesis During Cortical Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$387,489.00
Summary
Cells within the brain fall into two categories; neurons or glia. Importantly, both derive from a common progenitor population, the radial glia, during development. Early in development radial glia produce neurons, while later they generate glia. The genes which control the switch from neuron production to glia production remain poorly defined. I propose to investigate how this switch is controlled in radial glia, focussing on a family of proteins known to regulate gene transcription.