Airway Virus Infection, Protease-activated Receptors And Microvascular Permeability
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$421,527.00
Summary
Asthma is an inflammatory airway disease which kills about 800 Australians each year and otherwise afflicts millions of children and adults in all age groups. Respiratory tract viral infections trigger inflammation and asthma. We believe that this is caused by the loss of naturally protective, bronchodilator and anti-inflammatory substances such as prostaglandin E2 and increased production of asthma promoting substances such as endothelins. Both of these substances are made by the epithelial lin ....Asthma is an inflammatory airway disease which kills about 800 Australians each year and otherwise afflicts millions of children and adults in all age groups. Respiratory tract viral infections trigger inflammation and asthma. We believe that this is caused by the loss of naturally protective, bronchodilator and anti-inflammatory substances such as prostaglandin E2 and increased production of asthma promoting substances such as endothelins. Both of these substances are made by the epithelial lining cells of the bronchi where viruses grow. This project will assess the influence of respiratory tract virus infection on epithelial mechanisms for the production of PGE2 and endothelins. Respiratory viral infections are accompanied by airway inflammation and thus by elevated microvascular permeability and oedema which exacerbates obstruction in asthma. We will measure airway microvascular permeability changes during viral infection and assess the protective effect of stimulating protease-activated receptors which increases PGE2 production. The impact of the PAR system on the integrity of microvascular tissue and on epithelial endothelin production has not been previously investigated. In addition, the influence of respiratory tract viral infection on PAR function in this system is also unknown, but is potentially of great importance to our understanding of the behaviour and regulation of this natural bronchoprotective pathway. This work may lead to the use of novel PAR activators as combined bronchodilator-anti-inflammatory therapies in asthma.Read moreRead less
I am an academic clinician who has a principal interest in all aspects of diabetes, especially treatment and complications, and who is also involved in studies of antimalarial pharmacology.
Identifying How The Enteric Nervous System Regulates Gut Permeability In Autism
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$448,643.00
Summary
This project aims to investigate causes of increased gut permeability in neurological disorders including autism and will apply neuroscience, immunological and microbiology techniques to clarify the causes of increased gut permeability in a well-characterised genetic mouse model of autism.
Modulating Inflammation As A Therapy For Harlequin Ichthyosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$718,739.00
Summary
Harlequin Ichthyosis is a severe inherited skin disease caused by mutations in a protein which regulates how skin cells control their levels of lipids. Treatments for this disease are limited and do little to improve patients condition. We believe we have found a new way to treat this condition by altering tissue inflammation. This grant will undertake important experiments aimed at developing new therapies for this currently incurable disease.