Role Of Toll-like Receptor 7 In Rhinovirus-induced Asthma Exacerbation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$697,248.00
Summary
One third of the annual asthma-related health care expenditure may be attributable to asthma-related hospitalisations. Even mild asthmatics experience severe exacerbations at a rate of almost one per year1 and those attacks can be fatal. Rhinovirus (RV) causes the majority of asthma exacerbations which may be linked to an impaired antiviral interferon (IFN) response in asthmatics. RV is sensed by Toll-like receptor (TLR) 7, but the role of this innate host defence pathway in regulating antiviral
Anti-viral Immune Dysfunction In Severe Asthma Varies Across Inflammatory Phenotypes.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$997,153.00
Summary
Common cold viruses often trigger asthma flare-ups , but have relatively minor effects on healthy people. Why this happens is not clear. We have identified two different ways in which the immune system can react badly to a common cold virus in people with asthma. In this study we will find out more about why the immune system does not react normally in a large group of people with severe asthma. This study will help us discover improved treatments that can be targeted to people with asthma.
Viral Infection And TGFbeta Impair Glucocorticoid Activity In Epithelial Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$617,699.00
Summary
Chronic inflammatory lung diseases like asthma and smokers lung are treated with combinations of anti-inflammatory drugs. Powerful anti-inflammatory types of steroid drugs are used in more severe disease. Even these powerful drugs are sometimes not effective enough. Our work is developing an understanding of how inflammation limits the anti-inflammatory effects of steroids and we are devising ways to overcome this with new drugs. We aim to improve treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases, espe ....Chronic inflammatory lung diseases like asthma and smokers lung are treated with combinations of anti-inflammatory drugs. Powerful anti-inflammatory types of steroid drugs are used in more severe disease. Even these powerful drugs are sometimes not effective enough. Our work is developing an understanding of how inflammation limits the anti-inflammatory effects of steroids and we are devising ways to overcome this with new drugs. We aim to improve treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases, especially those affecting the lung.Read moreRead less
Targeting Translational Control By Modulating MiRNA Function As A Novel Way To Treat Respiratory Infections And Inflammatory Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$700,623.00
Summary
Among the major health issues of today is our inability to effectively treat bacterial infections and the emergence of antibiotic resistant microbes. MicroRNA are small molecules that control the levels of proteins in immune cells that fight infections. In this project we will determine if inhibiting miRNA function in the lung enhances defence against microbial invasion and is a new therapeutic approach to treat infection driven diseases of the airways such asthma and emphysema.
Understanding How Azithromycin Prevents Exacerbations In Severe Asthma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$697,273.00
Summary
In some people with severe asthma, conventional inhaler treatments are not able to control the disease so there is a need for new treatment options. We have recently completed a large clinical trial which showed that very low doses of a common antibiotic help prevent asthma attacks in this situation. However, not much is known about how the antibiotic is working. This study will help us understand how the antibiotic is working and which people respond best.
Rhinovirus Protease Subcellular Trafficking And Host Cell Targets; Relevance To Asthma Exacerbation And Vaccine Approaches
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$582,072.00
Summary
Rhinovirus (RV) infections are the major cause of virus induced asthma attacks, causing significant morbidity and mortality. Asthma & asthma exacerbations are increasing worldwide with new strategies urgently needed to reduce RV-associated disease. We aim to build on our substantive new data, using cutting edge technology to identify new targets for novel asthma therapies.
Lung infections are the most frequent triggers of asthma exacerbations. While different infections cause exacerbations by they all result in the same type of lung inflammation. Using novel disease models, we have identified key molecules involved in a range of viral and bacterial induced asthma exacerbations. We will define these shared pathways that link viral and bacterial-mediated asthma exacerbations, thus these studies will pave the way for the development of unified treatments.
Defective Toll-like Receptor 7 Signalling In Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells Underlies The Inception Of Virus-associated Asthma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$552,301.00
Summary
In genetically susceptible individuals, respiratory virus infections are a risk factor for asthma inception and are the most common cause of acute exacerbations. Using a clinically relevant mouse model of disease, this study will investigate whether the altered expression of toll-like receptor 7, a host protein that senses viral invasion, causes the host to mount an inappropriate pro-allergic immune response to the virus.
The Effect Of Asthma Control During Pregnancy On Markers Of Airways Inflammation And Lung Function In The Offspring
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,131,043.00
Summary
Asthma is the most common chronic disease complication during pregnancy. By improving asthma management we have reduced asthma exacerbations by 50% during pregnancy and their babies suffered less often from bronchiolitis in the first year of life, which can be a life threatening infection. As bronchiolitis also promotes the development of asthma we want to investigate whether better asthma management in pregnancy leads to less lung inflammation and better lung function in the children.
Airway Epithelial Injury And The Innate Lymphoid Cell Response In The Pathogenesis Of Allergic Asthma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$607,559.00
Summary
Exposure to airborne particulate pollutants appears to contribute both to the development of childhood asthma and to acute severe attacks of asthma. We will investigate the mechanisms involved, using mouse models of childhood asthma and of asthma exacerbations. In particular, we will focus on the potentially critical role of a newly described population of host defence cells, and how these are activated as a result of injury of the lining cells of the airways.