MOLECULAR ANALYSIS OF VIRULENCE FACTORS OF GROUP B STREPTOCOCCI
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$211,527.00
Summary
Streptococcus agalactiae, more commonly referred to as group B streptococcus (GBS), is the commonest cause of life-threatening infection (specifically bacteraemia, pneumonia and meningitis) in neonates. Mortality is high even in developed countries where antimicrobial therapy is readily available. In spite of the importance of GBS disease, the precise molecular mechanisms whereby the organism colonizes, invades and damages host tissues are poorly understood. The long term goal of this project is ....Streptococcus agalactiae, more commonly referred to as group B streptococcus (GBS), is the commonest cause of life-threatening infection (specifically bacteraemia, pneumonia and meningitis) in neonates. Mortality is high even in developed countries where antimicrobial therapy is readily available. In spite of the importance of GBS disease, the precise molecular mechanisms whereby the organism colonizes, invades and damages host tissues are poorly understood. The long term goal of this project is to gain a complete understanding of the pathogenesis of GBS disease and to apply this to development of improved preventative strategies. We propose to carry out a comprehensive molecular characterization of genes encoding putative GBS virulence determinants, with particular reference to those which encode the capacity to adhere to and invade host cells. GBS carrying defined mutations in these genes will be constructed and their virulence will be compared with that of the otherwise isogenic parental GBS. This will enable us to determine the precise contribution of each putative virulence factor to the pathogenesis of disease. Moreover, proteins shown to be important in this process will be tested for vaccine potential.Read moreRead less
Intracellular Survival Of Burkholderia Pseudomallei And Evasion Of Autophagy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$450,799.00
Summary
Melioidosis is a disease with high mortality that is caused by the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei. Autophagy is a natural part of the mammalian immune system. This project seeks to explain how Burkholderia pseudomallei avoids killing by host autophagy and identify the bacterial factors necessary for its survival within cells. The identified genes will be future targets for medical intervention.
Characterisation Of A Newly-discovered, Virulence-associated, Protein Secretion System Of Enteropathogenic E. Coli
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$582,149.00
Summary
The cell walls of bacteria act as a barrier to the export of any proteins they produce. We recently discovered a protein secretion system, which diarrhoea-causing strains of E. coli require to cause disease. The aim of this study is to characterise this secretory system, and discover how it functions and what it secretes. The knowledge obtained from this research will shed new light on how E. coli causes disease and could reveal novel methods to treat and prevent infections with this bacterium.