Wolbachia And West Nile Virus In Mosquitoes: Friends Or Foes?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$561,028.00
Summary
Mosquito-borne viruses pose a great risk to human and animal health. Presence of compentent vectors of several viruses in Australia indicates vulnerability of Australia’s biosecurity. This project will define the mechanisms of inhibition of virus replication in mosquitoes by a symbiotic bacterium which can be utilized in virus inhibition.
Architecture Of The Hendra Virus Nucleocapsid And Implications For Replication
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$342,108.00
Summary
Hendra virus causes sporadic fatal outbreaks in horses, which may result in human deaths through direct contact with infected animals. The unanticipated surge of Hendra cases since mid-2011, the broad host range of the virus and the discovery of other related viruses worldwide highlight the epidemic potential of hendra-related paramyxoviruses. To improve our preparedness against paramyxoviruses, this Project aims at determining the structure of the viral replication machinery.
Role Of Flavivirus-encoded Small Regulatory RNAs In Virus-mosquito Vector Interactions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$547,216.00
Summary
Mosquito-borne diseases are major threats to human health. MicroRNAs are small non-coding ribonucleic acids (RNAs) that play important roles in development, cancer, apoptosis, immunity, longevity, and viral infections. We propose to identify the regulatory microRNAs from flaviviruses and establish their potential function in vector-arboviruses interactions. The project will put Australia at the forefront of research in the most rapidly developing area of microRNA research.
This project investigates the way in which viruses are able to use host cell machinery to make viral proteins and to replicate their own genetic material. We focus on the picornavirus family that cause illnesses with important health and economic consequences including serious heart infections such as myocarditis and pericarditis as well as the "common cold". This research we will reveal new possible avenues of antiviral development.
Host Metabolism And Responses Contributing To Flavivirus Replication And Pathogenesis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$592,772.00
Summary
We aim to determine how viruses affect the cells they infect, In particular how they can alter the metabolism and balance of lipids in cells and how this impacts the bodies capability to respond immunologically. We believe that by understanding these basic principles we can target ares fr antiviral therapeutic potential.
Understanding The Function Of Recql4 In DNA Replication And Genome Maintenance
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$698,447.00
Summary
We are interested in understanding how cancer forms. We are using information from human cancers to understand how a protein causes cancer. We are using models to understand how mutations in this protein give rise to bone cancer. These models are used together with detailed biochemistry to understand how the mutations affect protein function.
Viral gastroenteritis poses an enormous burden in public health and is an emerging problem due to the acute nature of the infection process. We aim to understand how our bodies react to infection with Noroviruses, in particular how our immune system is triggered and unfortunately avoided during an infectious episode. We also aim to determine how Noroviruses utilized host components and pathways to facilitate infection in the body.
A Tumour Suppressor Pathway That Removes DNA-RNA Hybrids
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$935,780.00
Summary
DNA:RNA hybrids are found normally in our chromosomes. But, the regions where DNA:RNA hybrids form are linked to chromosome changes that occur during breast and blood cancer development. We have uncovered why these chromosome changes occur, and have linked it to the important function of a cancer-associated gene called FANCM. Our study is exploring this important finding that has implications for both the cause and treatment of cancer.
How Replication Stress Activates The Mitotic Telomere DNA Damage Response To Kill Cancer Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$486,467.00
Summary
We discovered a novel mechanism linking stress during DNA replication to difficulties with the cell division process, and identified how this turns on DNA damage response signals from the chromosome ends (i.e. “telomeres”). We have further identified that we can exploit this mechanism to kill cancer cells. In this project we will explore this newly discovered mechanism and identify how it can be targeted for therapeutic purposes.
Dynamics And Mechanisms Of Immune Complex-mediated Skin Inflammation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$526,467.00
Summary
Type III hypersensitivity underlies a number of common autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and lupus erythematosus. These diseases are caused by the deposition of immune complexes (IC) and the accumulation of neutrophils within small blood vessels. We will use real time imaging to dissect in space and time the recruitment of neutrophils and IC deposition during type III hypersensitivity reactions in order to better understand the pathogenesis of these conditions.