Endothelial Dysfunction As A Therapeutic Target In Severe Malaria
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$842,329.00
Summary
Even with very best drugs to kill malaria parasites, over 15% of patients with severe malaria still die. Their blood vessels are clogged up by malaria parasites. We have shown that the cells lining their blood vessels can't make enough nitric oxide to keep them non-sticky and allow blood through. We want to test whether giving arginine can 1) increase nitric oxide, 2) open up the clogged blood vessels and 3) dampen down other processes that clog up blood vessels in severe malaria.
Age-and Species-related Regulation Of Host Inflammatory Responses In Falciparum And Vivax Malaria
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$323,640.00
Summary
Malaria kills 1 million people every year, mostly children. The cause of death from malaria differs between children and adults, yet the reason for these differences is unknown. We have shown that in adults regulatory immune cells contribute to malaria disease complications. We want to test if these cells also worsen malaria disease in children. Understanding age-related differences in immune cell regulation will help to improve malaria treatment and aid development of effective malaria vaccines ....Malaria kills 1 million people every year, mostly children. The cause of death from malaria differs between children and adults, yet the reason for these differences is unknown. We have shown that in adults regulatory immune cells contribute to malaria disease complications. We want to test if these cells also worsen malaria disease in children. Understanding age-related differences in immune cell regulation will help to improve malaria treatment and aid development of effective malaria vaccines for adults and children.Read moreRead less
Dysregulation Of Cytokine Networks: A Key Determinant Of The Pathogenesis Of Cerebral Malaria.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$480,989.00
Summary
Malaria is a parasitic disease that kills some 2 million people each year. It affects the Australian region, e.g. PNG and SE Asia. One of the most serious complications is cerebral malaria (CM). It affects the brain and is often fatal. This project will show whether the early meeting of the malaria parasite with the host's immune system determines if the infection will be a mild, resolving one or a severe, possibly lethal one causing CM. This is highly relevant to vaccine development strategies.
Targeting Microvascular Dysfunction In Severe Malaria
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$871,923.00
Summary
In severe malaria blood vessels cannot make enough protective nitric oxide (NO). The gel-like lining of blood vessels (glycocalyx) is needed to produce NO, but this is damaged in some severe infections. We will test whether glycocalyx is lost in malaria and how it affects blood vessel NO and function in human volunteer infections and in patients with and without severe malaria. We will test whether a salt nitrite, can be used to safely increase NO and blood vessel function in severe malaria.
Understanding And Preventing Chronic Disease In People Living With HIV
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$367,946.00
Summary
Australia’s ageing population is increasingly at risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. For Australians who are living with HIV, these diseases occur more frequently and at an earlier age. I will be investigating the underlying reasons for this increase in risk and will test innovative online systems that help people living with HIV reduce their risk of chronic disease. This work will provide important information for Australians at risk of developing chronic disease.
This project will determine how viruses prevent transmission of messages within cells which orchestrate responses of our immune system to infection and whether our current therapies improve this defect. This knowledge will help us to better understand why our immune system is not able to control chronic virus infection and improve therapies for these diseases.