Structural Biology Of Malaria Parasite Invasion And Antibodies-mediated Inhibition
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,562,250.00
Summary
Malaria results in significant mortality but an effective vaccine does not yet exist. The Rh5-CyRPA-Ripr complex is essential for malaria parasite to invade erythrocytes and is the leading vaccine candidate. We aim to visualise the atomic details of the Rh5-CyRPA-Ripr complex during parasite invasion of erythrocytes and how antibodies neutralise this key protein complex. This information will advance knowledge on malaria parasite invasion, which will help to design an effective malaria vaccine.
OptiMalVax: Optimizing A Deployable High Efficacy Malaria Vaccine
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$494,618.00
Summary
In this proposal, a consortium comprising many of the leading malariologists, vaccine researchers and product developers in Europe, USA, Australia and Africa will collaborate in an exciting programme of antigen discovery science linked to rapid clinical development of new vaccine candidates against malaria.
Needle Free Delivery Of Dengue And Zika Vaccines To The Skin
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$642,792.00
Summary
There is no Zika vaccine and only one licensed dengue vaccine, which is age and region restricted because of poor efficacy. We have developed safe subunit vaccine candidates capable of inducing potent virus neutralizing antibodies and demonstrated protection from lethal dengue challenge in a mouse model. Here we are partnering with Vaxxas to undertake preclinical development and GLP toxicity trials for microarray patches delivering dengue and zika virus subunit vaccines.
New Candidate Vaccines To Prevent Tuberculosis: Preclinical Assessment Of Efficacy, Safety And Mechanism Of Protection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$594,133.00
Summary
Almost two million people die from tuberculosis (TB) each year. The curent vaccine, BCG, is ineffective at controlling TB and and the type of immune response needed to protect against the disease is poorly understood. We have discovered new antigens of the TB bacterium, and we will combine them with our innovative vaccine technology to develop new vaccines to control TB. We will also try and understand why BCG is not effective, and use this information to further improve TB vaccination.
Antibodies To The Invasion Ligand EBA175 And Protection From Plasmodium Falciparum Malaria
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$407,792.00
Summary
Malaria causes disease and death by invading into human red blood cells and it achieves this by using specific parasite proteins. One of these, erythrocyte binding antigen 175 (EBA175), is especially important and parasites have evolved different versions of the protein. This project seeks to understand the importance of these different EBA175 variants in evading antibody responses. This has important implications in understanding natural immunity but also for future vaccine development.
Group A streptococcus (GAS) is a bacteria that causes a wide range of disease in humans. GAS diseases are more common in Australias Indigenous population, and other health and economically disadvantaged groups than more affluent groups. In this study we will evaluate the effectiveness of novel vaccine candidates designed to prevent infection from all strains of GAS.
Identification And Development Of Proteins Which Interact With The Innate Immune System As Malaria Vaccine Candidates
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$299,564.00
Summary
Parasites causing malaria live inside red blood cells. Some human proteins act in a chain reaction to destroy infected cells. Although these proteins recognise parasite-infected cells and the chain reaction starts, the infected cells are not destroyed due to parasite proteins which inhibit the human proteins. A vaccine could induce antibodies which block the parasite proteins inhibiting the human proteins so the immune system can function normally and kill infected cells, thus stopping malaria.
Prophylactic Vaccine Development For The Elimination Of Hepatitis C
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$936,752.00
Summary
A vaccine that prevents Hepatitis C is urgently needed to prevent infection and assist with global HCV elimination targets. This project grant will advance world-leading HCV vaccine candidates that generate both humoral and cellular immunity for clinical development.
Plasmodium vivax is a parasite that invades the youngest of human red blood cells. Our work will reveal how this malaria parasite enters our blood cells and the molecular mechanisms that allows successful invasion. This proposal will redefine our understanding of P. vivax invasion and explore novel ways to block its entry into red blood cells and therefore prevent malaria infection.