Defining The Role Of Zinc At The Host-pneumococcal Interface
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$870,925.00
Summary
Streptococcus pneumoniae is the world’s foremost bacterial pathogen. In Australia, bacterial infections are responsible for more than 9000 deaths every year, and the economic burden associated with treating diseases arising from pneumococcal infections is more than $1 billion annually. This proposal aims to define the role of the transition metal zinc in innate immune resistance to bacterial infection. This knowledge will reveal new targets for next generation antimicrobial therapeutics.
Zinc As An Antimicrobial Agent And Its Effect On The Pathogenesis Of Group A Streptococcus
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$352,359.00
Summary
This proposal focuses on Group A Streptococcus (GAS), a human pathogen estimated to cause 600,000 human deaths per year. We have shown that the host immune system uses zinc as an antibacterial agent and that GAS has processes that protect against zinc overload. We will determine the way in which zinc mobilization controls GAS infection and how GAS responds to to an increase in zinc concentration. The results will provide new insights into zinc’s role in protection against bacterial infections.