Regulation of immune mechanisms by pathogen cysteine proteases

Project Member(s): Donnelly, S.

Funding or Partner Organisation: National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC Project Grants)

Start year: 2008

Summary: To survive, parasites have evolved many strategies to control the human immune system. We have identified an enzyme secreted by parasites that can manipulate cells of the immune system, subsequently preventing the development of inflammatory responses. We will investigate the mechanism involved and determine whether this enzyme could be exploited for therapeutic purposes to switch off inflammation in autoimmune disease such as type-1 diabetes.

Publications:

Robinson, MW, Dalton, JP, O'Brien, BA & Donnelly, S 2013, 'Fasciola hepatica: The therapeutic potential of a worm secretome', INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY, vol. 43, no. 3-4, pp. 283-291.
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Robinson, MW, Alvarado, R, To, J, Hutchinson, AT, Dowdell, SN, Lund, M, Turnbull, L, Whitchurch, CB, O'Brien, BA, Dalton, JP & Donnelly, S 2012, 'A helminth cathelicidin-like protein suppresses antigen processing and presentation in macrophages via inhibition of lysosomal vATPase', FASEB JOURNAL, vol. 26, no. 11, pp. 4614-4627.
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FOR Codes: Immunology not elsewhere classified, Immune system and allergy, Organs, diseases and abnormal conditions not elsewhere classified, Cellular Immunology, Enzymes, Infectious diseases, Neurodegenerative Disorders Related to Ageing, Clinical health

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.