Evaluation of the Pilot Project Grants for New Investigators Program 2003
Background Information
In July 2003, The Institute of Infection and Immunity requested applications to the Pilot Project Grants for New Investigators competition. These grants were intended to support innovative, pilot or feasibility research in the area of infection and immunity by new investigators who were within their first five years of an academic appointment. Grants were intended to enable new investigators with novel ideas and observations to conduct pilot studies and/or gather evidence necessary to determine the viability of new research directions. It was anticipated that applicants who validated their pilot hypotheses would then continue their research by applying to regular funding opportunities.
The "Pilot Project Grants for New Investigators" program was intended to allow researchers to develop the evidence necessary to determine the viability of new research directions and acquire data for subsequent grant applications. The table below outlines the program objectives, outcomes and measures for the pilot project grants as outlined in the request for applications.
| Program Objectives | Expected Outcomes | Outcome Measures |
|---|---|---|
| Promote innovative, pilot or feasibility studies in the area of infection and immunity | Development of new and innovative approaches in the research area of infection and immunity. | Evaluation of the researcher's final report. |
| Allow researchers to develop the evidence necessary to determine the viability of new research directions in the area of infection and immunity | Increased numbers of successful applications to other grant programs. | Numbers of projects that follow through to new applications for funding. |
| Provide the opportunity for new investigators to gain experience in the grant application process and acquire data for subsequent grant applications to CIHR Operating Grants program or future Institute Strategic Initiative RFAs. | Increased numbers of new investigators in the area of infection and immunity | Number of new investigators who are successful in subsequent grant programs following completion of Pilot Projects. |
In September 2003, 65 one-year pilot project proposals were received and in March 2004, 25 grants were approved for funding. The maximum amount per grant was $100,000 and duration of funding was one year.
Projects Funded Under the Pilot Project Grants for New Investigators Program 2003
| Principal Investigator | Project Title | |
|---|---|---|
| Ali A. Ashkar | Study of human leukocyte function in alymphoid RAG2-/-/.c-/- mice in response to human viral infections and cancer | |
| James Booth | Cell Biology of Toll-like Receptors | |
| Lori L. Burrows | Peptidoglycan synthesis and bacterial biofilm formation | |
| Deborah Burshtyn | Vaccinia virus modulation of natural killer cells | |
| Benoit Cousineau | Development of a new generation of live vaccines using Lactococcus lactis | |
| Keith Fowke | The role of immune activation and CD4 gene polymorphisms in an HIV seroconversion cohort from Kisumu, Kenya. | |
| Michael Glogauer | Non-invasive oral rinse to monitor susceptibility to infection in patients with neutropenia | |
| David Granville | PI-9/SPI-6: Role in heart transplant rejection | |
| Eyal Grunebaum | Correcting purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) deficiency in mice by intracellular delivery of human PNP combined with the HIV-TAT protein transduction domain. | |
| David S. Guttman | Functional screen for Pseudomonas aeruginosa type III secreted effector proteins | |
| David E. Heinrichs | Methodologies to investigate Gram-positive bacterial pathogenesis | |
| Brent Johnston | Role of the chemokine receptor CXCR6 in autoimmune disease | |
| Nathalie Labrecque | Regulation of hemtopoiesis and memory T cell generation by interleukin-21 | |
| Megan Levings | T regulatory cells in Toxoplasma pathogenesis | |
| Chen Liang | Understanding of the interactions between viral Vif protein and a cellular factor APOBEC3G: implications for future HIV/AIDS therapies | |
| Paul A. MacPherson | Down Regulation of the Interleukin-7 Receptor on Circulating CD8 T-Cells During HIV Infection | |
| Aaron J. Marshal | Role of novel signal transduction molecules in regulating the activation and production of allergic mediators by mast cells | |
| Alice Mui | Immunotolerance Therapy for Transplantation | |
| Norman F. Neumann | Development of Advanced Multiplexed Diagnostic Tools for Detection and Molecular Characterization of Waterborne Pathogens | |
| Patrick Provost | Significance of the interaction between Dicer and 5-lipoxygenase | |
| William L. Stanford | Sca-1 Signalling in Hematopoietic Stem Cells | |
| Nathalie Vergnolle | Intestinal pathogens triggers proteinase-activated receptor-2 to induce an inflammatory response | |
| Peter Von Dadelszen | The role of Chlamydophila pneumoniae and cytomegalovirus in pre-eclampsia: a link between pre-eclampsia and later atherosclerosis? | |
| Yonghong Wan | Development of Safe and Effective Genetically Engineered Dendritic Cell-Based Tuberculosis Vaccines | |
| Minna Woo | Caspase-8 and Autoimmune Islet Destruction | |
Evaluation of the Pilot Project Grants
In July 2006, principal investigators received a request to submit their final report and to date 24 reports have been received. Below is a summary of the data from these reports.
The researchers indicated that the pilot project grant competition promoted innovative pilot or feasibility studies in the areas of infection and immunity. Overall, 79 % of the researchers were able to determine the viability of the project described in their application, although several commented that viability would have been easier to determine with a two year grant. If they had not received the III pilot project grant, only half of the researchers would have applied for funding of their pilot project elsewhere. The majority (21 of 24) has or intends to apply for funding to continue their project and of these, 7 have been successful as of September 2006. Most researchers (15 of 21) included CIHR in the list of agencies where they have or will apply for funding.
An objective of the pilot project program was to provide new investigators with an opportunity to acquire preliminary data. All but one of the projects produced results that the researchers intend to publish, 21 of the researchers intend to present their project data at meetings or conferences and 3 intend to file patents or commercialize the research from their project. All the pilot projects resulted in training of students or postdoctoral fellows.
Another goal of the pilot project grant competition was to provide new investigators with a chance to gain experience in the peer review grant application process. The majority of researchers (22 of 24) feel they gained experience as a result of the Pilot Project Grant and of the at least 78 applications submitted by 23 researchers since the pilot project grant competition, 64 applications were successful (an average of 2.8 grants per investigator).
Challenges faced by the researchers were mainly scientific in nature but a number of researchers indicated that a two year term for the grant would help with hiring and supporting trainees as well as allowing them to obtain sufficient data to apply for a subsequent operating grant. The overwhelming recommendation was for the Institute to launch the program again as it allows new investigators to explore multiple new projects in order to determine feasibility and obtain sufficient data to submit a competitive operating grant. Several researchers felt that the program allowed them to develop collaborations and one researcher suggested that this program be directed to projects that initiate collaborations between new investigators. The majority of the researchers heard about this opportunity through the Institute website (13) or the Institute email announcements (12).
Researchers submitted lay summaries and 21 researchers gave consent for them to be used by CIHR for communications purpose. Below are the summaries sorted by theme. Selected lay summaries were also used for annual reports, circulation to media contacts and development of the CIHR monthly researcher profiles.
Pilot Project Grants Lay Summaries
New Understanding of and Treatments for …. Asthma, Atherosclerosis, Diabetes, HIV/AIDS, Inflammation, Stomach Bugs and Tuberculosis
Fighting Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which immune cells play a critical role in damaging blood vessels which results in blockage of arteries. This, in turn, causes heart attacks, strokes or transplant rejections. Using a mouse model of atherosclerosis, researchers were able to prevent the immune system from releasing a toxic protein known to contribute to the development of the disease. By stopping this particular protein, the team prevented atherosclerosis in the mice. Surprisingly, research also demonstrated that the protein plays a role in hair loss and age-related inflammatory conditions, finding that in cases where the protein accumulates, the surrounding tissue ends up deteriorating as a result.
Dr. David Granville,
University of British Columbia
Understanding and Controlling Inflammation
When our immune system cells come into contact with microbes or microbial products, they respond by creating inflammation, which is an important part of defending against infection. But, too much inflammation can damage body tissues. To better understand and control inflammation, the research team has been studying the role of proteins that help send the message to create inflammation. So-called Toll-like receptors are found on the surface of white blood cells. These proteins exist to detect microbial products and send the signals to the cell that initiate production of chemicals that will create inflammation. While this happens, the white blood cell surrounds and engulfs the microbe to remove it from the body. The team has been investigating what happens to Toll-like receptors during this process, which transfers the receptors into the cell along with the microbe. They have found that, over time, Toll-like receptors seem to be recycled so that they can be used to detect new pathogens. These findings are important for understanding the control of inflammation.
Dr. James Booth,
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Preventing Diabetes by Preventing Cell Death
The concept of cell death in biology research has only emerged in the last few decades, possibly due to thinking that cell death is simply a passive process, it "just happens". In fact, cell death (known as apoptosis) is a complex and highly orchestrated process and every cell has its own machinery to undergo cell death or suicide. Many genes have recently been identified to be the key players in this cell death machinery. In type 1 diabetes, the insulin producing pancreatic beta cells undergo programmed cell death and are completely destroyed. Researchers performed experiments with mice bred with a key cell-death gene, Caspase-8, deleted from the pancreatic beta cells. These islets were protected from cell death, which protected the mice from developing diabetes. Understanding the exact players involved in cell death can lead to novel therapy to preserve the insulin producing cells for potential prevention of diabetes. This information is also useful for ensuring that transplanted islet cells, a fairly recent treatment for diabetes, are also protected from death.
Dr. Minna Woo,
Ontario Cancer Institute
Reducing the Immune Response in Asthma and Allergies
Asthma is a major health issue and is on the rise. In an asthma attack, the body suffers from an acute immune response to environmental influences or allergens. There are numerous steps that take place to trigger this response; research is focusing on ways of controlling the response. For example, when an allergen is detected, it gets attached to a specific kind of molecule called serum immunoglobulins, also known as IgE. In turn, these molecules attach themselves to specific receptors that are on the surface of a group of cells found in the body (mainly in the skin) called mast cells. Once attached, a message is sent to the mast cells to release histamine, causing an allergic response. Mast cells have been called "allergy bombs". Research has focused on the role of so-called signal transduction proteins present in Mast cells which, as the name suggests, help relay the message from the receptors to the interior of the Mast cell to release histamine. Research has determined that a newly-discovered protein transduction protein plays a key role in regulating whether Mast cells are activated. In experiments with Mast cells lacking this protein, the research team found that the cells generated a potent immune response. The information is valuable because it suggests a possible way of controlling or even inhibiting immune responses.
Dr. Aaron Marshall,
University of Manitoba
New Engineered Protein Provides Hope for Individuals Born with Defective Immune System
Individuals born with a rare defect in their immune system known as purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) deficiency are at threat of serious infections which can cause death. Currently there is no effective therapy for this disease. This research project explored ways of using an artificially engineered protein to help correct this deficiency. Previous research by the team demonstrated that by fusing human PNP (an enzyme) with a very short peptide from the HIV virus (HIV TAT), this new protein was able to deliver active PNP enzymes to cells missing this enzyme. In the current project, researchers refined the approach to see if it could be used as a therapy. All mice left untreated with the PNP deficiency died within the first 2 months of birth (similar to the early death of PNP- deficient children). However, mice that underwent 24 weeks of treatment with the fused protein known as PTD-PNP (mice were injected twice weekly with the protein) had a 75% survival rate with normal immune function. These revelations suggest that PTD-PNP could indeed be useful to improve immunity and survival of PNP- deficient patients. PTD-PNP also crosses the blood-brain barrier and reaches all brain areas and cell types, which gives hope that such fusion protein will be of benefit for the common neurological abnormalities seen in PNP- deficient patients.
Dr. Grunebaum Eyal,
Hospital for Sick Children,
University of Toronto
Controlling Hospital-Associated Pneumonia
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important emerging bacterial pathogen that is the leading cause of death among Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients, and one of the most common causes of hospital-associated pneumonia. One of the best ways of fighting P. aeruginosa is to find ways of targeting proteins produced by the bacteria that make it dangerous. Previous research has identified four 'effector' proteins produced by the bacteria that are strongly associated with morbidity and morality. However, based on information about a similar pathogen, many feel the number should be much higher. The team created a novel way of screening for more of these effectors, studying the interaction between a well-understood effector known as ExoU, and an amoeba host. The project demonstrated that the screening tool works and can be used in the future from a more comprehensive survey of these types of effectors. Finding more efforts is important information in developing new ways to combat the bacteria.
Dr. David Guttman,
University of Toronto
HIV Virus Hard To Outsmart
Forty million people worldwide are infected with HIV. Currently, the most effective means to control HIV infection is antiretroviral drugs that help block the virus from spreading within infected individuals. However, this strategy is under attack from new drug-resistant viruses. Researchers have been studying the biology of HIV to help to identify new ways of disarming this virus. In the current project, researchers examined the function of a protein known as APOBEC3G that limits the damage inflicted by viruses to their hosts. In the case of HIV, this cellular protein is able to create errors in genetic messages sent by the virus, crippling its ability to reproduce. Recent experiments, however, suggest the situation is more complex than previously thought and that HIV can replicate even with APOBEC3G present. The study also found new information about the conditions under which APOBEC3G functions.
Dr. Chen Liang,
Jewish General Hospital,
McGill University
Understanding the Early Stages of HIV
An active immune system is usually thought of as a good thing, helping ward off infection. But, researchers are studying if persons with unusually active immune systems are at greater risk for infection from HIV. Researchers are also interested in studying the role of a mutated gene associated with the CD4 immune cell. In studies of 570 women from Nairobi, it was observed that this mutation (known as a polymorphism) was strongly associated with HIV disease progression. It was also determined that, among HIV infected women, those with the naturally occurring mutation are more likely to pass on HIV to their children. The team is studying if either factor plays a role in the development of HIV and is focusing on people in the early stages of the disease. The team is working participants from another clinical trial of male circumcision in Kisumu, Kenya. With almost 2800 men enrolled into the study, 90 are expected to develop HIV. The study will follow those who seroconvert to HIV for an additional 24 months. To date, the research team has developed new tools for accurately capturing information about immune activity and for detecting the presence of the mutated CD4 gene, tools that will be necessary to complete the study and answer the questions raised above. New information will, in turn, help develop better tools to identifying persons at higher risk for HIV infection.
Dr. Keith Fowke,
University of Manitoba
Improving Defenses Against HIV Infection.
CD8 T-cells are cells in the body that help fight infection. The HIV virus restricts CD8 T-cell activity, resulting in a weakened immune system that leaves individuals vulnerable to opportunistic infections. Researchers don't yet understand how HIV disables CD8 T-cells. What is known is that the immune system uses a small protein known as IL-7 to activate CD8 T-cells. Through our research we have discovered that the majority of CD8 T-cells in HIV-positive patients do not produce the receptor for IL-7. Without this receptor, these cells are unable to receive the signal to become active. Earlier research has determined that HIV produces a small regulatory protein called Tat which is secreted by infected immune cells. We have now found that when taken up by CD8 T-cells, Tat decreases production of the IL-7 receptor and so prevents appropriate activation of these cells. This research is part of a broader goal to develop immune-based therapies capable of suppressing HIV. Such therapies may well allow discontinuation of antiretroviral medications or at least reduce the burden of current multi-drug regimens.
Dr. Paul MacPherson,
University of Ottawa
Improving Our Defenses against Serious Intestinal Bugs
Receptors are a type of proteins that play an important role in the body, receiving biochemical messages and relaying this information to start other actions in response. Understanding the role and function of receptors is critically important in efforts to determine how and why the body acts certain ways in response to situations and for designing drug therapies which would either encourage or inhibit these responses. In the case of an infection, receptors play a role in helping the body respond to an invading pathogen. New CIHR-supported research has revealed for the first time that a recently-discovered receptor, the protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2), is involved in innate immune response to infection. In experiments with mice using infectious colitis, similar to E. coli infection in humans, PAR-2 was found to be a crucial element of the host response, helping organize a strong inflammatory response in the first few days after infection. Research also found that upon infection, a type of enzyme known as serine protease was released by the host mucosa, suggesting that mucosal proteases are also important actors of the host immune response. Overall, the results indicate proteases and the PAR-2 receptors as important mediators of host defense against intestinal pathogen infection, information that can be used to build therapies that will strengthen defenses against infections.
Dr. Natalie Vergnolle,
University of Calgary
Drawing the Link between Pregnancy and Heart Disease
It's well established that women who suffer from pre-eclampsia during pregnancy are at a much higher risk for atherosclerosis (blockage of arteries) later in life. Both conditions are characterized by widespread inflammation, a common immune response. Preliminary research suggests that changes in the immune system during pregnancy may explain the link between the two conditions. During pregnancy, the immune system has to adapt to allow the growth of the placenta into the mother's tissue. The placenta carries genes from the father and, ordinarily, such genes would be attacked by the mother's immune system. Research suggests that this adaptation, which selectively suppresses the normal immune response, somehow allows the reactivation of two infectious agents (Chlamydophilia pneumoniae and cytomegalovirus) that are likely to be involved in the development of atherosclerosis.
Dr. Peter von Dadelszen,
University of British Columbia
Breaking the Grip of Bacterial Biofilms
Gum disease, tooth decay, ear infections, infections associated with medical devices (eg. catheters, intravenous lines, prosthetic joints), all of these are the result of what are known as bacterial biofilms. These bacteria are highly structured, surface-attached communities that are remarkably resistant to antimicrobial compounds, a characteristic that makes them significant industrial and medical problems. Research by the team has discovered an unexpected weapon against biofims, a group of drug resistance enzymes called beta-lactamases. The team determined that, although these enzymes helped increase the antibiotic resistance of the biofilm, getting this resistance came with a price; biofilms were not as strong and were not as easily formed.
Dr. Lori Burrows,
McMaster University
Creating a New TB Vaccine
Tuberculosis (TB) is a curable and preventable disease. Despite this fact, there are approximately 9 million new cases of TB each year worldwide and 2 million deaths. Research is ongoing to develop an effective booster vaccine for TB, since the protective effect from the original inoculation wears off after 15-20 years. In experiments with mice, the research team used dendritic cells taken from bone marrow to develop a cell-based TB vaccine. The team added the M.tb bacillus protein to the cells, necessary to create an immune response, using a virus genetically modified to produce the protein. Comparisons between the genetically modified cell-based vaccine and cell-based vaccines prepared using non-genetic methods found that the genetically modified version was more effective in stimulating the immune system and protecting against systemic tuberculosis infection. Because TB is a mucosal infection, the team has also investigated delivering a genetically modified cell TB vaccine via the respiratory tract. This route of delivery of cell-based TB vaccine was found to be more effective in immune protection from lung tuberculosis infection, than via intramuscular injection.
Dr. Yonghong Wan,
McMaster University
Building Stronger Immune Defenses
Keeping Natural Killer Cells Sharp
Natural killer cells are part of the innate immune system and provide an important first line of defense against many viruses. In this role, natural killer cells are exposed to high concentrations of virus. In the case of the vaccinia virus (used originally to eradicate smallpox), the virus is actually able to disarm natural killer cells. This ability represents a serious risk for immuno-compromised individuals (eg. persons with HIV-AIDS, with Lupus, etc.), particularly since researchers are now developing the vaccinia virus for use as a vaccine against other pathogens. With this risk in mind, we have been studying how exactly the virus disarms natural killer cells. We discovered that the virus must be able to create viral proteins to interfere with natural killer cell function and not merely attach itself or penetrate the cell.
Dr. Deborah Burshtyn,
University of Alberta
Giving Vaccines a Stronger Memory
Vaccines work by deliberately provoking an immune response. This response helps cells in the immune system create a memory of an infectious agent so that it, if ever encountered again, they will know how to defeat it. A special group of cells called memory T lymphocytes play an important role in developing and maintaining these immune response memories. The research team has been studying the role of newly discovered cytokine known as interleukin-21 (IL-21). Cytokines are key factors controlling the generation and the survival of memory T lymphocytes. In tests with mice that bred to overproduce IL-21 the mice showed a massive accumulation of functional memory T lymphocytes in their lymphoid organs. The result suggests that IL-21 could be used to improve immune responses and vaccines.
Dr. Nathalie Labrecque,
Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont,
University of Montreal
Finding the Right Immune Response to Parasites
When the body attacks an infection, an important function of the immune system is to maintain a balance between eliminating the infection and minimizing the amount of tissue damage caused by immune cells. A special type of immune cell, known as a T regulatory or Treg cell, is responsible for controlling immune responses to assure this balance. Research is ongoing to determine the exact function of these cells. For example, it has been demonstrated that some infections and parasites are able to overproduce Treg cells to prevent the host from mounting an immune response, while, in other cases, a lack of Treg cells creates an autoimmune reaction where the body attacks itself. The team performed experiments with mice using two different strains of Toxoplasma gondii, a particularly successful parasite that infects approximately 1/3 of the human population worldwide. Using a highly virulent (Type I) strain of the parasite, the team observed an expansion of Treg cells in infected mice, all of which died from the parasite. The team found the opposite effect in mice exposed to a less virulent (Type II) strain of the variety, where there were abundant T-cells available to fight the parasite. These data suggest that Treg cells may actively inhibit the immune response to Toxoplasma during Type I, but not Type II infections, important information in ongoing efforts to understand the immune system and protect against parasite such as Toxoplasma gondii.
Dr. Megan Levings,
University of British Columbia
New Tests, Tools and Insights
Fast, Non-Invasive Way of Testing For Infection
Neutrophils are the white blood cells responsible for fighting infection in the body. They are also an excellent indicator of a patient's bone marrow production capacity and the ability of the body to fight infection. Among patients who have undergone bone marrow transplants, neutrophils are closely monitored to determine if a bone marrow transplant has taken. Researchers developed a mouse bone marrow transplant model to permit tracking of neutrophil production from newly engrafted bone marrow. The project determined that a novel oral rinse (mouthwash), developed earlier by the same team, can quickly and accurately determine how susceptible bone-marrow transplant patients are to infection.
Dr. Michael Glogauer,
University of Toronto
Is the Water Safe to Drink?
Infectious diseases are the world's single largest source of death. Many of these infectious diseases are carried in water and have a tremendous impact in developing countries, but also affect developed countries. Between 1974 and 1996 over 200 outbreaks of infectious disease associated with drinking water were reported in Canada. The research team has focused on developing faster and more accurate detection methods for two waterborne pathogens, Cryptosporidium and norovirus. Researchers are working towards a microarray type system, a quick and easy way of telling if the genes from different species of these pathogens are present in the water. To create this tool, the research team has been studying ribosomal RNA contained in the water samples, restricting their search to a specific region of the rRNA (16S). The advantage of this approach is that at this particular region, researchers can simultaneously get information about numerous different types of the same pathogen, eliminating the need for multiple tools and tests.
Dr. Norman Neumann,
University of Calgary
Building a Better Mouse Model
Chances are if you've read about health research, you've come across the term "mouse model", a reference that research has been undertaken using mice. Research in humans, for ethical and practical reasons, is largely restricted to in vitro (in an artificial environment outside the living organism) experiments that lack both the machinery and the complexity of a living organism. Although many of the biological functions are identical between mice and humans, species-specific differences exist including susceptibility and response to pathogens and cancer cells. The result is that, in many cases, experimental findings in mice may not necessarily apply to humans. To compensate, there have been intense efforts to develop a "humanized" mouse mode. Such a model is a valuable means of assessing human immune responses to human pathogens or cancers, new vaccines and therapeutic strategies. The research team was able to improve the qualities of an existing mouse model which was unable to develop two important types of cells produced by the immune system, T cells and NK (Natural Killer) cells. The team was able to reconstitute T and NK cells by injecting human stem cells from cord blood into new born alymphoid mice. The team was the first to show the reconstitution of functional NK cells in these mice. The new model will be a very useful tool in understanding how the immune system responds to pathogens and tumours and for developing therapies to help the immune system deal with these threats.
Dr. Ali Askar,
McMaster University
A New Picture of RNA Interference
DNA contains all the genetic information required for making proteins, which themselves are necessary for carrying out many molecular and biological functions required by organisms. To be able to read these protein building instructions, the body uses messenger RNA (mRNA). In what has become an area of intense research activity, scientists have focused on so-called RNA interference, the ability of small RNAs to interfere with protein synthesis messages being delivered by the mRNA and, by doing so, effectively silencing the gene. The research community knows that these small RNAs are being produced by a ribonuclease known as Dicer. Recent work by the research team unexpectedly discovered a unique relationship between Dicer and an enzyme associated with immune response to diseases such as asthma and allergic reactions. They found that the protein 5-lipoxygenase (5LO) was able to attach or bind to Dicer and that, once bound could not be displaced by small RNAs that ordinarily would have attached to Dicer. The research has opened the door to the possibility that this molecule has another function beyond RNA interference. For example, researchers have suggested that because of Dicer's existing involvement in determining whether genes are silenced or not, there may be a link between gene activity and immune responses such as inflammation.
Dr. Patrick Provost,
Laval University
Improved Genetic Analysis Could Stop Bacterial Infections
Bacteria such as Staphylococcus, Streptococcus and Enterococcus are important human pathogens that pose a significant risk to humans. All these pathogens are associated with infections in hospitals and all are efficient at resisting antibiotics. Even though scientists know the genome sequences of these bacteria, most of the genes that they produce remain unexplored. Learning more about which genes are produced during infection is important in finding new ways to fight these pathogens. The research team developed and successfully tested a tool to identify so-called gene promoters, specific genes created only during infection. With the tool, the team was able to find almost 100 genes from streptococcal bacteria that were specifically 'turned on' when streptococcus bacteria were grown in human saliva. These genes now represent attractive targets for anti-bacterial treatments, since if they are exclusively turned on during growth in human fluids, stopping this from occurring may stop streptococcal bacteria from causing infections.
Dr. David Heinrichs,
University of Western Ontario