Infectious Disease – a 21st Century Challenge The ithree institute based at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) brings together an Internationally competitive team focused on addressing key challenges in the understanding and control of infectious diseases in humans and animals. The institute’s innovative science uses a systems biology approach to develop a greater insight into basic biology and its application to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of infectious diseases.
Our Research Focus: ‘One Health’ Despite decades of groundbreaking research and the development of new medicines including vaccines and antibiotics, infectious diseases remain an important global animal and human health issue, posing a major problem to the wealth and wellbeing of nations. At the ithree institute, we are at the forefront of understanding the importance of the interplay of pathogens, in both human and animal hosts, and the environment – the so called One Health model.
Our inter-disciplinary approach to basic and translational research to understand this ‘infectious ecology’ will underpin the development of new solutions to infectious disease challenges that include:
• The changing geographical distribution of diseases due to economic migration, global mobility and the impact of climate change • The emergence of new pathogens • The threat to health from zoonosis • An increasing number of antibiotic and drug resistant pathogens • The potential threat to biosecurity including natural pandemics
The ithree institute has active research programs and collaborations in the fields of bacteriology, parasitology and virology.
Our Facilities: Systems Biology The ithree institute occupies new state-of-the-art laboratories in central Sydney, including facilities for pathogen culture. The institute has particular expertise in molecular biology, cell biology, genetics, bioinformatics and protein chemistry, and has invested in a world-class Microbial Imaging Facility that provides OMX super resolution imagery and a Microbial Proteomics suite. These facilities are available for both collaborative and contract research.
Our Approach: Collaborative Research The core philosophy at the ithree institute is to work in partnership with others to delivery world-class scientific discovery and to drive innovation. We have established relationships with universities, research institutes, medical institutes and industry, both within Australia and Internationally.
www.ithree institute.uts.edu.au
Our Research Area: Bacteriology The ithree institute is led by Professor Ian Charles, an internationally recognised expert in the field of infectious diseases with a track record of driving innovation both within academia and within industry. It consists of research groups led by globally experienced scientists in the fields of microbial and parasitic infectious diseases, and in the application of their basic research to the treatment and prevention of these diseases.
Group Leader Research Focus Prof. Ian Charles • Founding scientist and board level experience in a medical research institute at UCL, London, UK • Co-founder and CSO of a biotech spin-out company, Arrow Therapeutics, UK • Basic and applied research leading to new vaccines and anti-infectives Prof. Harold Stokes • Immediate Past President of the Australian Society for Microbiology • Developed the concept of the ‘integron’ and its role in bacterial adaptation • Expert on integrons, mobile gene cassettes and pathogencity in Vibrio cholerae Associate Prof. Elizabeth Harry • Vice President Scientific Affairs for the Australian Society for Microbiology • International authority on bacterial cell biology • Expert on the understanding of antibiotic action Associate Prof. Cynthia • NHMRC Senior Research Fellow Whitchurch • Founding Director of the Microbial Imaging facility • Basic and applied research in biofilms, bacterial cell biology, host-pathogen interactions, collective behaviours Associate Prof. Steven • International expert in the post-translational modifications to mycoplasmal adhesins using proteomics Djordjevic • Pioneer in the identification of vaccine antigens to control mycoplasmal pathogens • Pioneer in the assessment of non-needle delivery of vaccine antigens that stimulate mucosal immunity
Track Record: Our Scientists’ Success Snap-shots
New Vaccines Integrons Surface Antigens Biofilms
Figure. Structure of P69 Figure. Structure of an integron- Figure. Interaction between M. Figure. Biofilm with DNA Pertactin encoded member of the hyopneumoniae and the Biofilms are multicellular Pertactin is a component of the dechlorinase family surface of a porcine epithelial- communities of bacteria acellular petussis vaccine that is Integrons may help bacteria like cell monolayer embedded in a self-produced used to protect people from become pathogenic and resistant On its cell surface, M. matrix comprised of extracellular whooping cough. to antibiotics. hyopneumoniae displays two polymeric substances (slime) that Ref : P Emsley, IG Charles , NF Ref : Y Boucher, M Labbate, JE adhesin families that are targets includes DNA. Fairweather & NW Isaacs. 1996. Koenig and HW Stokes. 2007. for proteolytic cleavage and other Ref: CB Whitchurch, T Tolker- Nature, 381: 90-92. Trends in Microbiology, 15: 301- posttranslational modification Nielsen, PC Ragas, and JS events that influence their function. 309. Mattick. 2002. Science, 22: 148. Ref: TA Burnett, (10 authors) & SP Djordjevic. (2006) Molecular Microbiology, 60: 669-686.
Working in Partnership
We welcome the opportunity to explore research collaborations, partnerships, licensing and spin outs to work together to meet the 21st Century challenges in infectious disease.
ithree institute, University of Technology, Sydney, P.O.Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia UTS CRICOS Provider Code: 00099F t: +61 2 9514 4200 e: [email protected]