Outer membrane proteins of Leptospira; role in immunity and pathogenesis

钩端螺旋体病是世界热带地区的一个重要死亡原因。尼加拉瓜和巴西最近的疫情及时提醒人们，钩端螺旋体细菌引起的疾病的严重性。在这些疫情中，10%的患者没有康复。这种疾病不是在人与人之间传播，而是在动物与人之间传播。钩端螺旋体是通过尿液从受感染的动物体内排出的；人类感染可能通过接触受感染的尿液或尿液污染物质而发生。在澳大利亚，钩端螺旋体病是一种职业危害，奶农、养猪工人、香蕉采摘工和屠宰场工人风险最高。最近一个令人震惊的事态发展是与某些休闲活动相关的新风险群体的出现。例如，在美国，三名铁人三项运动员死于钩端螺旋体病，随后确定感染源是受污染的游泳水。该项目将调查钩端螺旋体感染期间疾病和免疫发展的各个方面。这将通过分析位于细菌表面的一组蛋白质来实现。这些蛋白质在疾病的发展中起着关键作用。利用最先进的技术，每一种蛋白质都将被提纯和鉴定。这将使实验能够在分子水平上增强我们对疾病发展的理解。

Leptospirosis is a significant cause of death in tropical regions of the world. Recent outbreaks in Nicaragua and Brazil are timely reminders of the seriousness of disease caused by the Leptospira bacteria. In these outbreaks >10% of people developing the disease did not recover. Spread of the disease does not occur from person to person, but rather from animal to human. Leptospira are shed from infected animals via the urine; human infection may occur through contact with infected urine or urine contaminated materials. In Australia, leptospirosis is an occupational hazard with dairy farmers, pig handlers, banana pickers and abattoir workers being those most at risk. A recent and alarming development is the emergence of new risk groups associated with certain leisure activities. For example, in the USA three triathletes died from leptospirosis and it was subsequently determined that the source of infection was contaminated swimming water. This project will investigate aspects of the development of disease and immunity during infection by Leptospira. This will be achieved by analysing the set of proteins located on the surface of the bacterium. These proteins play a key role in the development of disease. Using state of the art technology, each of the proteins will be purified and identified. This will enable experiments that will enhance our understanding of the development of disease at a molecular level.