October 2009
ESR is delighted that Dr Joanna Mackichan has received a Fast Start grant from the Marsden Fund for her project 'Epithelial cell wound repair: a novel in vitro approach to elucidate meningococcal virulence mechanisms'. That is, what are the triggers for the meningococcal pathogen to become infectious. Joanna is one of our up and coming scientists and we are proud to support her.
The bacterium responsible for causing meningitis – Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus) – usually inhabits the throat and causes no harm. How it turns into the form responsible for potentially fatal meningococcal disease remains poorly understood, but certain environmental factors, such as other respiratory diseases, are known to increase the risk of this happening.
Dr MacKichan, has been studying meningococci in the laboratory. She has exciting evidence that disease-associated meningococci can suppress the repair of damaged cells that line the airways. However, benign bacteria do not appear to do this. Once the airway cells are damaged, the bacteria that are capable of causing disease seem to have developed a means of taking advantage of the wounded cells. This may provide an explanation as to why disease-associated bacteria are able to invade body tissues of people with throat damage or inflammation.
She has received a Fast-Start Marsden grant to identify specific molecular factors that determine meningococcal behaviour and enhance our understanding of what causes the disease. These findings will provide vital information to assist in strategies for the protection against the ravages of meningococcal disease.
Total Funding: $300,000 over 3 years.
Principal researcher:
Dr Joanna MacKichan,
Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR),
Kenepuru, Porirua
Telephone: (04) 917 5025
Email: joanna.mackichan@esr.cri.nz
Marsden Fund Contact:
Dr Dean Peterson,
Manager: Research Funding
Telephone: (04) 470 5783,
Mobile: 027 500 5553,
dean.peterson@royalsociety.org.nz,
http://marsden.royalsociety.org.nz