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Infection and Immunology
The control of infectious diseases is a major global concern. There are fears that a pandemic looms, possibly through the H5N1 (bird flu) virus. Hong Kong is well aware of the consequences — the emergence of SARS in 2003 and the panic it caused is still fresh in people’s minds.
Yet these are only two of the many viruses and fungi that can cause infectious disease. HKU researchers are recognised internationally for their expertise in this field and have developed a strong body of expertise and technology. In their upcoming research, they will apply genomic and chemical genetic analysis to emerging pathogens.
"We hope this will help us to understand these pathogens and provide leads for better preparedness, management and control," said Professor K.Y. Yuen of the Department of Microbiology. Professor Yuen is convenor of the Infection and Immunology research theme.
The Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Science and Faculty of Dentistry will be collaborating on the research, which is focused on emerging viruses and Penicillium marneffei, a particularly harmful fungus.
Emerging viruses
A number of viruses originate in animals and cross the species barrier to infect humans. HKU scientists have already demonstrated that SARS was such a virus, using an approach that earlier showed live vaccines for infectious bursal disease (affecting chickens) could recombine with strains from the wild.
"We want to systematically study the evolution of a number of animal and human emerging viruses and the role of mutation and recombination in pathogenesis and species crossing," said Professor F.C.C. Leung of the School of Biological Sciences.
New tools at the molecular level will be applied, and deep genome sequencing, genotyping and analysis will be carried out to provide more information about emerging viruses. Researchers will also investigate breakpoints — sites where recombination occurs — because previous studies have suggested they are not randomly located.
Meanwhile, other research is concerned with finding treatments and mapping the evolution of viruses.
For treatment, several new compounds have been identified from a chemical library of more than 50,000 as potential drugs for treating influenza, including H5N1. "One compound in particular killed the virus but was not toxic to the cell," said Dr R.Y.T. Kao of the Department of Microbiology. "It will be investigated alongside several other compounds to determine their active mechanisms."
HKU scientists are also interested in mapping the path viruses take before they infect humans. Horseshoe bats and palm civets were implicated in SARS, but there is suspicion that other animals may be involved. Researchers will try to identify and genetically sequence SARS and other coronoviruses in a wide variety of animals from Hong Kong and China, including dogs, cats, cattle, birds and pigs. The results should help in understanding the origin and interspecies transmission of emerging viruses from animals.
A harmful fungus
Penicillium marneffei comes from the same fungal family as blue cheese, but it is far more malignant. It causes respiratory, skin and other complications in patients whose immune systems are compromised, such as with HIV infection, and the effects are often fatal.
"The fungus is particularly prevalent in Southeast Asia, including Hong Kong and China, but no one as yet has been able to identify the fungus in the environment or how it is transmitted," said Professor P.C.Y. Woo of the Department of Microbiology. Research therefore is focused on protecting patients.
At HKU scholars are looking at the molecular make-up of the fungus. One particular protein is being studied to see how it affects the progression of the disease, in the hope the knowledge can be used to develop vaccines for testing.
Another project is examining small molecules produced by the fungus that may have an anti-bacterial function.
Researchers are also examining the role of temperature in the fungus’s survival. Although little is known about where P. marneffei comes from, it evidently can survive at human body temperature. This will be investigated to see if it provides opportunities for developing treatment or vaccination against infection.
