How emphysema wreaks havoc

Dr Cristina Giogha studies a range of medically important bacteria that cause millions of deaths worldwide every year due to gastroenteritis, such as E. coli, Salmonella and Shigella. It is well known that E. coli destroy intestinal structures called microvilli – tiny fingerlike projections on intestinal cells that are vital for absorbing nutrients and water from the gut – but until now there has been little understanding of the mechanics of how this occurs. 2022 brought a breakthrough, with Dr Giogha and her mentor, Professor Elizabeth Hartland, showing for the first time the involvement of specific human and bacterial factors in the destruction of microvilli. She sums up her findings simply: “If the cell is like your home, E. coli are like unwanted guests that remodel your home to suit themselves.”

Collaborators University of Melbourne; University of Saskatchewan (Canada); Vanderbilt University (USA)

Funders Australian Research Council; NHMRC; China Scholarship Council (China); National Institutes of Health (USA); Vanderbilt University (USA)

“Our work aims to understand the mechanisms by which E. coli bacteria cause gastroenteritis, so new treatments can be designed, potentially saving thousands of lives, particularly in low-income countries.”

Dr Cristina Giogha

Emphysema is the major debilitating lung disease associated with inflammation caused by uncontrolled activation of the immune system. The two arms of that system are innate immunity, or the first line of defence against invaders, and immune system adaptive immunity, which mounts a slower, highly specific immune response. The triggers that promote the development of emphysema have been elusive, preventing advances in patient treatments. In a pivotal breakthrough, a team led by Professor Brendan Jenkins discovered that a regulatory complex of the innate immune system, called inflammasomes, is responsible for the development of emphysema. This world-first finding lays the foundation for new emphysema treatments targeting the immune system.

Collaborators Monash Health; RMIT University; University of Melbourne; Christian-Albrechts-University (Germany); National Cancer Institute (USA)

Funder NHMRC

“It is significant research, because it’s the first to demonstrate a specific pathological role for inflammasomes in emphysema that is separate from their immune activity.”

Professor Brendan Jenkins