Variety: Sinusitis, fibrosis, inflammation, Bioinformatics, sensor, Clostridium difficile, Eczema, Filaggrin, Methotrexate

 

 

 

Institute Research Student Seminars

Speakers:  Stephen Ball, Beth Lawry & Martina Elias

 

Venue: Seminar room L2.5, 2^nd floor, William Leech Building, Medical School

Date and time:  Wednesday 22^nd October 2014 at 12.30

 

Stephen Ball will present:

“Epithelial – Fibroblast interactions in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis”

 

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is one of our commonest health conditions, affecting up to 12.5% of adults, is the fifth commonest antibiotic prescription and incurs $5.8billion in direct health costs.  Maximal medical therapy (antibiotics/steroids) has high failure rates and as a result 1 in 4 patients undergo surgery, though this is not surprising given the pathogenesis of CRS is not known.  Here we are investigating the roles of the epithelium & fibroblasts in the persistent inflammatory processes.

 

Key words: Sinusitis, fibrosis, inflammation

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Beth Lawry will discuss:

“Characterising Unique Detection Biomarkers for Clostridium difficile”

 

Using a novel bioinformatics system, unique Clostridium difficile biomarkers were identified and confirmed with laboratory techniques. Antibodies against these markers will be integrated into a detection sensor.

 

Key words: Bioinformatics, sensor, Clostridium difficile

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Martina Elias will speak on:

“Mechanistic insights into methotrexate efficacy in eczema”

 

Null mutations in the key epidermal protein, Filaggrin, strongly predispose the development of Atopic Eczema (AE). Methotrexate is an effective therapeutic option; however, its precise mechanism of action in AE is unknown. We have shown MTX acts directly on keratinocytes to promote epidermal differentiation, lipid accumulation and improved barrier function in a thymidine dependent manner. A detailed understanding of these mechanisms may ultimately reveal novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of AE and other disorders of keratinisation.

 

Keywords: Eczema, Filaggrin, Methotrexate

 

Chair:  Sophie Cassidy