Institute Research Student Seminars
Speakers: Stephen Ball, Beth Lawry & Martina Elias
Venue: Seminar room L2.5, 2nd floor, William Leech Building, Medical School
Date and time: Wednesday 22nd 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
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