Episode 77. The Microbiome with Dr Mark Morrison
Trillions of microbes are living in and on us, a thriving ecosystem of bacteria, viruses, archaea and fungi. Collectively these microbes form the human microbiome and this microbiome appears to play a key role in many aspects of health, crowding out harmful microbial invaders, breaking down fibrous food into digestible compounds and producing some essential vitamins such as B12 and vitamin K. New research is exploring the relationship between the gut microbiome and immunogenicity, autoimmune inflammatory diseases, neoplasia and brain development and is searching ways to correct dysbiosis.
Trillions of microbes are living in and on us, a thriving ecosystem of bacteria, viruses, archaea and fungi. Collectively these microbes form the human microbiome and this microbiome appears to play a key role in many aspects of health, crowding out harmful microbial invaders, breaking down fibrous food into digestible compounds and producing some essential vitamins such as B12 and vitamin K. New research is exploring the relationship between the gut microbiome and immunogenicity, autoimmune inflammatory diseases, neoplasia and brain development and is searching ways to correct dysbiosis.
In this episode with Professor Mark Morrison, Chair of Microbiology and Metagenomics at the University of Queensland Diamantina Institute we explore the human microbiome and how his work is expanding our understanding of this interesting clinical area of research and its possible medical applications.
Useful references include:
- Professor Mark Morrison - The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute
- WGO Handbook on Gut Microbiome – A global perspective - www.worldgastroenterology.org
- Gut microbiome – An Overview – www.sciencedirect.com
- Human Gut Microbiome : Hopes Threats and Promises – https://gut.bmj.com
- The Gut Microbiome in Health and in Disease – www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
To be a guest on the show or provide some feedback, I’d love to hear from you: manager@gihealth.com.au
Dr Luke Crantock MBBS, FRACP, is a gastroenterologist in practice for over 25 years. He is the founder of The Centre for GI Health, based in Melbourne Australia and is passionate about educating General Practitioners and patients on disease prevention and how to manage and improve their digestive health.
Special Episode 9. New Vaccines with Professor Dale Godfrey
The Peter Doherty Institute was the first Australian laboratory to establish a Covid 19 PCR test and diagnose the first SARS- Cov 2 infection on Australian shores, its research scientist is heavily involved in developing novel diagnostic tools applied across many areas of medical science and the institute plays a key leadership role in advising state and federal government on best medical practice. It’s no great surprise therefore that we have learned of their ground-breaking development of a new subunit Covid 19 vaccine utilising the receptor binding domain at the tip of the virus’s spike proteins. This is the region responsible for virus attachment and infection and for eliciting over 90% of neutralising antibodies following SARS Cov-2 infection. Parallel with the subunit vaccine development, another Melbourne group – the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences has developed a similar vaccine but using mRNA technology copying the virus’s genetic sequence that codes for the receptor binding domain.
The Peter Doherty Institute was the first Australian laboratory to establish a Covid 19 PCR test and diagnose the first SARS- Cov 2 infection on Australian shores, its research scientist is heavily involved in developing novel diagnostic tools applied across many areas of medical science and the institute plays a key leadership role in advising state and federal government on best medical practice. It’s no great surprise therefore that we have learned of their ground-breaking development of a new subunit Covid 19 vaccine utilising the receptor binding domain at the tip of the virus’s spike proteins. This is the region responsible for virus attachment and infection and for eliciting over 90% of neutralising antibodies following SARS Cov-2 infection. Parallel with the subunit vaccine development, another Melbourne group – the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences has developed a similar vaccine but using mRNA technology copying the virus’s genetic sequence that codes for the receptor binding domain.
These vaccines enter the pantheon of other existing mRNA/viral vector/and subunit protein vaccines already available offering protection against Covid 19 but are different as they focus the immune response to the tip of the spike protein – the important receptor binding domain.
Both new Melbourne developed vaccines are entering phase 1 trials and results will be eagerly awaited.
Professor Dale Godfrey is a senior principal research fellow and immunology theme leader at the Doherty Institute and has played a major role in RBD subunit protein vaccine development.
Please join this conversation where Dale discusses the new vaccine development, their efficacy, and the phase 1 clinical trials evaluating the vaccines further.
References:
Professor Dale Godfrey: godfrey@unimelb.edu.au
doherty.edu.au
Phone: 83449325 for further trial information or at virgo-studies@unimelb.edu.au
To be a guest on the show or provide some feedback, I’d love to hear from you: manager@gihealth.com.au
Dr Luke Crantock MBBS, FRACP, is a gastroenterologist in practice for over 25 years. He is the founder of The Centre for GI Health, based in Melbourne Australia and is passionate about educating General Practitioners and patients on disease prevention and how to manage and improve their digestive health.