Monash scientists find ‘bad guy’ blood cells vital to gut health

Eosinophil granulocytes in inflammatory infiltrate. This type of
white blood cell is responsible for combating parasites, and has a
role in mechanisms associated with allergy and asthma.
Image: Shutterstock

by Anne Crawford

A Monash University collaboration has found that eosinophils, a type of white blood cell commonly associated with asthma and allergy, play an important role in maintaining a healthy gut.

Professor Nicola Harris, from Monash’s Central Clinical School, made the surprising discovery working with study co-lead, Professor Kathy McCoy from the University of Calgary, and scientists from Switzerland. Their paper was published in Immunity 16 June.

The early-life human airway microbiome is a dynamic multi-kingdom entity

See explainer video (1:38 mins) of Pattaroni et al's research.

Video produced by www.researchsquare.com

There is increasing evidence that the airway microbiome plays a key role in the establishment of respiratory health by interacting with the developing immune system early in life.

Ms Céline Pattaroni, in Professor Ben Marsland's group at the Department of Immunology and Pathology, won a L.E.W. Carty grant of $300,000 last year to study mechanisms of asthma in early childhood.

Some of the work that formed the basis of that grant application has now been published in the journal ‘Microbiome’ (IF 14.7). It describes the bacterial and fungal members of the airway microbiome and how they align with the developing immune system in the first post-natal week. 

Congratulations to Céline Pattaroni on her L.E.W. Carty grant success!

Ms Céline Pattaroni has been awarded a Carty

Signature grant of $300,000 for asthma research.

Congratulations to Ms Céline Pattaroni, who was awarded the 2021 Carty Signature Grant for her research on mechanisms of asthma in early childhood. Céline has been awarded $300,000 over a period of three years to undertake the research. She is the third Carty Signature Grant recipient.

With up to 1 in 9 Australians affected and an incidence on the rise, there is a clear need to understand the mechanisms driving asthma. 

Protection against asthma from gut metabolism by-product

A study into the impact of gut bacteria on the immune system has led to the extraordinary discovery of two molecules that can not only provide profound protection in experimental models of asthma, but can also substantially reduce the severity of an attack.

Neither of these molecules, one of which is already commercially available in a diet supplement, were previously known to have an effect on asthma. Additionally, they appear, from animal studies, to have a beneficial role in treating the respiratory illness that is prevalent, and often fatal, in people with serious COVID-19.

Trailblazing scientist gains state honour

The Central Clinical School’s Professor Robyn O'Hehir AO FAHMS has been inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women 2019.

Professor O’Hehir, who heads Respiratory Medicine, Allergy and Clinical Immunology (Research) at Monash University and The Alfred hospital was recognised as a ‘trailblazer’ in the prestigious awards.

The Honour Roll acknowledges and celebrates the achievements of outstanding Victorian women from all walks of life who have demonstrated inspirational leadership and excellence in their field.

Recent developments and highlights in biomarkers in allergic diseases and asthma

Drug hypersensitivity phenotypes excerpted from Fig. 5

Professor Robyn O'Hehir, Head of the Department of Respiratory Allergy & Clinical Immunology (Research) at Central Clinical School and Associate Professor Mark Hew, Head of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology at The Alfred are authors on a review article which explores the potential of precision medicine in allergy and asthma.

The authors, Eguiluz-Gracia et al., argue that there is a need to predict the response to specific therapies and the outcome of drug and food provocations. In their comprehensive review they have highlighted recent discoveries and advances in the identification and clinical applicability of valid biomarkers for asthma and allergic diseases.

View or download article: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/all.13628

World first study of infant and newborn airways microbiome throws light on origins of asthma

Professor Ben Marsland

A world first study of the bacteria living in the lower respiratory tract of “healthy” newborns and young babies has shown that bacterial communities form within the first 2 months post-natally, and that these bacteria interact with the immune system in ways that could potentially influence its development.

The study, led by Professor Ben Marsland, a veski Innovation Fellow in the Department of Immunology and Pathology at Central Clinical School, Monash University, is published today in the journal Cell Host and Microbe.

Allergies & asthma in young children under the microscope

2018 veski innovation fellow Professor Ben Marsland explains
his research on development of allergies in childhood. Video

An immunologist studying allergies in young children in Switzerland, and in particular the onset of the asthma, has been lured to Melbourne to continue his ground-breaking research at Monash University.

New Zealand born researcher Professor Ben Marsland was named the 2018 veski innovation fellow on 23 October 2018. Prof Marsland’s research is focused on trying to understand how to combat or prevent the development of allergies in infants which can progress into life threatening asthma.

Stem cell therapy for chronic asthma

Lead researchers Dr Simon Royce and
Associate Professor Chrishan Samuel.

by Anne Crawford

A Monash University study co-led by the Central Clinical School’s Dr Simon Royce, which demonstrates that a new therapy developed through stem cell technology holds promise as a treatment for chronic asthma, has garnered considerable attention.

Monash scientists provided the experimental expertise to test Cynata Therapeutics' induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in a model of experimental asthma.

Protocol for severe asthma gains scientific tick

Severe asthma can necessitate hospitalization.
Monash-Alfred researchers have tested an improved
protocol. Image: Breathinstephen

by Anne Crawford

A Monash University study evaluating approaches to treating the most challenging asthma patients has tested and confirmed a protocol that enhances asthma outcomes and improves quality of life. Its authors hope the protocol may act as a benchmark approach for treatment elsewhere.

The study, by researchers in The Alfred Hospital and CCS’s Department of Allergy, Clinical Immunology and Respiratory medicine (AIRmed) and others, sought to scientifically evaluate the structured approach to the management of ‘difficult asthma’ being used at AIRmed’s Difficult Asthma Clinic. Difficult asthma refers to the patients whose symptoms are so severe that even respiratory specialists find them hard to manage. At worst, it can be life-threatening.

Monash researchers urge more action on thunderstorm asthma

There is a confluence of meteorological and seasonal factors
in thunderstorm asthma. Harm can be minimized with alerts
and planning. Image: Better Health Channel

by Anne Crawford

Monash University researchers say there is an urgent need to highlight the physiological mechanisms underlying thunderstorm-related asthma to mitigate against an event such as last year’s catastrophic epidemic in Melbourne occurring again.

The freak asthma thunderstorm on 21 November 2016 left nine Victorians dead, caused more than 9,900 patients to present to hospitals, and overwhelmed ambulance and emergency services. It was the most lethal of its kind on record.

Thunderstorm asthma - why does it happen?

Mark Hew explains thunderstorm asthma
to ABC News Breakfast hosts Virginia
Trioli and Michael Rowland. See video

Associate Professor Mark Hew, Head of Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology at The Alfred, explains the phenomenon of  'thunderstorm asthma' and what asthmatics can do to protect themselves.

"The recent thunderstorm asthma event has raised several important questions," A/Prof Hew said.

"How did it happen? It appears that three events need to line-up to trigger thunderstorm asthma.

Asthma - not a respiratory disease?

Professor Bruce Thompson, Head of Physiology Services at
The Alfred, is trialling a new approach for asthma.

Exciting research, based around finding a cure for asthma, has led to some new thinking about the disease, which affects one in 10 Australians.

The Alfred’s Head of Physiology Services Professor Bruce Thompson will trial a new approach by treating asthma not as a respiratory disease, but as a rash. Part of the Centre for Research Excellence on Asthma, a national effort involving investigators around the country, Prof Thompson said the approach is to think differently.

“We’ll be using a commonly used antibiotic that has an anti-inflammatory property. We’ve nebulised the drug so it can be inhaled. No one has done this before.

Early Career Fellowship in Asthma Research: Deadline 7 August

Varying degrees of airway closure in asthma

Asthma Australia with the support of Hudsons Coffee is offering an Early Career Fellowship in Asthma Research. http://asthmaaustralia.org.au/Apply_for_research_grants.aspx  
This opportunity is only open to:  
- Financial member/associate members of the Thoracic Society of Australia & New Zealand;
- Researchers who have completed their highest qualification within the last 5 years; AND
 - Those who have not yet been the recipient of a major nationally competitive research grant. Applications close on Friday 7 August 2015.  Only one application from each School will be accepted. 

Alfred HealthLink newsletter 2015 Autumn issue: TBI, Asthma, Anaesthesia, Bipolar & more

Alfred Health produces a regular newsletter, back issues of which are housed at: www.alfred.org.au/News.aspx?ID=469.

The current issue's highlights include:

• Asthma breakthrough (Prof Bruce Thompson, Department of Allergy, Immunology and Respiratory medicine)
• Monitoring healthy recovery after surgery (Dr Mark Shulman, Department of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine)
• Brain imaging, bipolar and family (Dr Tamsyn van Rheenen, MAPrc)
• Global effort in brain injury research (Prof Jamie Cooper)

Enquiries to Public Affairs team at Alfred Health on 03 9076 2266 or publicaffairs@alfred.org.au