Sashimi or kebab? The effect of cooking on crustacean allergy

Allergy to crustaceans is complicated, and
can differ depending whether the food is
cooked or raw.

 by Dr Jodie Abramovitch (one of the authors on the study)

Allergy to crustaceans, such as crab and prawns, is a major cause of food induced anaphylaxis. To more accurately diagnose and treat crustacean allergies, investigation into the underlying immunological mechanisms that cause the allergy is necessary.

Researchers within the Monash University Departments of Allergy, Immunology and Respiratory Medicine (AIRMed) and of Immunology and Pathology have published a paper investigating the effect of cooking of crab and prawn species on immune cells involved in the allergic response.

For the first time, this study looked at the response of four different immune cell subsets – CD4+, CD8+,  and CD56+ lymphocytes, and Foxp3+ regulatory T cells -  to raw and cooked crustaceans in crustacean-allergic individuals.

Fainting disorder mechanism figured out

Fainting caused by POTS is regulated by switching gene

function off. Image:  Imgur/Twoisnoe

by Anne Crawford

Central Clinical School (CCS) investigators have discovered the mechanism underlying Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), the condition famously affecting the former lead singer of The Wiggles.

POTS is a disorder characterised by orthostatic intolerance – having difficulty in becoming upright, particularly when standing up from a lying-down position, when a greatly reduced volume of blood returns to the heart. Symptoms can include feeling light-headed, fainting, fatigue and slurred speech. Interestingly, eighty per cent of those with the condition are women. 

The Big Picture: Benefits of HIV self testing

Professor Christopher Fairley with a
colleague, Dr Eric Chow

by Anne Crawford

"The Big Picture" will be a series profiling multicentre and international studies in which Central Clinical School (CCS) researchers and affiliates play a part.

CCS and Melbourne Sexual Health Centre researchers Professor Kit Fairley and Dr Marcus Chen were part of a multi-centre Australian study investigating whether HIV self-testing would increase frequency of testing in high-risk gay and bisexual men, with a particular focus on men who delayed testing or had never been tested before.

Frequent testing of individuals at high risk of HIV is central to current prevention strategies.

New short course: Introduction to Surgical Research

Mr James Lee, a surgeon from Central Clinical School's Department of Surgery and The Alfred, offered a very successful course in 2016, "An introduction to surgical research".  It's being offered again this year - see more:  www.monash.edu/medicine/healthed-institute/courses/an-introduction-to-surgical-research

Old Xavierians and MAPrc celebrate an 8 year partnership on the de Castella Run

Old Xavierians Athletics Club partner with MAPrc on the de Castella run
2 Mend Minds. Dr Christopher Worsnop, President of OXAC, presented 
a cheque for $60,000 to Prof Jayashri Kulkarni

The de Castella Run, held annually on the last Sunday in August for the last 37 years, has been owned by the Old Xavierians Athletic Club (OXAC) since 2008. OXAC has shared a great partnership with MAPrc  over the last 8 years to raise money to support research into debilitating mental illnesses that are the hardest to treat. During this time the run has become known as the "de Castella Run 2 Mend Minds".

Congratulations to MAPrc on recent grants and donations!

Professor Jayashri Kulkarni, Director MAPrc
and President of IAWMH

Congratulations to Professor Jayashri Kulkarni and the Monash Alfred Psychiatry research centre on recent grant and funding successes! These include:

Jayashri Kulkarni has received a $300,000 grant from The Alfred Felton Bequest for her project ‘Preventing suicide in perimenopausal women: a new approach’.

MAPrc has been successful in its bid to host the International Association of Women's Mental Health conference in 2021, and will be awarded $216,000 to cover costs. Jayashri was recently elected IAWMH President.

MAPrc also has received a $312,000 gift from the Alison Wolinski Foundation for a six year project, to be known as "The Alison Project", investigating better treatments for Complex Trauma Disorder (previously known as Borderline Personality Disorder).

Thanks & Au Revoir to Eva-Rachele Pesce!

Eva-Rachele Pesce at the
very successful MIPSS do

Many thanks to Dr Eva-Rachele Pesce, who has been our school's Senior Research Services Officer while Dr Rachael Borg was on maternity leave. Eva did a fabulous job looking after the entire school, and worked very hard getting our new Department of Diabetes set up in their extensive labs, and settled in to offices! Eva's last day is Monday 27 March 2017.

Welcome back to Rachael. Please direct all enquiries regarding Research Services either to Rachael's email, rachael.borg@monash.edu, or to the CCS Technical Services jobdesk: https://sites.google.com/a/monash.edu/ccsintranet/services/technical-services/ts-job-desk