Mr Michael Gallacher

The title of my PhD is Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and pulmonary Na+ Transport.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is considered to be the most important viral agent causing serious paediatric respiratory disease worldwide. One of the main clinical features of RSV is bronchiolitis, characterised by a build up of fluid in the bronchioles. The volume of fluid in the respiratory tract is critically dependant on the balance between fluid absorption (via amiloride-sensitive Na+ channels) and fluid secretion (via Cl- channels) in the respiratory epithelium. Therefore it is reasonable to assume that RSV infection virus may inhibit/alter respiratory epithelial ion transport.

There is currently a lack of knowledge regarding the interaction between RSV infection and epithelial ion transport. However some relevant research into the effects of influenza and parainfluenza virus on epithelial ion transport has been carried out (see references 1 and 2, respectively).

The aim of this PhD project is to attempt to address the lack of knowledge about the interaction between RSV infection and epithelial ion transport.

1. Kunzelmann, K., Beesley, A.H., King, N.J., Karupiah, G., Young, J.A., and Cook, D.I. (2000). Influenza virus inhibits amiloride-sensitive Na+ channels in respiratory epithelia. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. August 29, vol. 97, no. 18, 10282-10287.
2. Kunzelmann, K., Konig, J., Sun, J., Markovich, D., King, N.J., Karupiah, G., Young, J.A., and Cook, D.I. (2004). Acute effects of parainfluenza virus on epithelial elctrolyte transport. J. Biological Chemistry. Vol. 279, 47, Nov 19, 48760-48766.

Maintained by: H Murphie.

The University of Dundee is a Scottish Registered Charity, No.SC015096

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