Project title:
Neutrophil polarisation in the airways of infants hospitalised with bronchiolitis
Chief Investigator:
Dr Dani-Louise Dixon
Funding Amount:
$75,000
Recipient:
Flinders University
Overview:
Bronchiolitis is the most common severe respiratory tract illness in infants and remains a major cause of infant hospitalisation. Apart from supportive intervention there is no treatment. Bronchiolitis is predominantly caused by viral infections that induce immune cells (neutrophils) to damage the lung, increasing severity and leading to chronic wheeze in up to 50% of patients. Our lab demonstrated that decreased neutrophil prevalence in the airways is associated with decreased severity of bronchiolitis. However new research suggests that neutrophil type may be as important as absolute number.