Leaving pathogens no place to hide
Dr Pravin Rajasekaran, a member of DSTG's biological countermeasures team, has commenced a year-long Chief Defence Scientist Discovery Fellowship. Dr Rajasekaran is studying a novel class of host-directed therapeutics targeting intracellular biological warfare agents.
The fellowship will focus on Q fever (a bacterial infection that can cause a severe flu-like illness), however the research could significantly improve health outcomes for military and civilian personnel affected by numerous other infectious threats, and reduce the severity of potential biological attacks.
'Our team works on discovering and assessing novel therapeutics to treat infections caused by pathogens that are of concern to Defence,' says Dr Rajasekaran. 'This includes pathogens that could potentially be weaponised.'
'We have identified a novel class of therapeutics with the potential to treat intracellular bacterial infections of significant concern to both military personnel and civilians. This class of drugs, known as SMAC mimetics, can specifically target host cells that harbour deadly bacterial pathogens and cause the host cells to undergo cell death, thereby assisting the clearance of infection.'
According to Dr Rajasekaran, targeting the host cell circumvents resistance mechanisms that are a significant concern with currently available therapies. A collaborative research agreement between DSTG and the Doerflinger laboratory at WEHI (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute) will facilitate the testing of SMAC mimetics against the bacteria Coxiella burnetii (Q fever) and Burkholderia pseudomallei (melioidosis).
Due to the incredibly broad-spectrum nature of SMAC mimetics, they have potential to work against other biological warfare agents (both bacterial and viral) including those that cause tularaemia, ebola and equine encephalitis. Some of these threats currently have no approved treatment options, highlighting the significance of this research.
Dr Rajasekaran joined DSTG in 2020, bringing expertise in infectious diseases, microbiology and molecular biology to the CBRN team.
Read more: Defence invests in the next generation of CBRN scientists
'I enjoy the discovery aspect of my work the most,' he says. 'Seeing results from a well-designed experiment that show a new drug working against a disease, and the idea that this work can contribute to better health outcomes for patients is very satisfying.'
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