Details
- Close date
- Friday, 19 February 2021
- Academic background
- Health Sciences
- Host campus
- Christchurch
- Qualification
- Honours
- Department
- Pathology and Biomedical Science (Christchurch)
- Supervisor
- Research Professor Anitra Carr
Overview
Sepsis, the body's uncontrolled response to severe infection, is difficult to diagnose in its early stages. Delayed recognition quickly leads to multi-system organ failure and, ultimately, death. Thus, early recognition and treatment of sepsis is critical for improved outcomes in critically ill patients. However, the diagnosis of sepsis is challenging and complicated by many factors. Therefore, there is a great need for new biomarkers that can aid in accurate diagnosis, therapeutic decision-making, and risk stratification. Accurate prediction of mortality in ICU patients is a crucial component of risk stratification and triage in times of resource shortage, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic.
One potentially useful biomarker for sepsis diagnosis and mortality prediction is myeloperoxidase, a leukocyte enzyme implicated in inflammation and oxidative stress. We recently published a study of critically ill patients in Christchurch Hospital ICU that indicated that myeloperoxidase was elevated in septic compared with non-septic patients. Myeloperoxidase was also associated with mortality in patients with higher Acute Physiologic Assessment and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) scores, thus potentially comprising an additional marker to improve mortality prediction.
These initial results show great promise, therefore, our aims are to determine if the diagnosis of sepsis can be further improved using circulating myeloperoxidase in combination with another inflammatory biomarker, procalcitonin; to confirm in a larger ICU cohort if mortality prediction can be improved using myeloperoxidase in combination with APACHE scores; to determine the potential mechanism of action of myeloperoxidase by correlating levels with biomarkers of oxidative stress; and to determine if inflammatory and/or oxidative stress biomarkers can be attenuated with antioxidant administration to septic patients.
Preferred student expertise
Biochemistry, molecular biology, ELISA experience
Further information
This is one of a number of projects on offer for the 2021 intake of BBiomedSc(Hons) at the University of Otago, Christchurch campus.
- UOC BBiomedSc(Hons) website
- Research Professor Anitra Carr's profile
- Nutrition in Medicine Research Group website
- Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science website