Predictive Models & Decision Support Systems for Virus Diseases and Aphid Vectors of Lupin and Canola. Aphids and the viruses they transmit cause major economic losses in legume and canola crops in Australia. This project will develop innovative predictive models and decision support systems (DSS's) for Beet western yellows virus and direct aphid feeding damage in canola and two types of Bean yellow mosaic virus in lupin, and a DSS for direct aphid feeding damage in lupin. These models will gr ....Predictive Models & Decision Support Systems for Virus Diseases and Aphid Vectors of Lupin and Canola. Aphids and the viruses they transmit cause major economic losses in legume and canola crops in Australia. This project will develop innovative predictive models and decision support systems (DSS's) for Beet western yellows virus and direct aphid feeding damage in canola and two types of Bean yellow mosaic virus in lupin, and a DSS for direct aphid feeding damage in lupin. These models will greatly improve understanding of factors driving virus epidemics and aphid outbreaks. Following extensive validation with data previously collected in the WA grainbelt, the predictive models and DSS's will be extended to end-users, resulting in considerable productivity gains, reduced costs and environmental benefits.Read moreRead less
Using viral inhibitors to understand the regualtion of apoptosis. Apoptosis is a form of cell death that is critical for the development and well-being of multicellular organisms. The activity of Bak or Bax, two members of the Bcl-2 family, are essential for apoptosis to proceed, but how the activity of these two proteins is regulated is unclear. Many viruses encode inhibitors of apoptosis and the project will make use of two novel viral inhibitors that specifically target Bak. The project aims ....Using viral inhibitors to understand the regualtion of apoptosis. Apoptosis is a form of cell death that is critical for the development and well-being of multicellular organisms. The activity of Bak or Bax, two members of the Bcl-2 family, are essential for apoptosis to proceed, but how the activity of these two proteins is regulated is unclear. Many viruses encode inhibitors of apoptosis and the project will make use of two novel viral inhibitors that specifically target Bak. The project aims to determine how the Bak inhibitors function and to provide valuable insights into the normal mechanisms regulating Bak activity.Read moreRead less
Detection and elimination of resting spores of Olpidium vectoring lettuce big-vein disease in lettuce seedling nursery production. This project will devise nucleic acid and serology methods for detection of Olpidium brassicae, vector of lettuce big-vein disease (LBVD), during various phases of lettuce seedling production in nursery environments. It will be the first study to develop sustainable and environmentally responsible nursery best-practice protocols for integrated management of O. brass ....Detection and elimination of resting spores of Olpidium vectoring lettuce big-vein disease in lettuce seedling nursery production. This project will devise nucleic acid and serology methods for detection of Olpidium brassicae, vector of lettuce big-vein disease (LBVD), during various phases of lettuce seedling production in nursery environments. It will be the first study to develop sustainable and environmentally responsible nursery best-practice protocols for integrated management of O. brassicae in routine seedling production and for management within the lettuce industry. These protocols will ensure that the spread of LBVD from contaminated lettuce nurseries to farms is prevented. It will also be a unique study of the establishment of a disease in new land with different soils and agricultural practices.Read moreRead less
Conservation, health and disease in the endangered marsupial, the Western Barred Bandicoot (Perameles bougainville). Western Barred Bandicoots are highly endangered marsupials, found in the wild only on Bernier and Dorre islands in Western Australia. Captive breeding and reintroduction efforts, considered essential for survival of this species, are currently hampered by a progressively debilitating, wart-like syndrome and reduced fertility. This project will use pathological, immunohistochemical ....Conservation, health and disease in the endangered marsupial, the Western Barred Bandicoot (Perameles bougainville). Western Barred Bandicoots are highly endangered marsupials, found in the wild only on Bernier and Dorre islands in Western Australia. Captive breeding and reintroduction efforts, considered essential for survival of this species, are currently hampered by a progressively debilitating, wart-like syndrome and reduced fertility. This project will use pathological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural techniques in combination with novel molecular methods, and lymphocyte proliferation assays to determine the causes and conservation implications of these conditions. The hypothesis is that these conditions are a consequence of a viral or chlamydial infection in immunocompromised animals.Read moreRead less
Molecular tools for controlling pathogenic viruses in the seed potato industry. In this project, molecular diagnostic tools will be generated that will improve the ability of testing laboratories to deliver cost-effective virus diagnostic services to seed potato certification authorities in Australia. There will be economic benefits from increased yields of fresh and processing potatoes, higher prices in domestic and export markets, expansion of current and development of new markets, and licen ....Molecular tools for controlling pathogenic viruses in the seed potato industry. In this project, molecular diagnostic tools will be generated that will improve the ability of testing laboratories to deliver cost-effective virus diagnostic services to seed potato certification authorities in Australia. There will be economic benefits from increased yields of fresh and processing potatoes, higher prices in domestic and export markets, expansion of current and development of new markets, and licensing of tests. There will also be economic and social returns to the broader rural community by better management and control of virus pathogens, and less reliance on environmentally undesirable chemical control measures. The project will provide expert training of two PhD students in practical and molecular plant virology. Read moreRead less
Mechanisms of infertility induced in mice by vaccination with murine zona pellucida 3. This research investigates the means by which a novel immunocontraceptive vaccine induces an infertile state in female mice. The vaccine stimulates an autoimmune condition which resembles certain naturally occurring ovarian diseases. By investigating how ovarian cellular interactions are maintained in normal ovaries and disrupted by the immunocontraceptive vaccine, we will learn a great deal about ovarian fu ....Mechanisms of infertility induced in mice by vaccination with murine zona pellucida 3. This research investigates the means by which a novel immunocontraceptive vaccine induces an infertile state in female mice. The vaccine stimulates an autoimmune condition which resembles certain naturally occurring ovarian diseases. By investigating how ovarian cellular interactions are maintained in normal ovaries and disrupted by the immunocontraceptive vaccine, we will learn a great deal about ovarian function in health and disease. Ultimately this information will be applied to improving the reproductive health of women.
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Development of tests for detection and eradication of mouse parvovirus (MPV) from laboratory mouse colonies. This project between the animal virology group at Murdoch University and the major supplier of laboratory mice to the Australian research community will produce a sensitive serological test for the detection of mouse parvovirus in laboratory mouse colonies. Widespread infection by this virus has recently been identified in mouse colonies in Australia, and eradication of the virus and fut ....Development of tests for detection and eradication of mouse parvovirus (MPV) from laboratory mouse colonies. This project between the animal virology group at Murdoch University and the major supplier of laboratory mice to the Australian research community will produce a sensitive serological test for the detection of mouse parvovirus in laboratory mouse colonies. Widespread infection by this virus has recently been identified in mouse colonies in Australia, and eradication of the virus and future surveillance requires the development of a sensitive serological test amenable to automated high throughput analysis. Eradication of this virus is critical as the virus modulates the immune system of mice and affects the results obtained in mice used for medical research.Read moreRead less