Monotreme immune system provides insights into their evolutionary relationships. Genes of immunological importance will be cloned and characterised from the short-beaked echidna with the purpose of investigating the immune system in monotremes, gaining insights into the timing and order of evolutionary separation of the three extant mammalian groups:- the Prototherians (monotremes), the Metatherians (marsupials) and Eutherians (placentals), increasing understanding of the evolution of the verteb ....Monotreme immune system provides insights into their evolutionary relationships. Genes of immunological importance will be cloned and characterised from the short-beaked echidna with the purpose of investigating the immune system in monotremes, gaining insights into the timing and order of evolutionary separation of the three extant mammalian groups:- the Prototherians (monotremes), the Metatherians (marsupials) and Eutherians (placentals), increasing understanding of the evolution of the vertebrate immune system and providing the basis for making immunological reagents which are necessary for studying monotreme diseases (as a precautionary conservation strategy).Read moreRead less
From the pouch to the grave: age and sex related changes in immunity in the Tasmanian devil. Tasmanian devils face extinction in the wild due to the emergence of a contagious cancer: Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD). A comprehensive understanding of the devil immune system is necessary to better understand the disease and develop a vaccine against it. This project will characterise immune responses of healthy devils throughout life, from the pouch, to onset of puberty, to old age. This project ....From the pouch to the grave: age and sex related changes in immunity in the Tasmanian devil. Tasmanian devils face extinction in the wild due to the emergence of a contagious cancer: Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD). A comprehensive understanding of the devil immune system is necessary to better understand the disease and develop a vaccine against it. This project will characterise immune responses of healthy devils throughout life, from the pouch, to onset of puberty, to old age. This project will then compare these responses in DFTD-affected devils to determine why DFTD affects older animals first and does not affect sexually-immature devils. Additional outcomes will include the development of novel antibiotics against human and animal diseases and an atlas of devil development using the latest imaging technologies.Read moreRead less
The mucosal immune system of fish: analysis of the immune repertoire in gut-and gill-associated lymphoid tissues in trout. Infectious disease causes major economic loss to the aquaculture industry, highlighting the need for effective vaccination strategies. While oral or immersion vaccination represents the most cost effective means of protecting fish against infectious disease there are problems associated with inducing an effective immune response in fish that will assist our industry partner ....The mucosal immune system of fish: analysis of the immune repertoire in gut-and gill-associated lymphoid tissues in trout. Infectious disease causes major economic loss to the aquaculture industry, highlighting the need for effective vaccination strategies. While oral or immersion vaccination represents the most cost effective means of protecting fish against infectious disease there are problems associated with inducing an effective immune response in fish that will assist our industry partner (Novartis Animal Vaccines Ltd) to develop improved fish vaccines. The project will provide postgraduate training in the area of fish immunology that is vital to the developing Australian aquaculture industry.Read moreRead less
The genetics of resistance to devil facial tumour disease. Tasmanian devils are on the brink of extinction due to a new contagious cancer: Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD). The aim of this project is to determine the genetic nature of DFTD resistance in order to directly contribute to the conservation management of this iconic and ecologically important species. This research will generate fundamental information about genetic diversity in Tasmanian devils and establish the feasibility of bree ....The genetics of resistance to devil facial tumour disease. Tasmanian devils are on the brink of extinction due to a new contagious cancer: Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD). The aim of this project is to determine the genetic nature of DFTD resistance in order to directly contribute to the conservation management of this iconic and ecologically important species. This research will generate fundamental information about genetic diversity in Tasmanian devils and establish the feasibility of breeding resistant animals for release into the wild. Read moreRead less
Functional Genomics to Predict and Enhance Response to Interferon. The increasing number and huge cost impost of new therapies to health providers, both worldwide and nationally, has not yet resulted in a concomitant increase in strategies to optimise their use. Many of the new therapies are proteins (recombinant human proteins or humanised monoclonal antibodies). The improved use of one of Australia's most expensive commonly used protein drugs, pegylated interferon ribavirin (Peg-IFN-R), could ....Functional Genomics to Predict and Enhance Response to Interferon. The increasing number and huge cost impost of new therapies to health providers, both worldwide and nationally, has not yet resulted in a concomitant increase in strategies to optimise their use. Many of the new therapies are proteins (recombinant human proteins or humanised monoclonal antibodies). The improved use of one of Australia's most expensive commonly used protein drugs, pegylated interferon ribavirin (Peg-IFN-R), could potentially produce savings to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), and improve delivery of healthcare to thousands of Australians.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0561251
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$150,887.00
Summary
Facility for Analyses of Evolutionary Immunology. Our understanding of how selection in natural populations shape (favour and disfavour) immunity, and how this process contribute to organismal (including human) fitness, is rudimentary. In order to study such processes our collective experience strongly suggests and increasing need for geographic amalgamation of necessary and complementary molecular and biomedical techniques. We therefore request funding to establish a collaborative research labo ....Facility for Analyses of Evolutionary Immunology. Our understanding of how selection in natural populations shape (favour and disfavour) immunity, and how this process contribute to organismal (including human) fitness, is rudimentary. In order to study such processes our collective experience strongly suggests and increasing need for geographic amalgamation of necessary and complementary molecular and biomedical techniques. We therefore request funding to establish a collaborative research laboratory in a novel research field - Evolutionary Immuno-Ecology- in which all vital aspects, from a mechanistic to an evolutionary level, can be studied at one research centre.Read moreRead less
Characterization of the tammar wallaby MHC. We will be able to determine the immunological fitness of marsupial populations which will help us to conserve our native fauna and protect our eco-tourism industry.
We will work in the international arena of large scale genomics and bring new technologies to Australia.
Characterisation of tumour variants of Devil Facial Tumour Disease. This project will take a new approach to cancer research by studying the evolution of Devil Facial Tumour Disease. The results will directly contribute to the conservation management of the Tasmanian devil, as well as generating new information on tumour growth, metastasis and emergence of resistance.
Costs and individual variation in immune function: studies on a long-lived predator in tropical Australia. Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) will be employed to quantify costs and individual variation in antibody response to a non-pathogenic antigen in water pythons (Liasis fuscus). Immune responsiveness is strongly correlated with disease and parasite resistance and has been documented to depend on environmental and genetic factors. All immunized snakes will be known-aged animals (rang ....Costs and individual variation in immune function: studies on a long-lived predator in tropical Australia. Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) will be employed to quantify costs and individual variation in antibody response to a non-pathogenic antigen in water pythons (Liasis fuscus). Immune responsiveness is strongly correlated with disease and parasite resistance and has been documented to depend on environmental and genetic factors. All immunized snakes will be known-aged animals (ranging from 6 months to >20 years), of different nutritional status, known blood and gastro-intestinal parasite load and documented immuno-genetic profiles. This multidisciplinary approach will bring together population ecology, molecular genetics and immunology to elucidate links between these traits and ultimately how they affect python fitness.Read moreRead less
Marsupial genomics: antimicrobial peptides and endangered species conservation. This project aims to use Australia’s unique biodiversity to tackle the global challenge of antimicrobial resistance. Rapid gene duplication and evolution of antimicrobial peptide genes in marsupials provide protection for joeys that are immunologically naïve in the pouch. By characterising immune genes in 10 marsupial species, this project will yield new antimicrobial peptides that can tackle superbugs. Genomic infor ....Marsupial genomics: antimicrobial peptides and endangered species conservation. This project aims to use Australia’s unique biodiversity to tackle the global challenge of antimicrobial resistance. Rapid gene duplication and evolution of antimicrobial peptide genes in marsupials provide protection for joeys that are immunologically naïve in the pouch. By characterising immune genes in 10 marsupial species, this project will yield new antimicrobial peptides that can tackle superbugs. Genomic information will also be used to provide significant benefits, such as improving the long term conservation of our endangered native species in a more appropriate and cost-effective way.Read moreRead less