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
Better bees for tomorrow: A proteomic and physiological characterization of male fertility in managed versus feral honeybees in Western Australia. The importance of honeybees for food production is often undervalued as they pollinate more than 80 crops of economic interest. However, honeybee populations are on a worldwide decline and the beekeepers struggle to survive economically. Australia has so far been spared of major collapses but this seems merely a question of time. The work proposed ini ....Better bees for tomorrow: A proteomic and physiological characterization of male fertility in managed versus feral honeybees in Western Australia. The importance of honeybees for food production is often undervalued as they pollinate more than 80 crops of economic interest. However, honeybee populations are on a worldwide decline and the beekeepers struggle to survive economically. Australia has so far been spared of major collapses but this seems merely a question of time. The work proposed initiates a close collaboration between the only honeybee-breeding organization in Western Australia and the University of Western Australia. Scientific research to ensure a future supply of managed and healthy honeybees is initiated to understand honeybee reproduction, diseases and immunity in more detail. The results are expected to be of interest for the entire Australian honeybee industry.Read moreRead less
Improving the Efficiency of Utilisation of Vegetable Proteins in Diets for Dogs. Australians spend approximately $1 billion per annum on feeding dogs. Uncle Bens of Australia has a significant share of this market. Development of dog foods based on vegetable proteins offers new market opportunities domestically, and overseas. Numerous vegetable proteins are available, however anti-nutritional factors that reduce digestibility and deteriorate faecal quality might limit their use. To optimise thei ....Improving the Efficiency of Utilisation of Vegetable Proteins in Diets for Dogs. Australians spend approximately $1 billion per annum on feeding dogs. Uncle Bens of Australia has a significant share of this market. Development of dog foods based on vegetable proteins offers new market opportunities domestically, and overseas. Numerous vegetable proteins are available, however anti-nutritional factors that reduce digestibility and deteriorate faecal quality might limit their use. To optimise their dietary inclusion, physiological effects in the canine gut must be understood to avoid any negative effects. These may be overcome by enzymes and (or) processing, and would allow cost effective products to be formulated that deliver optimum health and nutrition to consumers.
Read moreRead less
Stimulation of the mammalian reproductive system by olfactory pathways. This project answers fundamental questions about mammalian reproductive biology but, because we work with the sheep model, our findings can be applied to two of Australia's biggest export industries, wool and sheepmeat. Understanding the reproductive responses of our production animals to exteroceptive factors such as socio-sexual signals, photoperiod and nutrition is an important first step towards refining the management ....Stimulation of the mammalian reproductive system by olfactory pathways. This project answers fundamental questions about mammalian reproductive biology but, because we work with the sheep model, our findings can be applied to two of Australia's biggest export industries, wool and sheepmeat. Understanding the reproductive responses of our production animals to exteroceptive factors such as socio-sexual signals, photoperiod and nutrition is an important first step towards refining the management of breeding programs. It has been argued that this approach will also minimise, and perhaps even remove the need for, exogenous hormones and drugs for controlling the reproductive process.Read moreRead less
Establishment of a viable sheep dairy industry in Australia. Australia imports some $10 million/year of sheep dairy products, and has a fledgling sheep milking industry. The industry needs practical management strategies to maximise returns from milk and lambs under Australian conditions. We also need to develop typical Australian sheep dairy products. This project will:
o investigate techniques to select dairy sheep from large unselected flocks
o examine management strategies to maximise ret ....Establishment of a viable sheep dairy industry in Australia. Australia imports some $10 million/year of sheep dairy products, and has a fledgling sheep milking industry. The industry needs practical management strategies to maximise returns from milk and lambs under Australian conditions. We also need to develop typical Australian sheep dairy products. This project will:
o investigate techniques to select dairy sheep from large unselected flocks
o examine management strategies to maximise returns from milk and lambs
o study udder morphology and milk ejection patterns in dairy sheep
o develop specialty sheep milk dairy products and
o determine their acceptance by consumers by conducting market surveys.
Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0775763
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$189,000.00
Summary
High throughput orthogonal mass spectrometer for biotechnology research in WA. The new 'orthogonal' mass spectrometer will be housed at the WA State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre at Murdoch University (SABC). The SABC is a multi-user university centre that provides equal access for researchers from all universities, state government and industry to major facilities. The equipment will provide a competitive advantage to researchers undertaking fundamental and applied projects that underpin ....High throughput orthogonal mass spectrometer for biotechnology research in WA. The new 'orthogonal' mass spectrometer will be housed at the WA State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre at Murdoch University (SABC). The SABC is a multi-user university centre that provides equal access for researchers from all universities, state government and industry to major facilities. The equipment will provide a competitive advantage to researchers undertaking fundamental and applied projects that underpin new developments in plant and animal agriculture. Outcomes include: development of new molecular markers to speed crop improvement and quality, animal genetic improvement and health, and support for new biotechnology companies. This will benefit the community through more productive, competitive and sustainable agriculture.Read moreRead less
Linking evolutionary and molecular biology to safeguard Australian honeybees. Honeybee populations are declining globally but their pollination services are of central importance for food production. This project will study honeybee proteins that influence both fertility and immunity and their effects in vivo. This knowledge is of interest for the bee breeding industry to avoid or combat bee declines in managed Australian bees.
What defines sperm success? The influence of sperm on storage and paternity success in the honeybee Apis mellifera. The honeybee is a species of economic interest and becomes increasingly important for crop pollination, especially in areas where naturally occurring pollinating insects are declining. However, the bee industry struggles to breed sufficient numbers of bees, as climatic changes, parasites and pesticides can kill large numbers of bee hives. Breeding success in honeybees crucially dep ....What defines sperm success? The influence of sperm on storage and paternity success in the honeybee Apis mellifera. The honeybee is a species of economic interest and becomes increasingly important for crop pollination, especially in areas where naturally occurring pollinating insects are declining. However, the bee industry struggles to breed sufficient numbers of bees, as climatic changes, parasites and pesticides can kill large numbers of bee hives. Breeding success in honeybees crucially depends on queens receiving sufficient numbers of viable sperm. The study of honeybee sperm and its possible interactions with the queen can therefore optimize breeding regimes for example by providing ways to estimate male or sperm quality.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE170100093
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$510,000.00
Summary
High-throughput technology targeting antimicrobial resistance in animals. This project aims to establish reference laboratories as biobanks for resistant isolate collections from veterinary diagnostic laboratories / surveillance programmes and a national research network to mitigate antimicrobial resistance in animals. Antimicrobial resistance in zoonotic/foodborne pathogens and livestock commensals is a global issue. This project will use mass-spectroscopy biotypers, information management soft ....High-throughput technology targeting antimicrobial resistance in animals. This project aims to establish reference laboratories as biobanks for resistant isolate collections from veterinary diagnostic laboratories / surveillance programmes and a national research network to mitigate antimicrobial resistance in animals. Antimicrobial resistance in zoonotic/foodborne pathogens and livestock commensals is a global issue. This project will use mass-spectroscopy biotypers, information management software, robotic liquid handling and a research dairy to develop high-throughput screening technologies to rapidly determine major animal species’ resistance status, and research anti-infectives and vaccines for livestock diseases. This will improve the health and production of Australian livestock, leading to greater market access for high quality products.Read moreRead less
Sex, Sperm and Society. Insights into the evolutionary potential of sexual conflict in insects: a fundamental question in evolutionary biology. Social insects are biologically and economically important species. Honeybees or stingless bees are used for crop pollination and honey production and invasive ants or termites are severe pest species causing economic damage. Part of the biological success of social insects is based on the capability to produce colonies with many workers although colonie ....Sex, Sperm and Society. Insights into the evolutionary potential of sexual conflict in insects: a fundamental question in evolutionary biology. Social insects are biologically and economically important species. Honeybees or stingless bees are used for crop pollination and honey production and invasive ants or termites are severe pest species causing economic damage. Part of the biological success of social insects is based on the capability to produce colonies with many workers although colonies typically contain only one or very few reproductives. Consequently, colony success is bound to queen fertility and studying social insect reproduction can therefore optimize breeding regimes of species of interest or offer new possibilities to control pest species. Detailed information on sperm form and function will provide pioneering insights into the complexity of sexual reproduction.Read moreRead less