The development and evaluation of a new therapy for the prevention and treatment of bacterial infections in hospitals. The technology used in this project will enable products to be developed from the Australian dairy industry which may safely provide protection and treatment for diarrhoea acquired in hospitals for which there are few effective options. The product will be cost effective and can be used as a public health tool to control outbreaks in those most susceptible to severe disease.
Molecular characterisation of hypervirulence and the infectious cycle in Clostridium difficile. Gut diseases caused by the bacterium Clostridium difficile are a significant animal and public health problem in Australia and many other countries. This project will allow us to understand how this bacterium causes disease, leading to the development of much needed preventative and treatment strategies for animals and human patients.
Designing effective Gram negative bacterial vaccines. There is a need for the development of novel vaccines for use in animals and humans. This project will to address this need by studying the functions of bacterial 'blebs' as potent inducers of the host immune system and by developing these nano-sized particles for use as safe and cost-effective vaccine candidates.
Targeted isolation of specific marine bacterial species associated with higher organsims for the purpose of discovering new antimicrobial compounds. Specific bacterial species that are commonly found in association with marine plants and animals often produce active secondary metabolites. The aim of this project is to apply our understanding of these bacterial-host associations to the targeted isolation of novel antimicrobials from the marine environment. While these new compounds will undoubted ....Targeted isolation of specific marine bacterial species associated with higher organsims for the purpose of discovering new antimicrobial compounds. Specific bacterial species that are commonly found in association with marine plants and animals often produce active secondary metabolites. The aim of this project is to apply our understanding of these bacterial-host associations to the targeted isolation of novel antimicrobials from the marine environment. While these new compounds will undoubtedly have a number of commercial applications this project focuses on the development of products for dental hygiene in animals. Generally, the urgent need for new antimicrobial compounds to combat the growing number of microbes that are resistant to current antibiotics highlights the importance of this project.Read moreRead less
Vaccination of poultry infected with multiple Salmonella serovars. Salmonella is a zoonotic, foodborne pathogen found on eggs and poultry meat. It is the second largest cause of human gastrointestinal disease, thus, reduction of Salmonella on poultry farms is paramount to public health. This project aims to evaluate the long-term efficacy of a commercial Salmonella Typhimurium vaccine against multiple serotypes, including the emerging Salmonella Enteritidis. This project will generate new knowle ....Vaccination of poultry infected with multiple Salmonella serovars. Salmonella is a zoonotic, foodborne pathogen found on eggs and poultry meat. It is the second largest cause of human gastrointestinal disease, thus, reduction of Salmonella on poultry farms is paramount to public health. This project aims to evaluate the long-term efficacy of a commercial Salmonella Typhimurium vaccine against multiple serotypes, including the emerging Salmonella Enteritidis. This project will generate new knowledge in avian immunology using an innovative approach to evaluate the host response to multi-serovar infection. Outcomes of this project will future proof the Australian poultry industry against exotic Salmonella serotypes benefitting the industry by significantly reducing risks of future outbreaks and economic loss.Read moreRead less
How auto-transporter proteins mediate bacterial interactions. This project aims to investigate the structure-function relationships that underpin key auto-transporter roles in bacterial cell adhesion, aggregation and biofilm formation. Auto-transporter proteins are extremely common in bacteria where they play a central role in controlling bacterial interactions with other bacteria, with human cells, and with surfaces. This project will define the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes. ....How auto-transporter proteins mediate bacterial interactions. This project aims to investigate the structure-function relationships that underpin key auto-transporter roles in bacterial cell adhesion, aggregation and biofilm formation. Auto-transporter proteins are extremely common in bacteria where they play a central role in controlling bacterial interactions with other bacteria, with human cells, and with surfaces. This project will define the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes. This will have significant benefits, such as providing the basis for the development of approaches to block auto-transporter functions that contribute to the establishment of persistent and difficult to treat bacterial infections.Read moreRead less
Transport and innate immune properties of DNA in bacterial nano-sized vesicles. All types of living organisms release nano-sized membrane vesicles or “blebs” which they use for intercellular communication and transport of molecules. This project will determine how bacteria package DNA within these vesicles, how this DNA is transported into host cells and how it triggers immune responses in these cells.
The host specificity of bacterial pathogens. The vast majority of microorganisms that cause diseases in animals are host specific. In other words, they cause disease exclusively in a particular animal species, but are harmless for others. Despite considerable recent advances in our understanding of the mechanisms used by microorganisms in general to cause disease, in most cases the underlying basis of host-specificity is not known. In this project, we will use two animal pathogens, rabbit-spe ....The host specificity of bacterial pathogens. The vast majority of microorganisms that cause diseases in animals are host specific. In other words, they cause disease exclusively in a particular animal species, but are harmless for others. Despite considerable recent advances in our understanding of the mechanisms used by microorganisms in general to cause disease, in most cases the underlying basis of host-specificity is not known. In this project, we will use two animal pathogens, rabbit-specific enteropathogenic E. coli and the closely related bacterium, Citrobacter rodentium, which specifically infect rabbits and mice respectively, to investigate the molecular basis of host specificity.Read moreRead less
A link between antibiotic resistance and bacterial sporulation. This project aims to define the sporulation process in the bacterium Clostridium difficile, and advance our understanding of a link between antibiotic use and sporulation. To survive in hostile environments, some bacteria produce a dormant and resilient cell form called a spore which can survive for many years in unfavourable environments, but our understanding of how this process occurs is limited. This project will provide a deepe ....A link between antibiotic resistance and bacterial sporulation. This project aims to define the sporulation process in the bacterium Clostridium difficile, and advance our understanding of a link between antibiotic use and sporulation. To survive in hostile environments, some bacteria produce a dormant and resilient cell form called a spore which can survive for many years in unfavourable environments, but our understanding of how this process occurs is limited. This project will provide a deeper understanding of the sporulation process and the long-lasting detrimental impact of antibiotic use. The project expects to provide economic benefits, reduce environmental microbial contamination and contribute to better health of animals and humans.Read moreRead less
Biology and evolution of intracellular parasitism. This project will investigate the development of intracellular parasitism in environmental amoebae. The outcomes of this work will help to understand the mechanisms by which bacteria have evolved to survive inside cells and in some cases cause disease.