The molecular pathogenesis of Equine rhinitis A virus, a major respiratory pathogen of horses. The equine industry in Australia is worth $15 billion a year. Equine respiratory disease costs Victoria, alone, $5-10 million per year. Equine rhinitis A virus is a major cause of acute febrile respiratory disease in horses. This project aims to develop an infectious clone to study the pathogenesis of the disease, and subunit antigens for use as vaccines. These reagents will increase our understand ....The molecular pathogenesis of Equine rhinitis A virus, a major respiratory pathogen of horses. The equine industry in Australia is worth $15 billion a year. Equine respiratory disease costs Victoria, alone, $5-10 million per year. Equine rhinitis A virus is a major cause of acute febrile respiratory disease in horses. This project aims to develop an infectious clone to study the pathogenesis of the disease, and subunit antigens for use as vaccines. These reagents will increase our understanding of the pathogenesis of ERAV and will lead to experimental vaccines which will be tested in horses.Read moreRead less
A comprehensive analysis of the outer membrane, surface exposed and secreted proteome of Pasteurella multocida. Pasteurella multocida is the causative agent of a range of animal diseases. The molecular mechanisms of P. multocida pathogenesis are poorly understood and the current vaccines generally ineffective. We will identify all P. multocida outer membrane, surface exposed and secreted proteins expressed during natural infection, or under conditions which mimic natural infection, by a global p ....A comprehensive analysis of the outer membrane, surface exposed and secreted proteome of Pasteurella multocida. Pasteurella multocida is the causative agent of a range of animal diseases. The molecular mechanisms of P. multocida pathogenesis are poorly understood and the current vaccines generally ineffective. We will identify all P. multocida outer membrane, surface exposed and secreted proteins expressed during natural infection, or under conditions which mimic natural infection, by a global proteomics approach. We believe that secreted proteins and those found on the outer surface of the bacterial cell are likely to be crucial virulence determinants. The expected outcomes are the identification of a number of candidate vaccine antigens and an enhanced understanding of Pasteurella pathogenesis.Read moreRead less
Functional genomics of large clostridial plasmids. The aims of this genomics project are to determine how large DNA elements called plasmids are able to be transferred between different strains of a bacterium that causes disease in domestic livestock. These plasmids carry genes that encode the potent protein toxins that are responsible for several diseases. To understand how these diseases are spread we must learn how the plasmids have evolved and whether they can move from bacterium to bacteriu ....Functional genomics of large clostridial plasmids. The aims of this genomics project are to determine how large DNA elements called plasmids are able to be transferred between different strains of a bacterium that causes disease in domestic livestock. These plasmids carry genes that encode the potent protein toxins that are responsible for several diseases. To understand how these diseases are spread we must learn how the plasmids have evolved and whether they can move from bacterium to bacterium. The successful completion of the project will result in a detailed understanding of genetic elements that are important mediators of several diseases of importance to Australian primary industry.Read moreRead less
Pathogenesis, regulation and genomics of the ovine footrot pathogen, Dichelobacter nodosus. Footrot is one of the most economically significant diseases of sheep in Australia. The aim of this project is to develop a detailed understanding of how the bacterium that causes this infection is able to infect the sheep hoof and result in clinical disease. The complete sequence of the genome of the causative bacterium will be determined, enabling us to deduce its genetic potential. The completed projec ....Pathogenesis, regulation and genomics of the ovine footrot pathogen, Dichelobacter nodosus. Footrot is one of the most economically significant diseases of sheep in Australia. The aim of this project is to develop a detailed understanding of how the bacterium that causes this infection is able to infect the sheep hoof and result in clinical disease. The complete sequence of the genome of the causative bacterium will be determined, enabling us to deduce its genetic potential. The completed project will significantly advance fundamental knowledge of the disease process and will lead to the development of improved methods for the control of the disease, with concomitant cost savings to Australian primary industry.Read moreRead less
Proteomics and vaccine development in swine dysentery. Swine dysentery is an infectious disease of significant economic importance caused by Brachyspira hyodysenteriae. There is no effective vaccine available. This project will combine modern techniques in microbial genomics and proteomics to identify outer membrane proteins of B. hyodysenteriae and evaluate their role as candidate vaccine antigens.
Arsenite oxidation by a novel bacterium that is a candidate for arsenic bioremediation. The arsenic munching microbe NT-26 could help in the fight to clean up arsenic-contaminated mining waste and drinking water. Arsenic poses an environmental problem in countries such as Australia, USA and Canada owing primarily to mining activities. The problem in countries such as Bangladesh and West Bengal are even more serious as these people are dying of arsenic-related diseases as they rely on water conta ....Arsenite oxidation by a novel bacterium that is a candidate for arsenic bioremediation. The arsenic munching microbe NT-26 could help in the fight to clean up arsenic-contaminated mining waste and drinking water. Arsenic poses an environmental problem in countries such as Australia, USA and Canada owing primarily to mining activities. The problem in countries such as Bangladesh and West Bengal are even more serious as these people are dying of arsenic-related diseases as they rely on water containing arsenic as their primary source of drinking water. The outcomes of this research should provide the necessary information for removing arsenic from all types of waters.Read moreRead less
Subspecies distribution and virulence of Streptococcus uberis. Streptococcus uberis is a significant cause of bovine mastitis. Attempts to produce a successful vaccine against S. uberis have been hampered by the lack of knowledge of phylogenetic relationships within the species and virulence mechanisms. It is uncertain whether pathogenic strains are clonal or are acquired opportunistically from a diverse population in the environment. This project aims to examine the phylogenetic structure of ....Subspecies distribution and virulence of Streptococcus uberis. Streptococcus uberis is a significant cause of bovine mastitis. Attempts to produce a successful vaccine against S. uberis have been hampered by the lack of knowledge of phylogenetic relationships within the species and virulence mechanisms. It is uncertain whether pathogenic strains are clonal or are acquired opportunistically from a diverse population in the environment. This project aims to examine the phylogenetic structure of S. uberis by multilocus sequence typing and investigate control of virulence gene expression in S. uberis. The information obtained will be used to improve the formulation of a bovine mastitis vaccine developed by RMIT University and Vet Biosearch.Read moreRead less
Evaluation of the potential of colostrum-derived anti-influenza antibody for the treatment and prevention of influenza. The project addresses a common disease problem, influenza, with a novel application of antibody technology. The technology may safely provide protection and cost effective treatment for those members of the community who are least protected by current approaches. The product can be cost-effective and readily available to enable the public to self medicate in high risk situation ....Evaluation of the potential of colostrum-derived anti-influenza antibody for the treatment and prevention of influenza. The project addresses a common disease problem, influenza, with a novel application of antibody technology. The technology may safely provide protection and cost effective treatment for those members of the community who are least protected by current approaches. The product can be cost-effective and readily available to enable the public to self medicate in high risk situations, or to be used as a public health tool in situtions to control outbreaks in those most susceptible to serious disease. The production system that enabled the creation of the technology is the advanced Australian dairy industry. Farmers with herds participating will receive a significant income benefit from, what was before, largely a waste product.Read moreRead less
ARC Centre of Excellence - Structural and Functional Microbial Genomics. The research falls under the National Research Priority Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries, with the priority goal of frontier technologies. The research has commercial applications, such as the development of novel antimicrobials and vaccines, with potentially enormous impact in the biotechnology area of biomedical health and the primary industries. In addition, the project will use ....ARC Centre of Excellence - Structural and Functional Microbial Genomics. The research falls under the National Research Priority Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries, with the priority goal of frontier technologies. The research has commercial applications, such as the development of novel antimicrobials and vaccines, with potentially enormous impact in the biotechnology area of biomedical health and the primary industries. In addition, the project will use state-of-the-art technology, including use of synchrotron radiation at the Monash-based Australian Synchrotron facility from 2007.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354619
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
Australian Microbial Genomics Research Network. The Australian Microbial Genomics Research Network aims to bring together Australian scientists with complementary expertise in microbial genomics within two ARC Centres, a Ramaciotti Centre and four institutions across three states. This initiative will involve the strategy and planning of the proposed Network.