Excitatory neuropeptides from nematode parasites of sheep. Internal parasites cause major disease and economic loss in Australian agricultural industries. Control, usually achieved with drugs, is now compromised by drug resistance and new remedies are required. Results of recent DNA sequencing projects have allowed us to predict the presence of neuropeptides in the worms of sheep. The aim of this project is to elucidate the steps in the action of these peptides, in particular, those that cause m ....Excitatory neuropeptides from nematode parasites of sheep. Internal parasites cause major disease and economic loss in Australian agricultural industries. Control, usually achieved with drugs, is now compromised by drug resistance and new remedies are required. Results of recent DNA sequencing projects have allowed us to predict the presence of neuropeptides in the worms of sheep. The aim of this project is to elucidate the steps in the action of these peptides, in particular, those that cause muscle contraction. By understanding the action of these peptides we hope to identify targets against which new drugs for parasite control can be developed.Read moreRead less
Evaluating host-parasite interplay in individual tissues. The immune system of the host and the infecting parasite has coevolved into a sophisticated balance of power. This project will explore this balance using Schistosoma japonicum infection in sheep and determine immune mechanisms unleashed by the host in various tissues as well as the response of the parasite to these attacks.
Development of a topical treatment to replace surgical mulesing in sheep. 10,800 farms in Australia are sheep farms and a further 30,000 have sheep. Exports of wool earn over $2 billion annually. The animal rights campaign to ban mulesing has forced the industry to outlaw mulesing by 2010. Mulesing is largely confined to Australian Merino sheep and requires Australian research. If practical alternatives are not found costs will rise compromising the economic viability of many sheep farms. C ....Development of a topical treatment to replace surgical mulesing in sheep. 10,800 farms in Australia are sheep farms and a further 30,000 have sheep. Exports of wool earn over $2 billion annually. The animal rights campaign to ban mulesing has forced the industry to outlaw mulesing by 2010. Mulesing is largely confined to Australian Merino sheep and requires Australian research. If practical alternatives are not found costs will rise compromising the economic viability of many sheep farms. Chemical use on the breech will increase causing environmental contamination. A simple topical alternative to mulesing will allow farmers to economically manage flies and satisfy welfare imperatives. This will support rural communities and sustain Australia's export income from wool.Read moreRead less
Determining the impact of protozoan pathogens and strongyle worms on prime lamb production. This research will benefit wool and prime lamb industries nation-wide as sheep scouring is prevalent in high-rainfall areas across Australia. Data generated from the project will be used to educate farmers and reduce the financial burden of sheep scouring. This project will also enhance Australia's reputation in the disease management sector and will result in reduced risk to public health due to a better ....Determining the impact of protozoan pathogens and strongyle worms on prime lamb production. This research will benefit wool and prime lamb industries nation-wide as sheep scouring is prevalent in high-rainfall areas across Australia. Data generated from the project will be used to educate farmers and reduce the financial burden of sheep scouring. This project will also enhance Australia's reputation in the disease management sector and will result in reduced risk to public health due to a better understanding and management of zoonotic parasite and microbacterial contamination of carcasses and water catchments.Read moreRead less
Epigenetic Regulation of Fetal and Placental Development. Perturbations of the environment of the early embryo can alter fetal and placental growth. The mechanisms by which the early environment alters development of the fetal adrenal-placental axis are unknown. This axis coordinates fetal growth and development to ensure a successful transition from intra- to extrauterine life. We propose a novel role for the epigenetic regulation of imprinted genes in the activation of the fetal adrenal and in ....Epigenetic Regulation of Fetal and Placental Development. Perturbations of the environment of the early embryo can alter fetal and placental growth. The mechanisms by which the early environment alters development of the fetal adrenal-placental axis are unknown. This axis coordinates fetal growth and development to ensure a successful transition from intra- to extrauterine life. We propose a novel role for the epigenetic regulation of imprinted genes in the activation of the fetal adrenal and in placental growth and differentiation. This proposal extends the 'genetic conflict' hypothesis of the role of imprinted genes beyond its current focus on the regulation of fetal nutrient supply and demand.Read moreRead less
Avoiding the immune response: lessons from 'simple' bacteria. Some of the most important bacterial diseases of domestic animals are caused by mycoplasmas. Improved control of these diseases would significantly improve agricultural productivity by reducing losses associated with reduced feed conversion efficiency and increased susceptibility to other diseases, as well as improve animal welfare and public health, by reducing the need for antibiotic therapy to control these diseases in food produci ....Avoiding the immune response: lessons from 'simple' bacteria. Some of the most important bacterial diseases of domestic animals are caused by mycoplasmas. Improved control of these diseases would significantly improve agricultural productivity by reducing losses associated with reduced feed conversion efficiency and increased susceptibility to other diseases, as well as improve animal welfare and public health, by reducing the need for antibiotic therapy to control these diseases in food producing animals.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170101132
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,000.00
Summary
How social relationships improve sheep productivity. This project aims to determine how the social network structure of a flock and different individuals’ experience and leadership abilities improve a population’s well-being and productivity (wool clip and lambing rates). This project will use social network theory and collective behaviour in animals to manage sheep in Australia’s arid rangelands, which are important for the pastoral industry, but where ecological challenges reduce livestock pro ....How social relationships improve sheep productivity. This project aims to determine how the social network structure of a flock and different individuals’ experience and leadership abilities improve a population’s well-being and productivity (wool clip and lambing rates). This project will use social network theory and collective behaviour in animals to manage sheep in Australia’s arid rangelands, which are important for the pastoral industry, but where ecological challenges reduce livestock productivity. An expected outcome is management guidelines for the sheep industry to improve wool and meat production.Read moreRead less
Use of CT Scanned Data in automation of Carcass Processing. Meat production is important to the Australian economy. The industry is threatened by inability to obtain sufficient labor for meat processing. Automation represents a potential solution, but brings challenges. Piecemeal automation has produced haphazard interspersing of automated and manual workstations. In meat processing automation, the greatest benefits are obtained when the process is integrated and data is passed down the process ....Use of CT Scanned Data in automation of Carcass Processing. Meat production is important to the Australian economy. The industry is threatened by inability to obtain sufficient labor for meat processing. Automation represents a potential solution, but brings challenges. Piecemeal automation has produced haphazard interspersing of automated and manual workstations. In meat processing automation, the greatest benefits are obtained when the process is integrated and data is passed down the process line. The outcomes of this project, a practically deployable robotic system, enabling methodologies and a common database, represent a big step towards integrated meat processing and bring enormous economic and health benefits to Australian community.Read moreRead less
Development of a proto-type vaccine against gastrointestinal nematode larvae. Gastrointestinal parasites are the major cause of production losses in the Australian sheep and wool industries. Drug treatment is predominantly used to control infections but drug resistance has reached critical levels and is threatening the viability of sheep production in many rural areas. In collaboration with an international Animal Health company, we aim to develop vaccines against these parasites and provide a c ....Development of a proto-type vaccine against gastrointestinal nematode larvae. Gastrointestinal parasites are the major cause of production losses in the Australian sheep and wool industries. Drug treatment is predominantly used to control infections but drug resistance has reached critical levels and is threatening the viability of sheep production in many rural areas. In collaboration with an international Animal Health company, we aim to develop vaccines against these parasites and provide a clean, non-toxic alternative to drug treatment. The groundbreaking research involved in this project will also keep Australian animal scientists at the forefront of vaccine research and increase their capacity to attract further support from Industry.Read moreRead less
Brain temperature regulation in mammals: mechanisms and consequences. Mammals detect increases in body temperature predominantly in the brain. Counterintuitively many mammals selectively cool the brain during heat stress, which appears to defeat the mechanism for inducing cooling responses. We intend to investigate this apparent anomaly which we believe is concerned with optimizing water use in hot conditions. We will further investigate the source of water for evaporative cooling by panting and ....Brain temperature regulation in mammals: mechanisms and consequences. Mammals detect increases in body temperature predominantly in the brain. Counterintuitively many mammals selectively cool the brain during heat stress, which appears to defeat the mechanism for inducing cooling responses. We intend to investigate this apparent anomaly which we believe is concerned with optimizing water use in hot conditions. We will further investigate the source of water for evaporative cooling by panting and discover if there has been convergent evolution in thermoregulatory strategies in the eutherian and marsupial lineages. The data we collect will be used to support a new model for thermoregulation in mammals.
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