Liver fluke: improving disease control through understanding of parasite diversity, drug resistance and better diagnosis. The benefits from this research include: (i) development of knowledge that will allow a better use of existing drug formulations to protect livestock from fasciolosis, potentially generating economic benefits to Australian producers of up to $50-80m/year; (ii) improved application of new commercial therapies for fasciolosis in ruminants, improving producer prosperity; (iii) ....Liver fluke: improving disease control through understanding of parasite diversity, drug resistance and better diagnosis. The benefits from this research include: (i) development of knowledge that will allow a better use of existing drug formulations to protect livestock from fasciolosis, potentially generating economic benefits to Australian producers of up to $50-80m/year; (ii) improved application of new commercial therapies for fasciolosis in ruminants, improving producer prosperity; (iii) enhanced training opportunities for graduate students that will build human capacity in technologies such as molecular diagnostics which have a wide application across the animal sectors; (iv) enhancement of our capacity to respond to unexpected future threats in production animals.Read moreRead less
Equine rhinitis A virus; molecular pathogenesis and methods for control. The horse industry in Australia is primarily based in rural locations and is a major contributor to the national economy both in terms of direct economic contribution to gross domestic product and as a major employer of people in regional Australia. The research proposed in this project will improve our understanding of the pathogenesis of a virus that causes respiratory disease in horses that is related to the virus that c ....Equine rhinitis A virus; molecular pathogenesis and methods for control. The horse industry in Australia is primarily based in rural locations and is a major contributor to the national economy both in terms of direct economic contribution to gross domestic product and as a major employer of people in regional Australia. The research proposed in this project will improve our understanding of the pathogenesis of a virus that causes respiratory disease in horses that is related to the virus that causes foot and mouth disease in ruminants and swine. The technology developed during this project would have a global market.Read moreRead less
The molecular basis for oocyst and cyst wall formation in apicomplexan parasites. Apicomplexan parasites such as Eimeria, Neospora, Toxoplasma and Plasmodium are single celled organisms - protozoa - that cause some of the most serious infectious diseases of livestock and humans ever known. Transmission of these parasites is dependent on their ability to encase themselves in protective structures known as oocyst or cyst walls. These walls are resistant to harsh environmental conditions, chemicals ....The molecular basis for oocyst and cyst wall formation in apicomplexan parasites. Apicomplexan parasites such as Eimeria, Neospora, Toxoplasma and Plasmodium are single celled organisms - protozoa - that cause some of the most serious infectious diseases of livestock and humans ever known. Transmission of these parasites is dependent on their ability to encase themselves in protective structures known as oocyst or cyst walls. These walls are resistant to harsh environmental conditions, chemicals and attack by the immune system. We will discover and characterise the molecular basis for cyst wall formation. This fundamental knowledge will be the building block for new, highly specific drugs and vaccines to control these extremely important pathogens.Read moreRead less