Methods to infer dense genomic information from sparsely genotyped populations. Prediction of phenotype based on DNA polymorphisms or sequence has important applications such as prediction of disease risk in human medicine and prediction of genetic value in plant or animal breeding. This project will enhance precision and lower the cost of association studies leading to substantial increase in accuracy of such predictions. This will allow more effective genetic improvement, particularly of diff ....Methods to infer dense genomic information from sparsely genotyped populations. Prediction of phenotype based on DNA polymorphisms or sequence has important applications such as prediction of disease risk in human medicine and prediction of genetic value in plant or animal breeding. This project will enhance precision and lower the cost of association studies leading to substantial increase in accuracy of such predictions. This will allow more effective genetic improvement, particularly of difficult but important traits such as disease resistance, reduced green-house gas emissions and product quality. The same methods can be extended to improve genetic improvement in plants and better prediction of human disease risk. Read moreRead less
Innovative approaches to understanding and limiting the public health risks of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in animals in Australian catchments. Sophisticated molecular typing and modelling will be used to determine if chlorine-resistant parasites in animals in catchments are responsible for infection in humans. Improved catchment management and risk mitigation strategies will be developed during this project, which will make a substantial contribution to the provision of safe drinking water acro ....Innovative approaches to understanding and limiting the public health risks of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in animals in Australian catchments. Sophisticated molecular typing and modelling will be used to determine if chlorine-resistant parasites in animals in catchments are responsible for infection in humans. Improved catchment management and risk mitigation strategies will be developed during this project, which will make a substantial contribution to the provision of safe drinking water across Australia.Read moreRead less
Antigenic analysis of the surface of Cyclospora cayetanensis oocysts. Infection with Cyclospora cayetanensis is an emerging disease that causes significant morbidity in human populations. Although prevalent in developing countries, recent outbreaks in the USA confirm it is now emerging into the developed world. The research described here will analyse and characterise the antigens on the surface of the oocyst of C. cayetanensis which will add significantly to our sparse knowledge on this impor ....Antigenic analysis of the surface of Cyclospora cayetanensis oocysts. Infection with Cyclospora cayetanensis is an emerging disease that causes significant morbidity in human populations. Although prevalent in developing countries, recent outbreaks in the USA confirm it is now emerging into the developed world. The research described here will analyse and characterise the antigens on the surface of the oocyst of C. cayetanensis which will add significantly to our sparse knowledge on this important human parasite. We will also develop the first commercial antibodies and technologies which will rapidly and accurately detect the parasite in human patients and our drinking water supplies, thus securing a global market for Australian technology.Read moreRead less
Identifying genes that influence clinical course and susceptibility in multiple sclerosis. This project aims to identify the genetic basis of multiple sclerosis (MS), the most common neurologic disease in young Australian adults. MS urgently needs research to identify predisposition, aid early diagnosis and provide bona fide molecular targets for new therapies. This will benefit people with MS and those susceptible to it. Crucial new knowledge identified will benefit other major areas of MS rese ....Identifying genes that influence clinical course and susceptibility in multiple sclerosis. This project aims to identify the genetic basis of multiple sclerosis (MS), the most common neurologic disease in young Australian adults. MS urgently needs research to identify predisposition, aid early diagnosis and provide bona fide molecular targets for new therapies. This will benefit people with MS and those susceptible to it. Crucial new knowledge identified will benefit other major areas of MS research including epidemiology, immunology and neurobiology. Collaboration of 8 major Australian institutions is also important for this project and future studies. The team will have access to a new national MS GeneBank (platform) with samples from 2240 patients that should generate findings important to world-wide MS genetic knowledge.Read moreRead less
Reduction of Legionnaires' Disease from Cooling Towers. Inhaled water droplets containing Legionella bacteria can cause potentially fatal Legionnaires? disease. Algae are the main source of organic matter in cooling towers on which Legionella feed. If droplets are prevented from leaving the tower they cannot cause disease. If no light enters a cooling tower no algae grow. This project aims to identify and develop designs and measurement methods for cooling towers which give low levels of drople ....Reduction of Legionnaires' Disease from Cooling Towers. Inhaled water droplets containing Legionella bacteria can cause potentially fatal Legionnaires? disease. Algae are the main source of organic matter in cooling towers on which Legionella feed. If droplets are prevented from leaving the tower they cannot cause disease. If no light enters a cooling tower no algae grow. This project aims to identify and develop designs and measurement methods for cooling towers which give low levels of droplets leaving and light entering. The new designs will reduce Legionnaires? disease infections by hundreds of times which eliminates a major urban hazard in Australia.Read moreRead less
Troublesome ticks: a new molecular toolkit to investigate zoonotic tick-borne pathogens in Australia. This project will use the latest molecular diagnostic techniques to address unanswered questions about potential tick-transmitted diseases of humans and companion animals in Australia. The study will identify 'hot-spots' for tick-borne pathogens, identify areas of potential risk for humans, and investigate vector-host-pathogen interactions nationwide.
Ecology and transmission of tick-borne disease in Australia. Ecology and transmission of tick-borne disease in Australia. This project aims to determine the bacterial, protozoal and viral biodiversity in wildlife ticks and their native mammal hosts, and provide new information about the biology and transmission dynamics of these microorganisms and their potential to cause disease in wildlife, domesticated animals and humans. Anticipated outcomes are improved diagnostic tests and management proto ....Ecology and transmission of tick-borne disease in Australia. Ecology and transmission of tick-borne disease in Australia. This project aims to determine the bacterial, protozoal and viral biodiversity in wildlife ticks and their native mammal hosts, and provide new information about the biology and transmission dynamics of these microorganisms and their potential to cause disease in wildlife, domesticated animals and humans. Anticipated outcomes are improved diagnostic tests and management protocols for tick-borne disease in Australia.Read moreRead less
Resolving the Genetics of Grain Pigmentation Traits in Rice . New critical knowledge will enable future breeding of quality black rice cultivars that can exploit the high UV Australian growing environment to enable domestic production of high-value, healthy black rice. The demand for functional foods with health benefits, including black rice, is increasing both domestically and internationally. The concentration of key functional compounds in black rice may be increased by growing optimised cul ....Resolving the Genetics of Grain Pigmentation Traits in Rice . New critical knowledge will enable future breeding of quality black rice cultivars that can exploit the high UV Australian growing environment to enable domestic production of high-value, healthy black rice. The demand for functional foods with health benefits, including black rice, is increasing both domestically and internationally. The concentration of key functional compounds in black rice may be increased by growing optimised cultivars under high-UV radiation, making Australia well placed to produce the highest quality black rice. Utilising a unique genetic resource this project will resolve how the interaction between crop genetics and the growing environment drives the concentration of functional compounds in black rice. Read moreRead less
Molecular Ecology of Cryptosporidium in Rural and Urban NSW. Cryptosporidiosis is of particular concern in rural NSW. Significant increases in the incidence of cryptosporidiosis coupled with repeated outbreaks in regional areas demonstrate a need for improved management strategies. This project will identify transmission patterns of this disease relevant to the Australian environment, which is essential for future control. The reduction of economic costs for medical treatment of cryptosporidiosi ....Molecular Ecology of Cryptosporidium in Rural and Urban NSW. Cryptosporidiosis is of particular concern in rural NSW. Significant increases in the incidence of cryptosporidiosis coupled with repeated outbreaks in regional areas demonstrate a need for improved management strategies. This project will identify transmission patterns of this disease relevant to the Australian environment, which is essential for future control. The reduction of economic costs for medical treatment of cryptosporidiosis and improved on-farm management through control of Cryptosporidium transmission from farm animals are significant to public health and of national and community benefit. The primary national benefit will be improved rural community health through prevention of cryptosporidiosis outbreaks.Read moreRead less
Chemo-prevention of tropical canine parasitoses and vector-borne diseases. This project will determine the prevalence and diversity of established, emerging and novel canine vector-borne agents and endoparasites in a tropical setting by using conventional and next generation molecular diagnostic tools. It will fill an important gap by providing independently-verified evidence on how well canine anti-parasitic products marketed in Australia and Asia by Bayer Animal Health, perform in high-infecti ....Chemo-prevention of tropical canine parasitoses and vector-borne diseases. This project will determine the prevalence and diversity of established, emerging and novel canine vector-borne agents and endoparasites in a tropical setting by using conventional and next generation molecular diagnostic tools. It will fill an important gap by providing independently-verified evidence on how well canine anti-parasitic products marketed in Australia and Asia by Bayer Animal Health, perform in high-infection pressure settings, as a chemo-preventative for these disease agents. Tropical regions spanning northern Australia and Southern Asia are highly conducive to a plethora of canine vector-borne and parasitic pathogens that cause significant morbidity and mortality in dogs. Many of these agents also pose a risk to public health. The outcomes will be directly translated to best-practice guidelines for the advancement of companion animal (and indirectly human) health and welfare.Read moreRead less