Understanding the mechanism of Wolbachia-mediated antiviral protection. Insects are involved in the transmission of many viral diseases of both plants and animals. A considerable number of these diseases have adverse effects for public health or cause large economic losses in agriculture. We were the first to discover that a common bacteria protects insects from virus infection. Knowledge of the mechanisms used by the bacteria to interfere with virus accumulation will facilitate novel strategies ....Understanding the mechanism of Wolbachia-mediated antiviral protection. Insects are involved in the transmission of many viral diseases of both plants and animals. A considerable number of these diseases have adverse effects for public health or cause large economic losses in agriculture. We were the first to discover that a common bacteria protects insects from virus infection. Knowledge of the mechanisms used by the bacteria to interfere with virus accumulation will facilitate novel strategies for control of virus disease. The findings of this project will enable Australian researchers and industry to design innovative approaches to control diseases that are transmitted by insects.Read moreRead less
Revealing the evolutionary and ecological dynamics of avian influenza virus. This project aims to understand how avian influenza virus (AIV) emerges, evolves and spreads in wild birds. AIV has the potential to devastate the poultry industry and cause human pandemics, but the factors that shape the genetic diversity of AIV in its wild bird reservoir are poorly understood. The project plans to combine genomic, ecological and phylogenetic approaches to reveal key aspects of AIV evolution, as well a ....Revealing the evolutionary and ecological dynamics of avian influenza virus. This project aims to understand how avian influenza virus (AIV) emerges, evolves and spreads in wild birds. AIV has the potential to devastate the poultry industry and cause human pandemics, but the factors that shape the genetic diversity of AIV in its wild bird reservoir are poorly understood. The project plans to combine genomic, ecological and phylogenetic approaches to reveal key aspects of AIV evolution, as well as the risk for future viral emergence. Using sampling sites in Australia and Antarctica, it plans to investigate AIV diversity, the evolutionary dynamics of AIV in wild birds and poultry, and the role played by environmental transmission in AIV ecology.Read moreRead less
The biology of arbovirus virulence and fitness in arthropod and vertebrate hosts in vivo. In Australia, Ross River virus (RRV) represents significant concern to human health. Between 1992-2005 more than 50,000 notifications of RRV infection have been reported. While not fatal, the disease is responsible for morbidity in the community/individual that can have both social and economic costs. The project has several national benefits. It will help elucidate whether there is any association between ....The biology of arbovirus virulence and fitness in arthropod and vertebrate hosts in vivo. In Australia, Ross River virus (RRV) represents significant concern to human health. Between 1992-2005 more than 50,000 notifications of RRV infection have been reported. While not fatal, the disease is responsible for morbidity in the community/individual that can have both social and economic costs. The project has several national benefits. It will help elucidate whether there is any association between RRV strain and increased risk of RRV transmission and/or occurrence of more severe cases of human disease. It will help develop technologies that can lead towards the identification of viral markers, which could provide new avenues in the design of novel antiviral strategies.
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Antarctic virus-host interactions. This project aims to determine how hosts and viruses interact in the natural environment and during alien invasions. Viruses are important in Antarctic aquatic systems, but foreign viruses introduced into Antarctica threaten indigenous species. Despite this awareness, big gaps exist in understanding how viruses interact with their hosts and how Antarctic communities respond to invasion. This knowledge is expected to reveal how life in Antarctica evolved, and pr ....Antarctic virus-host interactions. This project aims to determine how hosts and viruses interact in the natural environment and during alien invasions. Viruses are important in Antarctic aquatic systems, but foreign viruses introduced into Antarctica threaten indigenous species. Despite this awareness, big gaps exist in understanding how viruses interact with their hosts and how Antarctic communities respond to invasion. This knowledge is expected to reveal how life in Antarctica evolved, and provide information useful for developing policy to manage the Antarctic environment with scope for collaborations between industry and researchers to find practical solutions for biotechnology industries.Read moreRead less