Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989564
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$150,000.00
Summary
State-of-the-art facility for human and animal virus research in the Canberra and surrounding regions. New viral diseases continue to emerge and old viruses re-emerge to pose a threat to human and animal health. To combat these, we propose a dedicated viral disease research facility. The centre will include experienced researchers, biotechnology companies and government agencies working on discovery, prevention and treatment of viral diseases. Forging strong scientific links between these organi ....State-of-the-art facility for human and animal virus research in the Canberra and surrounding regions. New viral diseases continue to emerge and old viruses re-emerge to pose a threat to human and animal health. To combat these, we propose a dedicated viral disease research facility. The centre will include experienced researchers, biotechnology companies and government agencies working on discovery, prevention and treatment of viral diseases. Forging strong scientific links between these organisations will considerably enhance the productivity of these researchers, increase their collaborative and scientific outputs and allow for training of students in the latest technologies. The facility will provide researchers with cutting-edge instrumentation for nationally and internationally important projects that would benefit human health.Read moreRead less
Maintaining fidelity in viral Ribonucleic acid (RNA) polymerases. This project will provide informed insights into the dynamics of viruses that currently impact a healthy start to life, ageing well and productively, and preventative healthcare. The analysis of viruses that cause gastroenteritis outbreaks will increase our understanding of how these viruses replicate and spread.
Biocontrol of foaming in activated sludge plants with bacteriophages. Activated sludge systems are the most widely used processes for treating wastewater in Australia. Yet most eventually suffer from episodes of bulking and foaming, where high levels of biosolids leave the plant with the treated waste, representing serious pollution hazards. Attempts to solve these problems have met with limited success.The highly novel biocontrol method proposed here will provide a specific, environmentally fri ....Biocontrol of foaming in activated sludge plants with bacteriophages. Activated sludge systems are the most widely used processes for treating wastewater in Australia. Yet most eventually suffer from episodes of bulking and foaming, where high levels of biosolids leave the plant with the treated waste, representing serious pollution hazards. Attempts to solve these problems have met with limited success.The highly novel biocontrol method proposed here will provide a specific, environmentally friendly and safe method to protect our rivers, streams and oceans form the harmful consequences of these problemsRead moreRead less
Ross River virus - identification of virulence determinants in clinical isolates from across Australia. In Australia, Ross River virus (RRV) is the most common insect borne virus that affects human health. There were more than 60,000 confirmed cases of RRV between 1993 and 2008. While not fatal, the disease is responsible for significant morbidity that has both social and economic costs for the individual, their family and the community. The project has several national benefits. It will elucida ....Ross River virus - identification of virulence determinants in clinical isolates from across Australia. In Australia, Ross River virus (RRV) is the most common insect borne virus that affects human health. There were more than 60,000 confirmed cases of RRV between 1993 and 2008. While not fatal, the disease is responsible for significant morbidity that has both social and economic costs for the individual, their family and the community. The project has several national benefits. It will elucidate whether there is any association between RRV strain and the severity of human disease. It will also identify viral markers that could assist public health officials in determining likely disease outcomes of outbreaks and could provide new avenues for the design of antiviral strategies.Read moreRead less
Mosquito-borne viruses - how they cause disease and novel approaches to prevention. In Australia, Ross River virus (RRV) is the most common insect borne virus that affects human health. There were more than 60,000 confirmed cases of RRV between 1993 and 2008. While not fatal, the disease is responsible for significant morbidity that has both social and economic costs for the individual, their family and the community. This project has several national benefits. It will elucidate whether there is ....Mosquito-borne viruses - how they cause disease and novel approaches to prevention. In Australia, Ross River virus (RRV) is the most common insect borne virus that affects human health. There were more than 60,000 confirmed cases of RRV between 1993 and 2008. While not fatal, the disease is responsible for significant morbidity that has both social and economic costs for the individual, their family and the community. This project has several national benefits. It will elucidate whether there is an association between RRV strain and the severity of disease and if there are human factors that affect the seriousness of symptoms. Knowledge of both of these could provide new avenues for the design of prevention and treatment strategies.Read moreRead less
Bio-engineering Insect-Specific Flaviviruses for control of arboviruses. This project aims to study a family of commensal viruses of mosquitoes called insect-specific flaviviruses that are naturally found in mosquitoes and do not infect or cause disease in vertebrate hosts. Using an innovative approach, this project employs cutting-edge molecular virology approaches to modify these insect-specific flaviviruses to enhance their ability to block the replication of other pathogenic viruses in the m ....Bio-engineering Insect-Specific Flaviviruses for control of arboviruses. This project aims to study a family of commensal viruses of mosquitoes called insect-specific flaviviruses that are naturally found in mosquitoes and do not infect or cause disease in vertebrate hosts. Using an innovative approach, this project employs cutting-edge molecular virology approaches to modify these insect-specific flaviviruses to enhance their ability to block the replication of other pathogenic viruses in the mosquito vector. Expected outcome of this project is a bio-control strategy that is complementary to the Wolbachia approach. The anticipated benefits include the advancement of knowledge of insect-specific flaviviruses, and promotion of interdisciplinary research across the fields of Entomology and Virology.Read moreRead less
Molecular characterisation of antibiotic resistance genes in Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli recovered from food-producing animals and humans. Antibiotic resistance is an accelerating global problem. Antibiotic resistance genes are located on mobile genetic elements which can be horizontally transferred between distantly related bacteria. It is becoming increasingly apparent that healthy humans carry populations of resistant bacteria as part of the normal microbial flora. This project w ....Molecular characterisation of antibiotic resistance genes in Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli recovered from food-producing animals and humans. Antibiotic resistance is an accelerating global problem. Antibiotic resistance genes are located on mobile genetic elements which can be horizontally transferred between distantly related bacteria. It is becoming increasingly apparent that healthy humans carry populations of resistant bacteria as part of the normal microbial flora. This project will characterise the antibiotic resistance gene arrangements among populations of bacteria which belong to the Enterobacteriaceae. These resistant bacteria represent a threat to human and veterinary health because they are readily ingested as part of the food chain and represent reservoirs for the spread of antibiotic resistance genes to pathogens.Read moreRead less
Noncoding RNAs of insect-specific flaviviruses: biogenesis and functions. This project aims to investigate noncoding RNAs (sfRNAs) of insect-specific flaviruses (ISFs). These RNAs are produced from viral RNA by host ribonuclease and play important role in pathogenesis and transmission of vertebrate-infecting flaviviruses (VIFs). The team has shown that ISFs also produce sfRNAs although likely employing a different mechanism. The project expects to generate new knowledge on ISF sfRNA biogenesis a ....Noncoding RNAs of insect-specific flaviviruses: biogenesis and functions. This project aims to investigate noncoding RNAs (sfRNAs) of insect-specific flaviruses (ISFs). These RNAs are produced from viral RNA by host ribonuclease and play important role in pathogenesis and transmission of vertebrate-infecting flaviviruses (VIFs). The team has shown that ISFs also produce sfRNAs although likely employing a different mechanism. The project expects to generate new knowledge on ISF sfRNA biogenesis and functions using combination of modern structural, biochemical, and innovative molecular virology methods. The outcome will be a clearer understanding of processes governing flavivirus host restriction and evolution. This will improve understanding of virus-host interactions and train students in cutting edge techniques.Read moreRead less
Development of SELEX technology (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment). A recently developed in vitro genetic selection technique has allowed the isolation of oligonucleotides that can bind target molecules with high affinity and specificity. The strategy know as SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment) uses protein biochemistry and PCR technology, with subsequent repeated rounds of selection and amplification, to screen vast libraries of oligonucle ....Development of SELEX technology (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment). A recently developed in vitro genetic selection technique has allowed the isolation of oligonucleotides that can bind target molecules with high affinity and specificity. The strategy know as SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment) uses protein biochemistry and PCR technology, with subsequent repeated rounds of selection and amplification, to screen vast libraries of oligonucleotides (RNA or DNA) for their ability to bind target proteins. This procedure will be developed by UNSW in collaboration with the biotech company BTF Plc., Ltd., to be used in two applications. The first is the research interest of UNSW and involves the development of aptamers against hepatitis C virus. The second lies within the interests of BTF and will involve the development of aptamers against the water borne pathogen Cryptosporidium parvum.Read moreRead less
Detection of imported exotic strains of West Nile virus for national biosecurity surveillance. West Nile virus (WNV) is transmitted by mosquitoes and causes a fatal disease of the brain in animals and humans. WNV is currently exotic to this country, however a closely related, but benign cousin of this virus (Kunjin) can be found in Northern Australia. Currently it is very difficult to differentiate between infections with WNV and Kunjin using standard laboratory tests, therefore it will be diff ....Detection of imported exotic strains of West Nile virus for national biosecurity surveillance. West Nile virus (WNV) is transmitted by mosquitoes and causes a fatal disease of the brain in animals and humans. WNV is currently exotic to this country, however a closely related, but benign cousin of this virus (Kunjin) can be found in Northern Australia. Currently it is very difficult to differentiate between infections with WNV and Kunjin using standard laboratory tests, therefore it will be difficult for public health officials to detect WNV if it is introduced to Australia. In this project we aim to develop more accurate laboratory tests to detect infections with the deadly, exotic WNV using new strategies. Read moreRead less