New vaccines and diagnostics to control viral disease in farmed crocodiles. Infection of farmed crocodiles with West Nile virus (WNV) causes lesions in the skin that render the hides unsuitable for high quality leather products. This results in >$20 million lost revenue to the Australian crocodile industry annually. We have developed a novel technology to generate safe and effective vaccines and diagnostic tests for WNV in animals. We aim to 1) conduct vaccine trials in farmed crocodiles to dete ....New vaccines and diagnostics to control viral disease in farmed crocodiles. Infection of farmed crocodiles with West Nile virus (WNV) causes lesions in the skin that render the hides unsuitable for high quality leather products. This results in >$20 million lost revenue to the Australian crocodile industry annually. We have developed a novel technology to generate safe and effective vaccines and diagnostic tests for WNV in animals. We aim to 1) conduct vaccine trials in farmed crocodiles to determine the optimum dose formulation and immunisation regime to provide long-lived protection against WNV disease; 2) validate pen-side tests to rapidly diagnose WNV infection in crocodiles on farms; and 3) transfer the technology to a manufacturing facility to ensure a commercial supply of the vaccines and diagnostic tests. Read moreRead less
Development of a new diet to improve insulin sensitivity and manage weight in healthy cats. This project will determine if a low carbohydrate, moderate fat, high protein diet improves insulin sensitivity and reduces weight gain in cats compared to a typical high-carbohydrate grocery line diet. It will identify risk factors for weight gain such as increased fasting insulin concentration and will also determine which simple assessment of insulin sensitivity best correlates with insulin sensitivity ....Development of a new diet to improve insulin sensitivity and manage weight in healthy cats. This project will determine if a low carbohydrate, moderate fat, high protein diet improves insulin sensitivity and reduces weight gain in cats compared to a typical high-carbohydrate grocery line diet. It will identify risk factors for weight gain such as increased fasting insulin concentration and will also determine which simple assessment of insulin sensitivity best correlates with insulin sensitivity measured by a gold standard. This project should lead to the formulation of a diet designed to improve insulin sensitivity and minimize weight gain in cats, and allow for earlier identification of cats at risk of obesity.Read moreRead less
Artificial intelligence algorithms to predict risk of injury in racehorses. This project will address the urgent need for predicting and preventing catastrophic and career limiting limb injuries and cardiac arrhythmias in racehorses due to over (or under) training. Using data from GPS and movement sensors integrated into saddlecloths, artificial intelligence algorithms will convert cumulative data on speed, gait, and stride characteristics during training, along with injury data, into a risk mat ....Artificial intelligence algorithms to predict risk of injury in racehorses. This project will address the urgent need for predicting and preventing catastrophic and career limiting limb injuries and cardiac arrhythmias in racehorses due to over (or under) training. Using data from GPS and movement sensors integrated into saddlecloths, artificial intelligence algorithms will convert cumulative data on speed, gait, and stride characteristics during training, along with injury data, into a risk matrix. Recorded heart rate and ECG data will also be analysed using artificial intelligence to detect early evidence of the development of cardiac arrhythmias. The system will improve racehorse welfare, providing a simple interface to warn trainers when risk of injury becomes high, in order to prevent catastrophic breakdown.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180100894
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$365,058.00
Summary
Molecular mechanisms of equine fertility and early recognition of pregnancy. This project aims to identify biomarkers of stallion fertility and early pregnancy in thoroughbred and Standardbred horses using biochemistry, proteomics and ribonucleic acid analyses. Responding to industry calls for improved methods of detecting and managing infertility in both stallions and mares, this project will connect Australian horse breeders and international clinical experts with the world renowned reproducti ....Molecular mechanisms of equine fertility and early recognition of pregnancy. This project aims to identify biomarkers of stallion fertility and early pregnancy in thoroughbred and Standardbred horses using biochemistry, proteomics and ribonucleic acid analyses. Responding to industry calls for improved methods of detecting and managing infertility in both stallions and mares, this project will connect Australian horse breeders and international clinical experts with the world renowned reproductive Priority Research Centre with the intended outcome of novel reproductive technologies and diagnostic tests. This should both secure international competitiveness and significantly enhance profitability and employment in this culturally significant industry.Read moreRead less
Relationships between insulin resistance, diet and obesity in ponies and horses. There are an estimated 1.2 million horses in Australia, and the horse industry is estimated to contribute over $6.3 billion to the economy. Laminitis is a significant health and welfare problem in Australia, as it is worldwide, causing pain and lameness, loss of use, and sometimes necessitating euthanasia. Laminitis is one of the most common reasons for horse owners to seek veterinary attention, and diet and obesity ....Relationships between insulin resistance, diet and obesity in ponies and horses. There are an estimated 1.2 million horses in Australia, and the horse industry is estimated to contribute over $6.3 billion to the economy. Laminitis is a significant health and welfare problem in Australia, as it is worldwide, causing pain and lameness, loss of use, and sometimes necessitating euthanasia. Laminitis is one of the most common reasons for horse owners to seek veterinary attention, and diet and obesity increasingly predispose to this condition. Since treatment of laminitis is difficult, prevention is crucial. The outcomes from this project will include the provision of more specific advice on dietary and exercise management to vets and horse owners to reduce the incidence and impact of laminitis on the horse industry.Read moreRead less
Reducing the health & economic burden of Campylobacter using a live vaccine. The aim of the project is to develop a vaccine to reduce Campylobacter bacteria in chickens. Campylobacters cause disease in both poultry and humans. Poultry products are the most common source of human infections. By reducing Campylobacter in poultry, the transfer to humans will be reduced. The expected outcomes arising from this work will be a reduction of the economic burden of poultry losses, in an Australian indust ....Reducing the health & economic burden of Campylobacter using a live vaccine. The aim of the project is to develop a vaccine to reduce Campylobacter bacteria in chickens. Campylobacters cause disease in both poultry and humans. Poultry products are the most common source of human infections. By reducing Campylobacter in poultry, the transfer to humans will be reduced. The expected outcomes arising from this work will be a reduction of the economic burden of poultry losses, in an Australian industry valued at $2.8 billion/year, and an improvement in food safety, thus helping to reduce the burden of foodborne illness, estimated to be $1.2 billion dollars/year. This project is, therefore, poised to benefit the Australian economy, specifically primary producers and the general public, by targeted vaccination of poultry.Read moreRead less
Development of a live vaccine for gut health in poultry. Development of a live vaccine for gut health in poultry. The project aims to develop a live vaccine against necrotic enteritis, a disease of poultry estimated to cost the global poultry industry $5-6 billion USD/annum. It builds on work that has demonstrated the efficacy of an experimental vaccine. The proven antigen, NetB, will be expressed in live delivery vehicles, including the apicomplexan parasite Eimeria and several bacteria strains ....Development of a live vaccine for gut health in poultry. Development of a live vaccine for gut health in poultry. The project aims to develop a live vaccine against necrotic enteritis, a disease of poultry estimated to cost the global poultry industry $5-6 billion USD/annum. It builds on work that has demonstrated the efficacy of an experimental vaccine. The proven antigen, NetB, will be expressed in live delivery vehicles, including the apicomplexan parasite Eimeria and several bacteria strains particularly suited to use in chickens. Comparative analysis of the different vaccine vehicles will allow evaluation of the relative advantages and disadvantage of the different vehicles for delivery of heterologous vaccine antigens, thus informing the choice of appropriate vectors for this and other vaccine applications.Read moreRead less
Harnessing innate immunity to mitigate bovine respiratory disease. Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) is the most significant health problem faced by the beef industry worldwide, causing economic losses of up to $40 million annually in Australia alone. This Project aims to assess an immunostimulant for its ability to induce resistance to infection with bovine respiratory viruses associated with BRD. The Project is expected to generate fundamental new knowledge in veterinary virology. Expected outc ....Harnessing innate immunity to mitigate bovine respiratory disease. Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) is the most significant health problem faced by the beef industry worldwide, causing economic losses of up to $40 million annually in Australia alone. This Project aims to assess an immunostimulant for its ability to induce resistance to infection with bovine respiratory viruses associated with BRD. The Project is expected to generate fundamental new knowledge in veterinary virology. Expected outcomes include scholarly publications. The Project will provide significant benefits, such as advances to fundamental knowledge, training of higher research degree students and proof-of-concept data to promote collaborations with commercial partners to develop novel treatment strategies to limit BRD.Read moreRead less
Environmental contamination and pig disease: an Australian microbe evolves. The Australian pig industry produces pork commodities from over 4.75 million pigs per year. Infectious diseases in industrial-scale piggeries can have a devastating effect on pork production, particularly on feed conversion efficiency and growth rates, and can pose downstream environmental contamination and food safety risks. This project aims to assess a current infectious disease problem in pigs by studying a microbe t ....Environmental contamination and pig disease: an Australian microbe evolves. The Australian pig industry produces pork commodities from over 4.75 million pigs per year. Infectious diseases in industrial-scale piggeries can have a devastating effect on pork production, particularly on feed conversion efficiency and growth rates, and can pose downstream environmental contamination and food safety risks. This project aims to assess a current infectious disease problem in pigs by studying a microbe that appears to have uniquely evolved in Australia. These results could inform the rational design of monitoring, prevention and treatment strategies to minimise infection outbreaks in Australian pigs and may result in production benefits to the pork industry, reduced environmental microbial contamination and safer food.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200101832
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$425,941.00
Summary
Mechanisms of immune protection for infectious laryngotracheitis virus. This project aims to investigate the mechanisms of immune protection against infectious laryngotracheitis virus. This will be achieved by investigating the role of local and systemic immunity and the immune cells associated with long-term protection against disease. The mechanisms of protection against this virus remain unknown which impairs the development of efficacious vaccines. Expected outcomes of this project are a mor ....Mechanisms of immune protection for infectious laryngotracheitis virus. This project aims to investigate the mechanisms of immune protection against infectious laryngotracheitis virus. This will be achieved by investigating the role of local and systemic immunity and the immune cells associated with long-term protection against disease. The mechanisms of protection against this virus remain unknown which impairs the development of efficacious vaccines. Expected outcomes of this project are a more rational approach to vaccination resulting in the generation of more effective and safer vaccination strategies that should benefit our important poultry industry. Additionally, the new methodologies and knowledge on mucosal immune markers could be utilised for the study of other pathogens.Read moreRead less