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Reduction of antibiotic usage in the commercial pig industry. This project intends to identify factors that make a pig enterprise more likely to use high levels of antibiotics and develop alternative, vaccination-based methods for disease control. The development of multi-drug resistance in zoonotic bacterial pathogens (e.g. Salmonella and Campylobacter spp.) in pigs has raised concerns that antimicrobial resistance can be transferred from livestock to humans. Although the epidemiology to suppor ....Reduction of antibiotic usage in the commercial pig industry. This project intends to identify factors that make a pig enterprise more likely to use high levels of antibiotics and develop alternative, vaccination-based methods for disease control. The development of multi-drug resistance in zoonotic bacterial pathogens (e.g. Salmonella and Campylobacter spp.) in pigs has raised concerns that antimicrobial resistance can be transferred from livestock to humans. Although the epidemiology to support a claim that there is a causal association between antimicrobial use in food animals and public health is complex there is universal agreement that use of antimicrobials in food animal production should be minimised. This project intends to deliver outcomes that will reduce antibiotic use on commercial pig farms.Read moreRead less
Salmonella in poultry: improving vaccine efficacy . The central aim of this project is to increase the antigenicity of aroA mutant Salmonella Typhimurium vaccines, in particular Bioproperties’ Vaxsafe® ST. Increased antigenicity will affect the gut microbiota and stimulate a stronger host immune response improving vaccine efficacy and the duration of protection against S. Typhimurium in poultry. This will ultimately reduce bacterial loads in the farm environment, mitigate downstream contaminatio ....Salmonella in poultry: improving vaccine efficacy . The central aim of this project is to increase the antigenicity of aroA mutant Salmonella Typhimurium vaccines, in particular Bioproperties’ Vaxsafe® ST. Increased antigenicity will affect the gut microbiota and stimulate a stronger host immune response improving vaccine efficacy and the duration of protection against S. Typhimurium in poultry. This will ultimately reduce bacterial loads in the farm environment, mitigate downstream contamination of the food supply chain, and reduce the number of human salmonellosis cases.Read moreRead less
Functional identification of vaccine targets in pathogenic mycoplasmas. Mycoplasmas are important bacterial pathogens in domestic animals that are incompletely controlled by current vaccines. As a result current control measures for the diseases they cause rely on ongoing treatment with antibiotics. This project will aim to use functional genomics and metabolomics to determine the function of specific surface proteins of a model mycoplasma to identify targets for novel approaches to vaccines aga ....Functional identification of vaccine targets in pathogenic mycoplasmas. Mycoplasmas are important bacterial pathogens in domestic animals that are incompletely controlled by current vaccines. As a result current control measures for the diseases they cause rely on ongoing treatment with antibiotics. This project will aim to use functional genomics and metabolomics to determine the function of specific surface proteins of a model mycoplasma to identify targets for novel approaches to vaccines against these pathogens, and to then assess the potential for inclusion of these proteins in vaccines. Ultimately this will lead to improved vaccines against these important pathogens, improving agricultural productivity and reducing the use of antibiotics in intensively raised livestock.Read moreRead less
Optimising the efficacy of mycoplasma vaccines in the field. Optimising the efficacy of mycoplasma vaccines in the field. This project intends to examine the effect of antibiotic treatment, killed vaccines and immunosuppressive viruses on the protective immunity induced by a model novel vaccine against the important poultry pathogen Mycoplasma gallisepticum. The continued circulation of pathogenic mycoplasmas in intensively managed animals is a major animal health problem. Live attenuated vaccin ....Optimising the efficacy of mycoplasma vaccines in the field. Optimising the efficacy of mycoplasma vaccines in the field. This project intends to examine the effect of antibiotic treatment, killed vaccines and immunosuppressive viruses on the protective immunity induced by a model novel vaccine against the important poultry pathogen Mycoplasma gallisepticum. The continued circulation of pathogenic mycoplasmas in intensively managed animals is a major animal health problem. Live attenuated vaccines could reduce disease, but we have limited understanding of the best conditions for their use. This project will generate data to guide both use and development of live mycoplasma vaccines. It is expected to have significant impacts on animal health, welfare and production, and public health by reducing the use of antibiotics to control mycoplasmoses.Read moreRead less
Improved biosecurity through the engineering of microbial ecosystems. This project aims to provide data and understanding that will help develop predictive models for changes in the distribution of drug-resistant bacteria, and surveillance and response programs for key biosecurity threats. Microorganisms, including commensals and pathogens, can live in complex communities in a range of environments including animal hosts. It is now known that these communities (known as microbiomes) can exert a ....Improved biosecurity through the engineering of microbial ecosystems. This project aims to provide data and understanding that will help develop predictive models for changes in the distribution of drug-resistant bacteria, and surveillance and response programs for key biosecurity threats. Microorganisms, including commensals and pathogens, can live in complex communities in a range of environments including animal hosts. It is now known that these communities (known as microbiomes) can exert a profound effect on animal health. This project seeks to understand where antimicrobial resistance genes reside in pig gut microbiotia and how they move between members of this complex microbial community, and to provide information on how probiotics may be used to reduce dependence on antibiotics.Read moreRead less
Avoiding the immune response: lessons from 'simple' bacteria. Some of the most important bacterial diseases of domestic animals are caused by mycoplasmas. Improved control of these diseases would significantly improve agricultural productivity by reducing losses associated with reduced feed conversion efficiency and increased susceptibility to other diseases, as well as improve animal welfare and public health, by reducing the need for antibiotic therapy to control these diseases in food produci ....Avoiding the immune response: lessons from 'simple' bacteria. Some of the most important bacterial diseases of domestic animals are caused by mycoplasmas. Improved control of these diseases would significantly improve agricultural productivity by reducing losses associated with reduced feed conversion efficiency and increased susceptibility to other diseases, as well as improve animal welfare and public health, by reducing the need for antibiotic therapy to control these diseases in food producing animals.Read moreRead less
Exploring the role of the domestic dog and wild rodents as peri-domestic reservoirs of Rickettsia felis. This project aims to explore the role of domestic dogs and wild rats as maintenance hosts for flea-borne spotted fever. Cases of this disease, transmitted to humans by the common dog and cat flea are being increasingly recognised throughout the world. The findings of this study will add significant importance to flea control in pets.
Immunonutrition: A novel concept to overcome gastrointestinal tract mucosal damage after weaning in pigs. A sustainable Australian pork industry relies on further reductions in costs whilst considering the enhanced health and welfare of pigs. This project will lead to more precise estimates of amino acid requirements in the post-weaning period, which will contribute to an increased efficiency of nutrient utilization and enhance the welfare of pigs recovering from the weaning process.
Of pets, vets and antimicrobials: fluoroquinolone use in dogs and resistance biology. Antimicrobial resistance is a current and growing threat relevant to human health, animal welfare, food production, and environmental preservation. This project will provide new insights into the basic science of antimicrobial resistance, through the generation of accurate data on the role of companion animal use of antibiotics on the development and control of resistance. Ultimate project goals are to produce ....Of pets, vets and antimicrobials: fluoroquinolone use in dogs and resistance biology. Antimicrobial resistance is a current and growing threat relevant to human health, animal welfare, food production, and environmental preservation. This project will provide new insights into the basic science of antimicrobial resistance, through the generation of accurate data on the role of companion animal use of antibiotics on the development and control of resistance. Ultimate project goals are to produce recommendations that limit the generation of further resistance. Project outcomes have demonstrable relevance to human preventative health, which is recognised as a national research priority. The health and welfare of pets will also be improved, which has associated community benefits.Read moreRead less
Unravelling small RNA regulatory networks to target and control bacteria. Small RNA (sRNA) molecules are critical regulators of bacterial gene expression. These molecules control important phenotypes in the Gram-negative veterinary pathogen Pasteurella multocida. This project aims to identify the range of P. multocida sRNAs and to show how expression of these molecules changes under various growth conditions. Specifically, this project endeavours: to identify the mRNA targets of the sRNAs; to id ....Unravelling small RNA regulatory networks to target and control bacteria. Small RNA (sRNA) molecules are critical regulators of bacterial gene expression. These molecules control important phenotypes in the Gram-negative veterinary pathogen Pasteurella multocida. This project aims to identify the range of P. multocida sRNAs and to show how expression of these molecules changes under various growth conditions. Specifically, this project endeavours: to identify the mRNA targets of the sRNAs; to identify the mechanisms of sRNA-mRNA interaction; to build systems-biology models that describe the sRNA regulatory circuits; to design inhibitors capable of disrupting critical sRNA-mRNA interactions; and to use the new inhibitors to modulate specific phenotypes. The ability to precisely manipulate sRNA regulatory circuits could allow fine control of bacterial phenotypes and could be widely applicable.Read moreRead less