Emergence of a virulent strain of West Nile virus causing fatal equine encephalitis in south-eastern Australia. In 2011 a large outbreak of encephalitis in horses occurred in south-eastern Australia that was caused by a new virus that is transmitted by mosquitoes and is related to West Nile virus, known to cause severe disease in humans and horses. This project will study this new virus and develop improved methods for diagnosis and control of this disease.
Prevention and treatment of chlamydiosis and cryptococcosis in koalas. This project aims to generate increased understanding of the aetiology and pathogenesis of the two most prevalent and debilitating infectious diseases of koalas to make improved decisions regarding therapeutic intervention, prevention and management. Chlamydiosis, caused by two chlamydial bacteria, affects koala fertility, urinary tract function and eyesight. Cryptococcosis, caused by the fungus Cryptococcus gattii, may resul ....Prevention and treatment of chlamydiosis and cryptococcosis in koalas. This project aims to generate increased understanding of the aetiology and pathogenesis of the two most prevalent and debilitating infectious diseases of koalas to make improved decisions regarding therapeutic intervention, prevention and management. Chlamydiosis, caused by two chlamydial bacteria, affects koala fertility, urinary tract function and eyesight. Cryptococcosis, caused by the fungus Cryptococcus gattii, may result in koala morbidity and death. Planned therapeutic trials, prevention strategies and the development of optimal husbandry strategies will provide knowledge that will lead to reduced koala morbidity through improved understanding of the interactions amongst infectious pathogens, the animal host and the environment.Read moreRead less
Establishment of Therapeutically Relevant Animal Models and Markers for Crohn's Disease. Crohn's disease is a devastating life long disease, affecting 0.5% of the world population. There is urgent economic and social need to develop new and better drugs to treat the symptoms and underlying cause of this debilitating disease. Social benefits include the improved quality of life of sufferers that positively impacts society. Economic benefit includes income derived from commercialisation of rese ....Establishment of Therapeutically Relevant Animal Models and Markers for Crohn's Disease. Crohn's disease is a devastating life long disease, affecting 0.5% of the world population. There is urgent economic and social need to develop new and better drugs to treat the symptoms and underlying cause of this debilitating disease. Social benefits include the improved quality of life of sufferers that positively impacts society. Economic benefit includes income derived from commercialisation of research outcomes and the contribution this project makes to high value employment in the biotechnology sector.Read moreRead less
Treating Equine Laminitis. This project aims to explore the causes of equine laminitis, and to work with a newly-established Australian biopharma company to develop the world's first anti-laminitis medication. Equine laminitis is a painful, crippling disease of the foot, often necessitating euthanasia, and is the second-most common cause of death in domestic horses. In 2007, a landmark study identified insulin toxicity as a primary cause of laminitis, and subsequent research has identified over- ....Treating Equine Laminitis. This project aims to explore the causes of equine laminitis, and to work with a newly-established Australian biopharma company to develop the world's first anti-laminitis medication. Equine laminitis is a painful, crippling disease of the foot, often necessitating euthanasia, and is the second-most common cause of death in domestic horses. In 2007, a landmark study identified insulin toxicity as a primary cause of laminitis, and subsequent research has identified over-stimulation of the IGF-1 receptor as the most likely mechanism. This project aims to prove that mechanism and to develop an effective treatment.Read moreRead less
Improving the diagnosis, management and control of chlamydial infections in Australian livestock. Chlamydial diseases, such as arthritis and encephalomyelitis, are associated with significant economic losses for Australian livestock producers. Effective surveillance and management of Chlamydia infections is problematic due to: the absence of epidemiological data; the lack of an accurate and easily interpretable diagnostic test; and the lack of an available vaccine. This project aims to evaluate ....Improving the diagnosis, management and control of chlamydial infections in Australian livestock. Chlamydial diseases, such as arthritis and encephalomyelitis, are associated with significant economic losses for Australian livestock producers. Effective surveillance and management of Chlamydia infections is problematic due to: the absence of epidemiological data; the lack of an accurate and easily interpretable diagnostic test; and the lack of an available vaccine. This project aims to evaluate factors associated with chlamydial disease in Australian livestock and thereby improve on-farm diagnosis. With the concomitant development of a chlamydial vaccine for sheep, this project aims to provide veterinarians and producers with important tools to reduce the on-farm impacts of chlamydial disease.Read moreRead less
Improving diagnostic accuracy and treatment options for equine PPID. Equine Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID) is a common, chronic and potentially life-threatening disease of older horses and ponies. Although a treatment is available, the disease is poorly understood and there are some concerns that the current diagnostic technology is not delivering accurate results. Thus, this project aims to develop a more accurate diagnostic test for PPID, while exploring the relationship between ....Improving diagnostic accuracy and treatment options for equine PPID. Equine Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID) is a common, chronic and potentially life-threatening disease of older horses and ponies. Although a treatment is available, the disease is poorly understood and there are some concerns that the current diagnostic technology is not delivering accurate results. Thus, this project aims to develop a more accurate diagnostic test for PPID, while exploring the relationship between PPID and metabolic syndrome, to generate new insights into the cause and consequences of both diseases. As an added benefit, the project will assist horseracing laboratories to improve their detection methods for peptide doping in younger competition horses.
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Harnessing the genome of the Australian paralysis tick to develop effective control products. This project aims to examine the potent cocktail produced by the salivary gland of Australia's paralysis tick. The paralysis tick continues to cause severe illness and deaths for companion pets with up to 100,000 cases of toxicoses per year. This project aims to develop new safe treatments and/or preventative vaccines.
Using adaptive and innate immunity to chytridiomycosis to save amphibians from extinction. Chytridiomycosis has been implicated in the decline or extinction of hundreds of frog species worldwide since its emergence in the 1970s. The goal of this project is to identify immune frogs for captive breeding and successful reintroduction, screen populations to predict their risk of decline and develop targeted vaccines.
Superbugs and veterinary drugs: are multidrug-resistant zoonotic pathogens residing in Australian animals? Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem affecting human health that is now emerging in animals and veterinary hospitals. This project will integrate surveillance with novel treatments and preventatives to develop effective strategies to limit the impact of resistant bacteria to animal health and prevent transfer between humans and animals.
Development of new tools for surveillance of chlamydial infections in sheep. This project aims to improve health in sheep and reduce on-farm losses for Australian producers, by developing new serological tests for chlamydial infections in sheep. These infections can result in significant on-farm losses and loss of trade in the live export industry. Currently, surveillance of chlamydial infections is hindered by outdated serological tools that are unreliable and difficult to interpret. The ser ....Development of new tools for surveillance of chlamydial infections in sheep. This project aims to improve health in sheep and reduce on-farm losses for Australian producers, by developing new serological tests for chlamydial infections in sheep. These infections can result in significant on-farm losses and loss of trade in the live export industry. Currently, surveillance of chlamydial infections is hindered by outdated serological tools that are unreliable and difficult to interpret. The serological tests to be developed aim to be species-specific tests to detect the most important chlamydial sheep pathogens. This in turn endeavours to improve domestic surveillance, reducing on-farm losses and costs, and improve market opportunities for Australian sheep exporters as well as informing veterinary populations on best practice treatment.Read moreRead less