Exploitation of a Novel Drug Target for Controlling Animal Trypanosomiasis. Trypanosomiasis greatly reduces livestock productivity in countries where it is endemic and is a threat to livestock and native wildlife in countries such as Australia where it is exotic but there is a risk of entry. New trypanocidal drugs with different modes of action are urgently needed to overcome growing resistance. This project aims to characterise trypanosome tubulin and, with this information, produce new tubulin ....Exploitation of a Novel Drug Target for Controlling Animal Trypanosomiasis. Trypanosomiasis greatly reduces livestock productivity in countries where it is endemic and is a threat to livestock and native wildlife in countries such as Australia where it is exotic but there is a risk of entry. New trypanocidal drugs with different modes of action are urgently needed to overcome growing resistance. This project aims to characterise trypanosome tubulin and, with this information, produce new tubulin-binding compounds for assessment in vitro and in vivo. Upon completion of the project it is expected that drug binding sites on trypanosome tubulin will be characterised and at least one candidate for clinical trials identified.Read moreRead less
Toward novel approaches for the control of parasitic nematodes via genomics/phenomics. The control of economically important parasitic worms of livestock relies heavily on the use of chemical compounds (anthelmintics). Their excessive and uncontrolled use has led to serious anthelmintic resistance problems in parasites, so that many treatments are no longer effective, and also to residue problems in meat, milk and the environment. We will use 'cutting edge' technologies to provide unique insight ....Toward novel approaches for the control of parasitic nematodes via genomics/phenomics. The control of economically important parasitic worms of livestock relies heavily on the use of chemical compounds (anthelmintics). Their excessive and uncontrolled use has led to serious anthelmintic resistance problems in parasites, so that many treatments are no longer effective, and also to residue problems in meat, milk and the environment. We will use 'cutting edge' technologies to provide unique insights into the molecular processes of parasite growth and reproduction, to develop safe and sustainable intervention strategies for parasites. The project will provide a unique technology platform and a skills base in parasite genomics and will generate significant intellectual property.Read moreRead less
Elucidating a key developmental switch in Haemonchus contortus using a massively parallel picolitre reactor sequencing-coupled genomic and bioinformatic platform. The national/community benefits of this project include enhanced focus on animal and human health biotechnology through the development of safe anti-parasite compounds/vaccines; improved and sustainable control of key parasites with decreased risk of induction of drug resistance; increased profitability of agricultural animal productio ....Elucidating a key developmental switch in Haemonchus contortus using a massively parallel picolitre reactor sequencing-coupled genomic and bioinformatic platform. The national/community benefits of this project include enhanced focus on animal and human health biotechnology through the development of safe anti-parasite compounds/vaccines; improved and sustainable control of key parasites with decreased risk of induction of drug resistance; increased profitability of agricultural animal production; consolidation of a technology platform for further applications in genomics and post-genomics of pathogens of global significance and construction of a pipeline for the validation of drug targets; capturing the benefits from fundamental research and strengthening links between fundamental and applied research; and increasing the quality and quantity of scientifically skilled people in biotechnology.Read moreRead less
Discovery of early developmental events in the transition to parasitism in the hookworm Ancylostoma caninum using genomic technologies. The national/community benefits are: (1) to develop a long-term, high quality scientific and technological program contributing to national objectives, including the maintenance of a strong capability in basic research, the development of new scientific concepts and the enhancement of international collaborative links; (2) to strengthen the links between basic a ....Discovery of early developmental events in the transition to parasitism in the hookworm Ancylostoma caninum using genomic technologies. The national/community benefits are: (1) to develop a long-term, high quality scientific and technological program contributing to national objectives, including the maintenance of a strong capability in basic research, the development of new scientific concepts and the enhancement of international collaborative links; (2) to strengthen the links between basic and applied research; (3) to develop excellence in research by promoting collaborative research, resulting in a more efficient use of resources in a national and international context; (4) to enhance the skills-base in biology and biotechnology; (5) to substantially increase global visibility through quality research, leading to an increased investment in Australian science.Read moreRead less
Targeted mining for new drugs against parasitic nematodes of animals - a synergy of integrated, frontier technologies and a committed partnership with industry. This project will: develop a quality scientific and technological program in national priority areas, leading to a strong basic research, new concepts and the enhanced international collaborative links; strengthen links between basic and applied research, and academia and industry; develop excellence via pan-Australian collaborations, re ....Targeted mining for new drugs against parasitic nematodes of animals - a synergy of integrated, frontier technologies and a committed partnership with industry. This project will: develop a quality scientific and technological program in national priority areas, leading to a strong basic research, new concepts and the enhanced international collaborative links; strengthen links between basic and applied research, and academia and industry; develop excellence via pan-Australian collaborations, resulting in a more efficient use of resources in a national and international context; enhance the skills-base in biology, biotechnology and bioinformatics; increase global visibility with increased investment in Australian science; improved animal welfare and production via better control of infectious diseases; commercial products with benefits to agricultural producers in regional and rural communities.Read moreRead less
Functional Genomics and Host Cell Specificity of Herpesviruses. Herpesviruses cause severe diseases in many species, but research on their large DNA genomes has been difficult due to the need to use animal cell cultures for the generation of virus mutants. The cloning of complete herpesvirus genomes as Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes (BACs) has revolutionized herpesvirus genomics, and it is now possible to examine herpesvirus gene functions in unprecedented detail using elegant new mutation tec ....Functional Genomics and Host Cell Specificity of Herpesviruses. Herpesviruses cause severe diseases in many species, but research on their large DNA genomes has been difficult due to the need to use animal cell cultures for the generation of virus mutants. The cloning of complete herpesvirus genomes as Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes (BACs) has revolutionized herpesvirus genomics, and it is now possible to examine herpesvirus gene functions in unprecedented detail using elegant new mutation techniques. The project, based on two related equine herpesviruses, will identify new targets for antiviral drugs or vaccines. These herpesvirus BAC systems represent frontier science that greatly facilitates the study of links between genome and phenome.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354888
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$30,000.00
Summary
Australian Research Council Research Network for Parasitology. Parasites are a major cause of death and suffering in humans and animals throughout the world. The ARC Research Network for Parasitology aims to bring together Australia's finest researchers and establish a world class environment and web of facilities that attracts and retains the most talented young investigators and places Australia in a strong position to deal with current and future parasitological threats. The Network will focu ....Australian Research Council Research Network for Parasitology. Parasites are a major cause of death and suffering in humans and animals throughout the world. The ARC Research Network for Parasitology aims to bring together Australia's finest researchers and establish a world class environment and web of facilities that attracts and retains the most talented young investigators and places Australia in a strong position to deal with current and future parasitological threats. The Network will focus and enhance Australia's fundamental, strategic and applied parasitology research capabilities to :
(1) develop new approaches to vaccination;
(2) identify novel drug targets; and
(3) ensure the sustainability of wildlife and ecosystem health.
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ARC/NHMRC Research Network for Parasitology. The ARC Network for Parasitology will focus and coordinate Australia's world class fundamental, strategic and applied parasitology research. This targeted approach will raise Australia's standing in the field, assist in the community's understanding of parasitology and biosecurity and maintain and improve Australia's capacity for keeping its stock, crops, wildlife and people disease-free. On an international scale, the Network will work with other cou ....ARC/NHMRC Research Network for Parasitology. The ARC Network for Parasitology will focus and coordinate Australia's world class fundamental, strategic and applied parasitology research. This targeted approach will raise Australia's standing in the field, assist in the community's understanding of parasitology and biosecurity and maintain and improve Australia's capacity for keeping its stock, crops, wildlife and people disease-free. On an international scale, the Network will work with other countries to develop new technologies for the detection and eradication of parasites. This emphasis will not only protect Australia's borders but will assist our near neighbours and lead to the development of technologies with an economic benefit to Australia.
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A Novel Phosphate Fertiliser Enhanced by Biofertiliser Technology. This project will deliver efficient use of the limited supplies of high quality phosphorus minerals as fertiliser-P, simultaneously acting to reverse and prevent soil acidification. These cost-effective benefits from utilising Australia's microbial biodiversity will have major economic and environmental impacts in rural Australia,increasing the profitability of farming and reducing the potential for contamination of aquatic syste ....A Novel Phosphate Fertiliser Enhanced by Biofertiliser Technology. This project will deliver efficient use of the limited supplies of high quality phosphorus minerals as fertiliser-P, simultaneously acting to reverse and prevent soil acidification. These cost-effective benefits from utilising Australia's microbial biodiversity will have major economic and environmental impacts in rural Australia,increasing the profitability of farming and reducing the potential for contamination of aquatic systems and groundwater with nutrients causing algal blooms. By solving needs for fertiliser-P while preventing acidification of soil, farmers are expected to welcome this novel fertiliser technology.Read moreRead less
The molecular basis for oocyst and cyst wall formation in apicomplexan parasites. Apicomplexan parasites such as Eimeria, Neospora, Toxoplasma and Plasmodium are single celled organisms - protozoa - that cause some of the most serious infectious diseases of livestock and humans ever known. Transmission of these parasites is dependent on their ability to encase themselves in protective structures known as oocyst or cyst walls. These walls are resistant to harsh environmental conditions, chemicals ....The molecular basis for oocyst and cyst wall formation in apicomplexan parasites. Apicomplexan parasites such as Eimeria, Neospora, Toxoplasma and Plasmodium are single celled organisms - protozoa - that cause some of the most serious infectious diseases of livestock and humans ever known. Transmission of these parasites is dependent on their ability to encase themselves in protective structures known as oocyst or cyst walls. These walls are resistant to harsh environmental conditions, chemicals and attack by the immune system. We will discover and characterise the molecular basis for cyst wall formation. This fundamental knowledge will be the building block for new, highly specific drugs and vaccines to control these extremely important pathogens.Read moreRead less