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
Are nutrients the key driver in stimulating toxic algae in subtropical water reservoirs? This project aims to determine the key factors causing blooms of the toxic algae, Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii, which dominates many freshwater reservoirs throughout Queensland. Little is known of why blooms of this species occur. Without the development of this understanding and research capacity to tackle this issue in Queensland, the severity of the problem is likely to increase, putting ever-greater ....Are nutrients the key driver in stimulating toxic algae in subtropical water reservoirs? This project aims to determine the key factors causing blooms of the toxic algae, Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii, which dominates many freshwater reservoirs throughout Queensland. Little is known of why blooms of this species occur. Without the development of this understanding and research capacity to tackle this issue in Queensland, the severity of the problem is likely to increase, putting ever-greater pressure on drinking water supplies. The outcomes from this project would therefore be an increased capacity to predict blooms, and identification of management options for reducing the occurrence of blooms to ensure a cost-effective and safe water supply.Read moreRead less
What are the risks of viral infections in drinking water storages? South East Queensland's population growth is the fastest in Australia but our drinking water supplies will be fully allocated by 2020. Maintaining public health standards of the existing supplies is vital. Declines in water quality in these unprotected catchments will influence viral infection but we don't know how. Toxin producing algae (cyanobacteria) also bloom and we don't know why. We have an innovative approach to determine ....What are the risks of viral infections in drinking water storages? South East Queensland's population growth is the fastest in Australia but our drinking water supplies will be fully allocated by 2020. Maintaining public health standards of the existing supplies is vital. Declines in water quality in these unprotected catchments will influence viral infection but we don't know how. Toxin producing algae (cyanobacteria) also bloom and we don't know why. We have an innovative approach to determine how changing water quality influences viral infection of toxic cyanobacteria and the potential of human viral pathogens (disease causing) to infect. This new knowledge will improve SEQWater's ability to manage public and ecosystem health risks in drinking water storages.Read moreRead less