Coproantigen detection tests for diagnosis of intestinal parasitic nematode infection. The aim of this project is to develop new tests for detection of hookworm and Strongyloides, two common intestinal worm infections of humans. These tests offer the potential to replace current tests, namely stool microscopy and serodiagnosis, both of whose performance is unsatisfactory due to deficiencies in sensitivity, specificity and operator convenience. The tests will rely on monoclonal antibodies to dete ....Coproantigen detection tests for diagnosis of intestinal parasitic nematode infection. The aim of this project is to develop new tests for detection of hookworm and Strongyloides, two common intestinal worm infections of humans. These tests offer the potential to replace current tests, namely stool microscopy and serodiagnosis, both of whose performance is unsatisfactory due to deficiencies in sensitivity, specificity and operator convenience. The tests will rely on monoclonal antibodies to detect parasite products in stool. Such testing technology is amenable to configuration in a robust format, suitable for large-scale manufacture. Given the worldwide prevalence of these parasites, the tests will have a market potential of international significance.Read moreRead less
Optimisation of cell culture and molecular typing for the characterisation of Cryptosporidium in water. Cryptosporidium is an important waterborne agent of diarrhoeal disease in people and animals. Improved methods for accurately detecting viable parasite stages recovered from water are a priority research need for the water industry. They are dependent upon improved in vitro cultivation procedures that can be combined with DNA-based assays for identifying species and strains of Cryptosporidi ....Optimisation of cell culture and molecular typing for the characterisation of Cryptosporidium in water. Cryptosporidium is an important waterborne agent of diarrhoeal disease in people and animals. Improved methods for accurately detecting viable parasite stages recovered from water are a priority research need for the water industry. They are dependent upon improved in vitro cultivation procedures that can be combined with DNA-based assays for identifying species and strains of Cryptosporidium and closely related protozoa recovered from freshwater. This project addresses these needs in a collaborative study between scientists at Murdoch University with expertise in both in vitro cultivation and genetic characterisation of Cryptosporidium, and scientists from two of the major water utilities in Australia.Read moreRead less