Using transgenic plant-based production and delivery systems to develop an avian influenza vaccine. This project aims to provide proof-of-concept for the rapid production of plant-made vaccines of high strategic value to the poultry industry. Plant-made AI vaccines would help safeguard primary industries in Australia from exotic influenza strains and shield rural communities from the impact of stock losses. This collaboration will also contribute to the Molecular Farming industry by ensuring tha ....Using transgenic plant-based production and delivery systems to develop an avian influenza vaccine. This project aims to provide proof-of-concept for the rapid production of plant-made vaccines of high strategic value to the poultry industry. Plant-made AI vaccines would help safeguard primary industries in Australia from exotic influenza strains and shield rural communities from the impact of stock losses. This collaboration will also contribute to the Molecular Farming industry by ensuring that Australian interests are considered as this frontier technology tackles the challenges of turning academic research into marketable products. The key features of an oral plant-made AI vaccine, including rapid and non-egg based production, also make this an attractive technology for the future development of swine and human influenza vaccines.Read moreRead less
Plant Cells for Improved Oral Delivery of Vaccines. The pharmaceutical industry is ever assessing methods of improved delivery of their valuable vaccines, pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals. The oral route increases ease of delivery, is less expensive, and has increased patient compliance. It may also allow vaccination of free-ranging animal populations that may otherwise go untreated. Optimizing oral delivery of plant-made, valuable proteins will therefore have broad ramifications to animal and ....Plant Cells for Improved Oral Delivery of Vaccines. The pharmaceutical industry is ever assessing methods of improved delivery of their valuable vaccines, pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals. The oral route increases ease of delivery, is less expensive, and has increased patient compliance. It may also allow vaccination of free-ranging animal populations that may otherwise go untreated. Optimizing oral delivery of plant-made, valuable proteins will therefore have broad ramifications to animal and human health industries, enhancing use of existing valuable compounds and creating opportunities for new compounds and user groups including wild and domesticated animals.Read moreRead less
Phytoremediation of arsenic contaminated sites using arsenic hyperaccumulating plants. The legacy of using arsenical compounds in pest control activities has resulted in many contaminated sites. Since the inorganic arsenic is carcinogenic, stringent laws have been enforced to control arsenic (As) in the environment. This project investigates the potential of using the recently discovered (Ma et al, 2001) arsenic hyperaccumulating (22,000 mgAs/kgDW) fern, Pteris vittata, in the removal of arsen ....Phytoremediation of arsenic contaminated sites using arsenic hyperaccumulating plants. The legacy of using arsenical compounds in pest control activities has resulted in many contaminated sites. Since the inorganic arsenic is carcinogenic, stringent laws have been enforced to control arsenic (As) in the environment. This project investigates the potential of using the recently discovered (Ma et al, 2001) arsenic hyperaccumulating (22,000 mgAs/kgDW) fern, Pteris vittata, in the removal of arsenic from dip sites and railway tracks in Qld, and orchards in northern NSW. The impacts of growing hyperaccumulating plants on grazing animals and the environment, and the disposal of arsenic from contaminated plants will also be studied.Read moreRead less