Pre-clinical Development Of A Chemically Synthetic Anti-toxic Vaccine Against Malaria
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$165,000.00
Summary
Plasmodium falciparum malaria infects 5-10% of the global population (400 million clinical cases) and kills two million people annually1. As such it ranks along with HIV and TB as the most serious infectious disease of humanity. It is widely accepted that an efficacious vaccine is required to afford protection against malarial fatalities. The induction of broad-ranging sterilizing immunity is not considered a likely objective for anti-malarial vaccines. Instead, reduction in morbidity and mortal ....Plasmodium falciparum malaria infects 5-10% of the global population (400 million clinical cases) and kills two million people annually1. As such it ranks along with HIV and TB as the most serious infectious disease of humanity. It is widely accepted that an efficacious vaccine is required to afford protection against malarial fatalities. The induction of broad-ranging sterilizing immunity is not considered a likely objective for anti-malarial vaccines. Instead, reduction in morbidity and mortality is the realistic aim of malaria vaccine strategies. Traditional approaches seek to provide this clinical protection indirectly, by killing the parasite or by reducing parasite multiplication. To this end, current anti-malarial vaccines candidates seek to confer on the host parasiticidal immune mechanisms, which have as their target antigenic proteins expressed on the surface of the different stages of the parasite. No malaria vaccine is yet on the market. There exist several potentially competitive leads in late-stage pre-clinical-early stage clinical development, particularly recombinant proteins. The US Navy MUSTDO-25 DNA vaccines are not living up to their promise. Most leading “vaccine candidates” are polymorphic alleles. There are significant prospects for vaccine-induced selection of breakthrough variants. Multiple alleles may also prove cost-prohibitive for vaccine development. The novelty and uniqueness of this approach have contributed to the acceptance of this study for publication by Nature. The aims of this proposal are four-fold: i) to further rationalize the target through chemical synthesis of intermediates and partial structures; (ii) to examine antigenicity and immunogenicity in large experimental mammals, and undertake epitope mapping of human anti-GPI IgG responses; (iii) to obtain preliminary safety data in these animals; and (iv) to undertake a vaccine trial in a simian malaria model. We envisage objectives (i)-(iii) will take 12 months. Objective (iv) will proceed in the six months thereafter.Read moreRead less
Factors Affecting The Toxicity Of The Dinoflagellate, Gambierdiscus Toxicus, And The Development Of Ciguatera Outbreaks
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$22,600.00
Summary
Objectives: 1. Define factors influencing ciguatoxin production by cultures of Gambierdiscus toxicus. 2. Examine reef disturbance effects & significance of genetic heterogeneity in G. toxicus in toxin production. 3. Establish requirements for growth & bloom formation by G. toxicus & other dinoflagellates
Production Of Antibodies Against Toxins Involved In Ciguatera Fish Poisoning
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$87,050.00
Summary
Objectives: 1. Develop method of detection of ciguatoxin (CTX) to extract & purify sufficient CTX to service requirements of program. 2. Develop an en enzyme imunassay for measuring anti-CTX production. 3. Develop method of schedule immunisation to allow production of monoclonal antibodies
Tactical Research Fund: Revision Of The Australian Shellfish Quality Assurance Program Manual - In Light Of The FRDC Funded PST Review Report
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$39,000.00
Summary
The updating of the ASQAP manual is urgently needed to ensure that guidance on shellfish management is up to date, sufficient to allow consistency in interpretation and risk assessment and is in line with best practice. The ASQAAC committee represents the Australian bivalve shellfish producers, the program managers from the relevant food safety jurisdictions and the national legislative agencies (Department of Agriculture and FSANZ). It is the key consultative group with regards to bivalve shell ....The updating of the ASQAP manual is urgently needed to ensure that guidance on shellfish management is up to date, sufficient to allow consistency in interpretation and risk assessment and is in line with best practice. The ASQAAC committee represents the Australian bivalve shellfish producers, the program managers from the relevant food safety jurisdictions and the national legislative agencies (Department of Agriculture and FSANZ). It is the key consultative group with regards to bivalve shellfish safety in Australia.
The PST event that occurred in Eastern Tasmania and Bass Strait over the last 24 months, and the FRDC funded review report into the PST incident has highlighted the need to get this national guidance manual updated. It is expected that an updated manual will be outcome focused and provide clear guidance that is internationally robust and meets best practice approaches. The updated ASQAP manual will provide the framework to the relevant state agencies in running their state shellfish safety programs.
The current ASQAP manual is outdated and it was clear from the FRDC PST review report that it urgently needs revision. This position has been accepted by ASQAAC.
Objectives: 1. An updated ASQAP manual will be produced in consultation with all members of ASQAAC 2. The updated manual will be internationally peer reviewed 3. The updated manual will be endorsed by the ASQAAC for agreement by ISC Read moreRead less
Seafood CRC: Understanding And Reducing The Risk Of Paralytic Shellfish Toxins In Southern Rock Lobster
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$417,984.00
Summary
As noted in the background section, Paralytic Shellfish Toxins pose a significant economic risk to the rock lobster industry, the Tasmanian algal bloom in 2012/2013 resulted in losses to the seafood industry in the vicinity of $20million AUD and scientific data is critically needed to assist in minimising losses in future years.
Knowledge on the how rock lobsters accumulate PSTs (e.g. trophic pathway) is crucial to underpin future management strategies, including validating the use ....As noted in the background section, Paralytic Shellfish Toxins pose a significant economic risk to the rock lobster industry, the Tasmanian algal bloom in 2012/2013 resulted in losses to the seafood industry in the vicinity of $20million AUD and scientific data is critically needed to assist in minimising losses in future years.
Knowledge on the how rock lobsters accumulate PSTs (e.g. trophic pathway) is crucial to underpin future management strategies, including validating the use of species which may be more readily gathered to indicate risk (e.g. the use of farmed or wild caught mussels). Additionally, there is limited information on the elimination of PSTs from Jasus edwardsii. This data would assist industry in an event where large volumes of product have been harvested and are being held in live-containment facilities, particularly in Australia where animals can be held for several weeks in tanks. Information on persistence in the wild will also underpin decisions on potential re-direction of fishing effort to non contaminated areas.
Objectives: 1. To provide management options for industry to reduce the impacts of algal blooms. These options will potentially include: in-tank elimination conditions, testing of sentinel species to obtain early warning etc 2. To reduce technical barriers to trade for Australian rock lobsters in key markets through using the risk assessment output of the project to negotiate risk based standards. 3. To enhance R&D capability on marine biotoxins and market access in Australia. Read moreRead less
Developing Clam Aquaculture In Australia: A Feasibility Study On Culturing Donax Deltoides And Katelysia Sp On Intertidal And Subtidal Leases In South Australia
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$296,960.00
Summary
The need for development of an Australian clam aquaculture industry comes from the fact that a large international market is prepared to pay a premium price for quality Australian clams, demand cannot be met by the wild fishery, and clam aquaculture has been successfully developed on a large scale overseas.
CCPL and other cockle fishers are finding that further expansion of their businesses is severely limited by the level of wild catch and as such are actively exploring aquaculture, th ....The need for development of an Australian clam aquaculture industry comes from the fact that a large international market is prepared to pay a premium price for quality Australian clams, demand cannot be met by the wild fishery, and clam aquaculture has been successfully developed on a large scale overseas.
CCPL and other cockle fishers are finding that further expansion of their businesses is severely limited by the level of wild catch and as such are actively exploring aquaculture, the basis of this project proposal, to realise the potential of the markets they have developed. Their level of commitment is demonstrated by their contribution of $75,000 cash and $51,160 in-kind towards this project.
We believe that the potential viability of a clam culture industry compares well with the South Australian oyster industry: - the price per kilogram is as good or better than for oysters; - stocking levels are likely to be much higher per unit area of a lease, or per cylindrical basket on a longline; - infrastructure costs are likely to be less if cultured in the sediments, or similar if using a longline system; - handling, including rumbling and grading are likely to be less frequent; and - the development of a clam culture industry is likely to occur in a shorter time frame due to the technical, biological and resource management experience gained from the shellfish industry.
Intertidal waters currently identified as being suitable for oyster culture are fully allocated in South Australia and the opportunities for growers to increase business revenue are limited. Clams can offer a new income stream from the same leases, from leases that have proven to be unsuitable for oyster culture, and from new areas. Objectives: 1. Desktop study of previous research and international clam farming techniques and with a view to adopting existing technology where practicable to ensure project efficiency. 2. Determine suitable species using field and laboratory based trials. 3. Successful production of clam spat from hatchery reared larvae. 4. Production of a hatchery production manual for possible use by commercial hatcheries wishing to participate in the proposed clam culture industry 5. Undertake field evaluations for identification of likely commercial culture methods and site characteristics 6. Communication and technology transfer between industry participants and researchers in the form of workshops and written reports Read moreRead less
Pearl Oyster Aquaculture: Health Survey Of NT, WA And Qld Pearl Oyster Beds And Farms
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$266,135.00
Summary
Objectives: 1. Detect and document the serious diseases and significant pathogens of farmed pearl oysters in WA, NT and QLD 2. Develop a database of pearl disease, location and prevalence that can assist both government and farmers in making informed decisions about translocation of stock