Parasite virulence: the role of activation and suppression of P2X7 receptors. Toxoplasmosis and leishmaniasis pose a threat to the health and well-being of the Australian human and animal populations. Around 6-8 million Australians are infected with Toxoplasma, a parasite that can cause severe problems in immunosuppressed individuals and birth defects and miscarriage in pregnant women with a primary infection. Toxoplasmosis is also the main cause of abortion and stillbirth in Australian sheep. L ....Parasite virulence: the role of activation and suppression of P2X7 receptors. Toxoplasmosis and leishmaniasis pose a threat to the health and well-being of the Australian human and animal populations. Around 6-8 million Australians are infected with Toxoplasma, a parasite that can cause severe problems in immunosuppressed individuals and birth defects and miscarriage in pregnant women with a primary infection. Toxoplasmosis is also the main cause of abortion and stillbirth in Australian sheep. Leishmaniasis, recently found in Australia, is a risk for overseas travellers, livestock and wildlife. This research will provide an understanding of what makes these parasites successful, paving the way for development of novel drugs to combat these chronic diseases.Read moreRead less
The biosynthesis of structural proteins in parasites. The socio-economic impact of parasitic diseases, in Australia and throughout the world, is enormous- they kill 2-3 million people per year and cost livestock industries billions of dollars per annum. Some are serious food and waterborne threats, such as the coccidia, because they are transmitted from person-to-person via the faecal-oral route, or via ingestion of contaminated water or food, or through the ingestion of cysts in raw or underco ....The biosynthesis of structural proteins in parasites. The socio-economic impact of parasitic diseases, in Australia and throughout the world, is enormous- they kill 2-3 million people per year and cost livestock industries billions of dollars per annum. Some are serious food and waterborne threats, such as the coccidia, because they are transmitted from person-to-person via the faecal-oral route, or via ingestion of contaminated water or food, or through the ingestion of cysts in raw or undercooked meat. They cause diarrhoea, which in some cases, can be life-threatening. We will understand how the coccidia protect themselves as they move from host to host and, through that understanding, develop new ways to control them and eliminate the suffering caused by parasitic diseases.Read moreRead less