A comprehensive analysis of the outer membrane, surface exposed and secreted proteome of Pasteurella multocida. Pasteurella multocida is the causative agent of a range of animal diseases. The molecular mechanisms of P. multocida pathogenesis are poorly understood and the current vaccines generally ineffective. We will identify all P. multocida outer membrane, surface exposed and secreted proteins expressed during natural infection, or under conditions which mimic natural infection, by a global p ....A comprehensive analysis of the outer membrane, surface exposed and secreted proteome of Pasteurella multocida. Pasteurella multocida is the causative agent of a range of animal diseases. The molecular mechanisms of P. multocida pathogenesis are poorly understood and the current vaccines generally ineffective. We will identify all P. multocida outer membrane, surface exposed and secreted proteins expressed during natural infection, or under conditions which mimic natural infection, by a global proteomics approach. We believe that secreted proteins and those found on the outer surface of the bacterial cell are likely to be crucial virulence determinants. The expected outcomes are the identification of a number of candidate vaccine antigens and an enhanced understanding of Pasteurella pathogenesis.Read moreRead less
Structural and functional alteration of red blood cells by Babesia parasites. Cattle Tick Fever caused by Babesia parasites causes significant economic loss to the Australian livestock industry. New approaches to prevent this disease are urgently needed but this requires greater knowledge of how the parasites cause disease in cattle. By identifying novel proteins involved in the disease process we will be able to make better vaccines and drugs and save the Australian livestock industry millions ....Structural and functional alteration of red blood cells by Babesia parasites. Cattle Tick Fever caused by Babesia parasites causes significant economic loss to the Australian livestock industry. New approaches to prevent this disease are urgently needed but this requires greater knowledge of how the parasites cause disease in cattle. By identifying novel proteins involved in the disease process we will be able to make better vaccines and drugs and save the Australian livestock industry millions of dollars each year.Read moreRead less
Functional genomics of large clostridial plasmids. The aims of this genomics project are to determine how large DNA elements called plasmids are able to be transferred between different strains of a bacterium that causes disease in domestic livestock. These plasmids carry genes that encode the potent protein toxins that are responsible for several diseases. To understand how these diseases are spread we must learn how the plasmids have evolved and whether they can move from bacterium to bacteriu ....Functional genomics of large clostridial plasmids. The aims of this genomics project are to determine how large DNA elements called plasmids are able to be transferred between different strains of a bacterium that causes disease in domestic livestock. These plasmids carry genes that encode the potent protein toxins that are responsible for several diseases. To understand how these diseases are spread we must learn how the plasmids have evolved and whether they can move from bacterium to bacterium. The successful completion of the project will result in a detailed understanding of genetic elements that are important mediators of several diseases of importance to Australian primary industry.Read moreRead less
The Evolution and Diversification of Apicomplexan Cell Invasion Mechanisms. Insights gained through this project, about the mechanisms of cell invasion in Apicomplexan parasites, will have far reaching implications for a number of parasites of great significance to humans and animals. Since host cell invasion is a key step in the parasite lifecycle, proteins identified here will be prime targets for novel drugs that prevent invasion or antigens that can be used as vaccines. This will be importan ....The Evolution and Diversification of Apicomplexan Cell Invasion Mechanisms. Insights gained through this project, about the mechanisms of cell invasion in Apicomplexan parasites, will have far reaching implications for a number of parasites of great significance to humans and animals. Since host cell invasion is a key step in the parasite lifecycle, proteins identified here will be prime targets for novel drugs that prevent invasion or antigens that can be used as vaccines. This will be important for developing new control strategies for diseases of global significance such as malaria or toxoplasmosis, as well as those of national importance to the food industry of Australia, including diseases like babesiosis and coccidiosis that cause significant economic loss to the livestock and poultry industries each year.Read moreRead less
Development of novel vaccine delivery systems for induction of mucosal immunity in a large animal model. The induction of mucosal immune responses is a highly desirable goal in vaccine research and development, as it prevents entry of the large number of mucosal pathogens. This proposal aims to develop new mucosal vaccine delivery systems by combining intra-nasal, intra-lung and transcutaneous vaccine delivery with ISCOM-based adjuvants. The nature of the immune response will be analysed in real ....Development of novel vaccine delivery systems for induction of mucosal immunity in a large animal model. The induction of mucosal immune responses is a highly desirable goal in vaccine research and development, as it prevents entry of the large number of mucosal pathogens. This proposal aims to develop new mucosal vaccine delivery systems by combining intra-nasal, intra-lung and transcutaneous vaccine delivery with ISCOM-based adjuvants. The nature of the immune response will be analysed in real time using a sheep cannulation model. Subsequently, the efficacy of mucosal vaccination strategies will be tested in a chlamydia infection model.Read moreRead less
An Investigation of the Structure and Conformational Stability of a Membrane Associating Protein and its Petidic Ligands. The genome of the parasite most commonly responsible for fatal malaria will be completed this year. Structural elucidations of proteins identified from these genomic data will expedite the identification and classification of proteins synthesised by the parasite that might be developed as vaccines or as targets for anti-malarial therapeutics. In this work, recent developmen ....An Investigation of the Structure and Conformational Stability of a Membrane Associating Protein and its Petidic Ligands. The genome of the parasite most commonly responsible for fatal malaria will be completed this year. Structural elucidations of proteins identified from these genomic data will expedite the identification and classification of proteins synthesised by the parasite that might be developed as vaccines or as targets for anti-malarial therapeutics. In this work, recent developments in structural biology will be employed to obtain the structure of a vaccine candidate and to identify environmental factors that influence the stability of this structure. A novel approach will be taken to determine the conformation of ligands bound to such proteins, which will provide a basis for the development of therapeutics.Read moreRead less
Regulation of local lymphocyte trafficking and its role during infection. The study of early immune responses will contribute to the development of better vaccination strategies. In particular it will contribute by helping to understand the essential differences between reactogenicity and immunogenicity and how this relates to adjuvants. Using this understanding it will be possible to develop novel adjuvants that induce appropriate immunity with minimal side effects.
Evaluation of the EG95 vaccine against hydatid infection in macropodid marsupials. A parasitic infection known as hydatids was introduced into Australia by Europeans and is now causing mortality in Australian wallabies and kangaroos, including amongst endangered species. A vaccine against the disease, that was developed in Australia for use in domestic livestock, is being evaluated to determine if it could be used to prevent hydatids closely monitored populations of endangered macropod marsupia ....Evaluation of the EG95 vaccine against hydatid infection in macropodid marsupials. A parasitic infection known as hydatids was introduced into Australia by Europeans and is now causing mortality in Australian wallabies and kangaroos, including amongst endangered species. A vaccine against the disease, that was developed in Australia for use in domestic livestock, is being evaluated to determine if it could be used to prevent hydatids closely monitored populations of endangered macropod marsupials, such as Petrogale penicillata.Read moreRead less
Subspecies distribution and virulence of Streptococcus uberis. Streptococcus uberis is a significant cause of bovine mastitis. Attempts to produce a successful vaccine against S. uberis have been hampered by the lack of knowledge of phylogenetic relationships within the species and virulence mechanisms. It is uncertain whether pathogenic strains are clonal or are acquired opportunistically from a diverse population in the environment. This project aims to examine the phylogenetic structure of ....Subspecies distribution and virulence of Streptococcus uberis. Streptococcus uberis is a significant cause of bovine mastitis. Attempts to produce a successful vaccine against S. uberis have been hampered by the lack of knowledge of phylogenetic relationships within the species and virulence mechanisms. It is uncertain whether pathogenic strains are clonal or are acquired opportunistically from a diverse population in the environment. This project aims to examine the phylogenetic structure of S. uberis by multilocus sequence typing and investigate control of virulence gene expression in S. uberis. The information obtained will be used to improve the formulation of a bovine mastitis vaccine developed by RMIT University and Vet Biosearch.Read moreRead less
Evaluation of the potential of colostrum-derived anti-influenza antibody for the treatment and prevention of influenza. The project addresses a common disease problem, influenza, with a novel application of antibody technology. The technology may safely provide protection and cost effective treatment for those members of the community who are least protected by current approaches. The product can be cost-effective and readily available to enable the public to self medicate in high risk situation ....Evaluation of the potential of colostrum-derived anti-influenza antibody for the treatment and prevention of influenza. The project addresses a common disease problem, influenza, with a novel application of antibody technology. The technology may safely provide protection and cost effective treatment for those members of the community who are least protected by current approaches. The product can be cost-effective and readily available to enable the public to self medicate in high risk situations, or to be used as a public health tool in situtions to control outbreaks in those most susceptible to serious disease. The production system that enabled the creation of the technology is the advanced Australian dairy industry. Farmers with herds participating will receive a significant income benefit from, what was before, largely a waste product.Read moreRead less