An integrated genomics approach to improve our understanding of the biology of genital campylobacteriosis in beef cattle. Beef is Australia's most valuable agricultural export estimated at $9.6B annually and this industry accounts for one-third of full time employment in regional communities. Currently, unknown causes of reproductive losses in cattle in Northern Australian cost producers approximately $15M per annum. Bovine genital campylobacteriosis is one of the major risk factors associated w ....An integrated genomics approach to improve our understanding of the biology of genital campylobacteriosis in beef cattle. Beef is Australia's most valuable agricultural export estimated at $9.6B annually and this industry accounts for one-third of full time employment in regional communities. Currently, unknown causes of reproductive losses in cattle in Northern Australian cost producers approximately $15M per annum. Bovine genital campylobacteriosis is one of the major risk factors associated with this high cost due to the inability to accurately diagnose the disease. This research will integrate genomics and bioinformatics with infection and vaccination models to improve our understanding of the biology of the disease to develop appropriate control strategies securing Australia's beef industry.Read moreRead less
Detection and viability of waterborne pathogens using a gut-on-chip. This project aims to resolve a significant problem for water utilities. Microbial pathogens Cryptosporidium, norovirus and adenovirus are the main public health concern for drinking water in developed nations. Water monitoring is limited by the lack of fast, reliable detection methods and viability assays for these pathogens. This project will use a novel gut-on-a-chip to develop for the first time rapid infectivity assays for ....Detection and viability of waterborne pathogens using a gut-on-chip. This project aims to resolve a significant problem for water utilities. Microbial pathogens Cryptosporidium, norovirus and adenovirus are the main public health concern for drinking water in developed nations. Water monitoring is limited by the lack of fast, reliable detection methods and viability assays for these pathogens. This project will use a novel gut-on-a-chip to develop for the first time rapid infectivity assays for Cryptosporidium, norovirus and adenovirus. Significant benefits include improved diagnostics and water disinfection assays, improved water treatment and reduced costs with global impact.Read moreRead less
Improving the Efficiency of Utilisation of Vegetable Proteins in Diets for Dogs. Australians spend approximately $1 billion per annum on feeding dogs. Uncle Bens of Australia has a significant share of this market. Development of dog foods based on vegetable proteins offers new market opportunities domestically, and overseas. Numerous vegetable proteins are available, however anti-nutritional factors that reduce digestibility and deteriorate faecal quality might limit their use. To optimise thei ....Improving the Efficiency of Utilisation of Vegetable Proteins in Diets for Dogs. Australians spend approximately $1 billion per annum on feeding dogs. Uncle Bens of Australia has a significant share of this market. Development of dog foods based on vegetable proteins offers new market opportunities domestically, and overseas. Numerous vegetable proteins are available, however anti-nutritional factors that reduce digestibility and deteriorate faecal quality might limit their use. To optimise their dietary inclusion, physiological effects in the canine gut must be understood to avoid any negative effects. These may be overcome by enzymes and (or) processing, and would allow cost effective products to be formulated that deliver optimum health and nutrition to consumers.
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Immunonutrition: A novel concept to overcome gastrointestinal tract mucosal damage after weaning in pigs. A sustainable Australian pork industry relies on further reductions in costs whilst considering the enhanced health and welfare of pigs. This project will lead to more precise estimates of amino acid requirements in the post-weaning period, which will contribute to an increased efficiency of nutrient utilization and enhance the welfare of pigs recovering from the weaning process.
Detection and elimination of resting spores of Olpidium vectoring lettuce big-vein disease in lettuce seedling nursery production. This project will devise nucleic acid and serology methods for detection of Olpidium brassicae, vector of lettuce big-vein disease (LBVD), during various phases of lettuce seedling production in nursery environments. It will be the first study to develop sustainable and environmentally responsible nursery best-practice protocols for integrated management of O. brass ....Detection and elimination of resting spores of Olpidium vectoring lettuce big-vein disease in lettuce seedling nursery production. This project will devise nucleic acid and serology methods for detection of Olpidium brassicae, vector of lettuce big-vein disease (LBVD), during various phases of lettuce seedling production in nursery environments. It will be the first study to develop sustainable and environmentally responsible nursery best-practice protocols for integrated management of O. brassicae in routine seedling production and for management within the lettuce industry. These protocols will ensure that the spread of LBVD from contaminated lettuce nurseries to farms is prevented. It will also be a unique study of the establishment of a disease in new land with different soils and agricultural practices.Read moreRead less
Understanding the molecular basis of virulence in Brachyspira hyodysenteriae to improve vaccine design. Swine dysentery is a colonic infection of pigs caused by Brachyspira hyodysenteriae. The disease is widespread in Australia and causes great economic loss. An effective vaccine is not available. This study aims to identify factors associated with the bacterium's virulence, using comparative genomic and proteomic information. Virulence factors then will be targeted and tested as recombinant vac ....Understanding the molecular basis of virulence in Brachyspira hyodysenteriae to improve vaccine design. Swine dysentery is a colonic infection of pigs caused by Brachyspira hyodysenteriae. The disease is widespread in Australia and causes great economic loss. An effective vaccine is not available. This study aims to identify factors associated with the bacterium's virulence, using comparative genomic and proteomic information. Virulence factors then will be targeted and tested as recombinant vaccine candidates. This project will result in the development of an improved vaccine to control swine dysentery in rural Australia. Control of swine dysentery through vaccination will reduce antibiotic use on infected farms and improve the productivity and competitiveness of the Australian pig industry.Read moreRead less
Validating protozoa-specific drug targets using peptides from biodiverse gene fragment libraries. Cryptosporidium and the trypanosomes are protozoan parasites, which have a global impact on the health, survival and economic development of millions of people and animals world wide. New therapies for the diseases they cause are urgently required. We describe a novel means of identifying protozoa-specific peptides that will inhibit the formation of essential protein complexes, which have no effect ....Validating protozoa-specific drug targets using peptides from biodiverse gene fragment libraries. Cryptosporidium and the trypanosomes are protozoan parasites, which have a global impact on the health, survival and economic development of millions of people and animals world wide. New therapies for the diseases they cause are urgently required. We describe a novel means of identifying protozoa-specific peptides that will inhibit the formation of essential protein complexes, which have no effect on the mammalian host. Candidate peptides will then be used to validate these protein complexes as new targets for the development of peptide-based therapeutic compounds. This project will validate novel targets for the development of new treatments for these diseases.Read moreRead less
Genomic sequencing and comparative genomic analysis for animal bacterial vaccine discovery. The aim of this project is to develop vaccines for the control of swine dysentery (pigs) and intestinal spirochaetosis (pigs and chickens). These infections cause important production-limiting diseases for which no effective vaccines are available. We will use whole genomic sequencing of the two causal species of intestinal spirochaetal bacteria, with a bioinformatics-based analysis of the data to identif ....Genomic sequencing and comparative genomic analysis for animal bacterial vaccine discovery. The aim of this project is to develop vaccines for the control of swine dysentery (pigs) and intestinal spirochaetosis (pigs and chickens). These infections cause important production-limiting diseases for which no effective vaccines are available. We will use whole genomic sequencing of the two causal species of intestinal spirochaetal bacteria, with a bioinformatics-based analysis of the data to identify potential cell surface structures that will be tested as the basis of new recombinant vaccines. Outcomes will include the development of new commercial products, increased institutional capacity in veterinary vaccine discovery, and ultimately improved animal health and production in rural Australia.Read moreRead less
Predictive Models & Decision Support Systems for Virus Diseases and Aphid Vectors of Lupin and Canola. Aphids and the viruses they transmit cause major economic losses in legume and canola crops in Australia. This project will develop innovative predictive models and decision support systems (DSS's) for Beet western yellows virus and direct aphid feeding damage in canola and two types of Bean yellow mosaic virus in lupin, and a DSS for direct aphid feeding damage in lupin. These models will gr ....Predictive Models & Decision Support Systems for Virus Diseases and Aphid Vectors of Lupin and Canola. Aphids and the viruses they transmit cause major economic losses in legume and canola crops in Australia. This project will develop innovative predictive models and decision support systems (DSS's) for Beet western yellows virus and direct aphid feeding damage in canola and two types of Bean yellow mosaic virus in lupin, and a DSS for direct aphid feeding damage in lupin. These models will greatly improve understanding of factors driving virus epidemics and aphid outbreaks. Following extensive validation with data previously collected in the WA grainbelt, the predictive models and DSS's will be extended to end-users, resulting in considerable productivity gains, reduced costs and environmental benefits.Read moreRead less
Novel strategy for optimising fertilizer input coupled with organic residue management for sustainable reconstruction of jarrah forest ecosystem. This project is aimed at judicious management of the rehabilitation process following surface mining by reducing initial fertilizer input along with using organic residue accumulated following pre-mine clearing of vegetation. This approach has the potential for 'speeding-up' the ecosystem development process by initiating early microbial development in ....Novel strategy for optimising fertilizer input coupled with organic residue management for sustainable reconstruction of jarrah forest ecosystem. This project is aimed at judicious management of the rehabilitation process following surface mining by reducing initial fertilizer input along with using organic residue accumulated following pre-mine clearing of vegetation. This approach has the potential for 'speeding-up' the ecosystem development process by initiating early microbial development in rehabilitation practice and reducing the deleterious effect of heavy fertilization. Apart from these ecological advantages, reducing fertilizer application lowers minesite rehabilitation cost incurred by mining companies. This project will be the first attempt to use organic residue and streamlining the use of mineral fertilizers in mine rehabilitation practice.Read moreRead less