Altering host-parasite interactions through wildlife conservation strategies. Disease outbreaks are heightened in endangered animals but strategies used to conserve these species often increase risk of disease; nowhere is this more critical than in species recovery programs. The project will study disease in a recovery program to improve conservation practice and protect Australia's wildlife, ensuring our ecosystems are sustained.
Safeguarding honeybees: understanding host-parasite interactions at the level of proteins. Parasites are responsible for dramatic declines of honeybee populations resulting in a loss of pollination services and posing a threat to food production and ecosystem stability. This project will study the honeybee immune system and its interactions with bee parasites on the molecular scale, which will be important to guide future bee breeding.
Safeguarding Honeybees: Increasing parasite treatment effectiveness using nanotechnology. There is increasing concern about the exposure of honeybees to pesticides used to control both agricultural pests and diseases. Emerging reports indicate that these chemicals substantially harm bees and therefore contribute to the dramatic declines reported. A widespread bee pathogen, Nosema, will be used to directly quantify the effectiveness of commercially used pesticides on both parasite and honeybee vi ....Safeguarding Honeybees: Increasing parasite treatment effectiveness using nanotechnology. There is increasing concern about the exposure of honeybees to pesticides used to control both agricultural pests and diseases. Emerging reports indicate that these chemicals substantially harm bees and therefore contribute to the dramatic declines reported. A widespread bee pathogen, Nosema, will be used to directly quantify the effectiveness of commercially used pesticides on both parasite and honeybee viability. Furthermore, state-of-the-art nanotechnology will be used to develop benign treatments with enhanced effectiveness and minimal dosage/exposure to the bees. Outcomes of this project can have major impact on future parasite management in commercial honeybees.Read moreRead less
A lipodomic approach to cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis. Fatty Acids are essential for human health and for reef health. This lipodomic study using newly developed techniques, aims to understand the essential and non-essential fatty acid metabolic exchange in the symbiosis that drives coral reef formation and health, and in turn gives reflective insight into our own metabolism.
The ecology of parasite transmission in fauna translocations. Parasitic diseases pose a threat to the conservation management of Australia's biodiversity. This project will improve our understanding of the impact and transmission of parasites in fauna translocations, contributing to the conservation management of Australian ecosystems by government and private agencies.
Threats of avian pathogens to endangered parrots and human health: developing and utilizing tools for risk reduction. Emerging infectious diseases (EID) are among the most significant threats to conservation, agriculture and public health worldwide. Among these are two globally significant avian pathogens, Chlamydia psittaci and Beak and Feather Disease Virus. This project aims to determine transmission dynamics, fitness costs of infection, and quantify the roles of genetic diversity and host st ....Threats of avian pathogens to endangered parrots and human health: developing and utilizing tools for risk reduction. Emerging infectious diseases (EID) are among the most significant threats to conservation, agriculture and public health worldwide. Among these are two globally significant avian pathogens, Chlamydia psittaci and Beak and Feather Disease Virus. This project aims to determine transmission dynamics, fitness costs of infection, and quantify the roles of genetic diversity and host stress in infection and disease emergence. The project aims to also determine to what extent zoonotic poultry/human infection is related to infection in wild birds. The outcomes aim to be the development of critical knowledge and tools to help manage two avian pathogens causing significant conservation, agricultural and public health concern around the world.Read moreRead less
Assessing the Role of Political and Regulatory Risks for Foreign Investors: A Multi-Country Study of Four Industry Sectors. This project will benefit Australian enterprise engaged in investment activities in Asia by providing them with the necessary methodological and analytical systems to identify, measure and assess political and regulatory risks to their investment interests. By doing so, the project will increase the investment transparency of Asia's emerging economies and thus the ability ....Assessing the Role of Political and Regulatory Risks for Foreign Investors: A Multi-Country Study of Four Industry Sectors. This project will benefit Australian enterprise engaged in investment activities in Asia by providing them with the necessary methodological and analytical systems to identify, measure and assess political and regulatory risks to their investment interests. By doing so, the project will increase the investment transparency of Asia's emerging economies and thus the ability of Australian enterprise to operate efficiently in institutionally complex and competitive offshore environments. This will benefit Australia's economy by strengthening Australia's national economic security and the safety of Australia's national savings invested in the region.Read moreRead less
Tailoring cellulose properties by manipulating cellulose synthase. Cellulose, a highly abundant polymer produced by plants, has many existing uses in Australian fibre and polymer industries and potential uses as, for example, an abundant feedstuff for biomass conversion into ethanol and other high value products. The optimal properties for different applications vary so that, for example, high crystallinity cellulose gives strong fibres whereas low crystallinity cellulose dissolves in gentler so ....Tailoring cellulose properties by manipulating cellulose synthase. Cellulose, a highly abundant polymer produced by plants, has many existing uses in Australian fibre and polymer industries and potential uses as, for example, an abundant feedstuff for biomass conversion into ethanol and other high value products. The optimal properties for different applications vary so that, for example, high crystallinity cellulose gives strong fibres whereas low crystallinity cellulose dissolves in gentler solvents on the way to producing cellulose-based polymers. By exploring ways to adjust the properties of celluloses for use in different applications, we can deliver potential benefits to primary producers, industries and the environment.
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Official History of Australian Peacekeeping and Post Cold War Operations. This nationally important project will produce a four-volume official history of Australia's peacekeeping and post-Cold War operations. Previous official histories covered the world wars, the Korean War and Southeast Asia conflicts. This new series will cover Australia's military role in some 50 missions, over 56 years in 33 countries, in which about 37,000 Australians were involved. It will become an enduring national ....Official History of Australian Peacekeeping and Post Cold War Operations. This nationally important project will produce a four-volume official history of Australia's peacekeeping and post-Cold War operations. Previous official histories covered the world wars, the Korean War and Southeast Asia conflicts. This new series will cover Australia's military role in some 50 missions, over 56 years in 33 countries, in which about 37,000 Australians were involved. It will become an enduring national record, and an invaluable resource for the public and for researchers at all levels. As with previous official histories, it will be written with unrestricted access to all government records, but will not be subject to government censorship. Read moreRead less
Shipwrecks of the Roaring Forties: a maritime archaeological reassessment of some of Australia's earliest shipwrecks. This project will evaluate new ways of investigating the history of Europeans in the Indian Ocean by using the latest technology to evaluate seven Western Australian shipwrecks excavated over 40 years ago. The project will work with emerging technologies to study these significant sites and collections.