Improved biosecurity through the engineering of microbial ecosystems. This project aims to provide data and understanding that will help develop predictive models for changes in the distribution of drug-resistant bacteria, and surveillance and response programs for key biosecurity threats. Microorganisms, including commensals and pathogens, can live in complex communities in a range of environments including animal hosts. It is now known that these communities (known as microbiomes) can exert a ....Improved biosecurity through the engineering of microbial ecosystems. This project aims to provide data and understanding that will help develop predictive models for changes in the distribution of drug-resistant bacteria, and surveillance and response programs for key biosecurity threats. Microorganisms, including commensals and pathogens, can live in complex communities in a range of environments including animal hosts. It is now known that these communities (known as microbiomes) can exert a profound effect on animal health. This project seeks to understand where antimicrobial resistance genes reside in pig gut microbiotia and how they move between members of this complex microbial community, and to provide information on how probiotics may be used to reduce dependence on antibiotics.Read moreRead less
Bacterial and host drivers of chlamydial blindness in koalas. Chlamydial infection of the eyes is a significant cause of disease and death in koalas, contributing to the ongoing decline of this native species. Little is known about what influences the outcome of these infections, challenging efforts to manage and control koala chlamydial blindness. This project aims to evaluate whether differences in the infecting Chlamydia pecorum strains or the koala immune response, are associated with the ou ....Bacterial and host drivers of chlamydial blindness in koalas. Chlamydial infection of the eyes is a significant cause of disease and death in koalas, contributing to the ongoing decline of this native species. Little is known about what influences the outcome of these infections, challenging efforts to manage and control koala chlamydial blindness. This project aims to evaluate whether differences in the infecting Chlamydia pecorum strains or the koala immune response, are associated with the outcome of chlamydial ocular infection. In addition to helping us to understand and prevent blindness in koalas, this project should significantly expand our knowledge of the koala immune system and generate an array of koala immunological assays, outcomes that may benefit all koala conservation efforts.Read moreRead less
Unravelling small RNA regulatory networks to target and control bacteria. Small RNA (sRNA) molecules are critical regulators of bacterial gene expression. These molecules control important phenotypes in the Gram-negative veterinary pathogen Pasteurella multocida. This project aims to identify the range of P. multocida sRNAs and to show how expression of these molecules changes under various growth conditions. Specifically, this project endeavours: to identify the mRNA targets of the sRNAs; to id ....Unravelling small RNA regulatory networks to target and control bacteria. Small RNA (sRNA) molecules are critical regulators of bacterial gene expression. These molecules control important phenotypes in the Gram-negative veterinary pathogen Pasteurella multocida. This project aims to identify the range of P. multocida sRNAs and to show how expression of these molecules changes under various growth conditions. Specifically, this project endeavours: to identify the mRNA targets of the sRNAs; to identify the mechanisms of sRNA-mRNA interaction; to build systems-biology models that describe the sRNA regulatory circuits; to design inhibitors capable of disrupting critical sRNA-mRNA interactions; and to use the new inhibitors to modulate specific phenotypes. The ability to precisely manipulate sRNA regulatory circuits could allow fine control of bacterial phenotypes and could be widely applicable.Read moreRead less
Phase-variable epigenetic regulators in bacterial veterinary pathogens. This project aims to identify phasevarion regulated genes in the major bacterial swine pathogens Streptococcus suis and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. Both species contain randomly switching epigenetic regulators that control expression of multiple genes by epigenetic mechanisms. Identifying phasevarion controlled genes will inform and direct future vaccine development for important livestock species.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230101284
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$397,003.00
Summary
Insect-specific virus host restriction. Mosquito-borne viruses are a topic of intense research due to their complex biology, ecology and evolution, and their potential to produce unpredictable outbreaks of disease in both humans and animals. Insect-specific viruses (ISVs) are viruses that replicate solely in mosquito cell and are unable to infect vertebrate tissues. This project aims to assess the biodiversity of ISVs in the Australian mosquito population and identify key factors behind their re ....Insect-specific virus host restriction. Mosquito-borne viruses are a topic of intense research due to their complex biology, ecology and evolution, and their potential to produce unpredictable outbreaks of disease in both humans and animals. Insect-specific viruses (ISVs) are viruses that replicate solely in mosquito cell and are unable to infect vertebrate tissues. This project aims to assess the biodiversity of ISVs in the Australian mosquito population and identify key factors behind their restriction in vertebrates. The objectives of the studies proposed will answer clearly defined important biological questions about ISVs, while also delivering technological advances, novel reagents and potential commercial outcomes for the control and prevention of arboviral disease. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220101221
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$453,614.00
Summary
Revealing bat antibody recognition mechanism against bat-borne viruses. Bats act as asymptomic reservoir hosts for numerous zoonotic viruses that are lethal in humans, indicating that the bat immune system can control these viruses. However, little is known about bat immunity including how bat antibodies recognise bat-borne viruses. This project aims to study bat anti-viral antibodies by utilising innovative protein engineering, cutting-edge cryo-EM technology and single-cell isolation and seque ....Revealing bat antibody recognition mechanism against bat-borne viruses. Bats act as asymptomic reservoir hosts for numerous zoonotic viruses that are lethal in humans, indicating that the bat immune system can control these viruses. However, little is known about bat immunity including how bat antibodies recognise bat-borne viruses. This project aims to study bat anti-viral antibodies by utilising innovative protein engineering, cutting-edge cryo-EM technology and single-cell isolation and sequencing. The project seeks to uncover bat-borne zoonotic virus glycoprotein architecture and reveal how bat antibodies function to inhibit viral infection. Expected outcomes will be new insight and tools to combat emerging and yet to emerge pathogens, enabling pandemic preparedness and increasing global biosecurity.
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Novel Babesia proteins and their roles in the pathogenesis of tick fever. This project aims at gaining a deep understanding of the biology of Babesia parasites and how they cause tick fever in cattle. The project expects to discover novel parasite proteins involved in the development and persistence of tick fever and identify their functional role in infection. The main expected outcome is the discovery of parasite proteins that are critical for infection and pathogenesis of cattle tick fever. T ....Novel Babesia proteins and their roles in the pathogenesis of tick fever. This project aims at gaining a deep understanding of the biology of Babesia parasites and how they cause tick fever in cattle. The project expects to discover novel parasite proteins involved in the development and persistence of tick fever and identify their functional role in infection. The main expected outcome is the discovery of parasite proteins that are critical for infection and pathogenesis of cattle tick fever. The findings will contribute to the development of future novel vaccines to control tick fever, with significant economic benefits for the beef and dairy industries worldwide.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989564
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$150,000.00
Summary
State-of-the-art facility for human and animal virus research in the Canberra and surrounding regions. New viral diseases continue to emerge and old viruses re-emerge to pose a threat to human and animal health. To combat these, we propose a dedicated viral disease research facility. The centre will include experienced researchers, biotechnology companies and government agencies working on discovery, prevention and treatment of viral diseases. Forging strong scientific links between these organi ....State-of-the-art facility for human and animal virus research in the Canberra and surrounding regions. New viral diseases continue to emerge and old viruses re-emerge to pose a threat to human and animal health. To combat these, we propose a dedicated viral disease research facility. The centre will include experienced researchers, biotechnology companies and government agencies working on discovery, prevention and treatment of viral diseases. Forging strong scientific links between these organisations will considerably enhance the productivity of these researchers, increase their collaborative and scientific outputs and allow for training of students in the latest technologies. The facility will provide researchers with cutting-edge instrumentation for nationally and internationally important projects that would benefit human health.Read moreRead less
Maintaining fidelity in viral Ribonucleic acid (RNA) polymerases. This project will provide informed insights into the dynamics of viruses that currently impact a healthy start to life, ageing well and productively, and preventative healthcare. The analysis of viruses that cause gastroenteritis outbreaks will increase our understanding of how these viruses replicate and spread.
Biocontrol of foaming in activated sludge plants with bacteriophages. Activated sludge systems are the most widely used processes for treating wastewater in Australia. Yet most eventually suffer from episodes of bulking and foaming, where high levels of biosolids leave the plant with the treated waste, representing serious pollution hazards. Attempts to solve these problems have met with limited success.The highly novel biocontrol method proposed here will provide a specific, environmentally fri ....Biocontrol of foaming in activated sludge plants with bacteriophages. Activated sludge systems are the most widely used processes for treating wastewater in Australia. Yet most eventually suffer from episodes of bulking and foaming, where high levels of biosolids leave the plant with the treated waste, representing serious pollution hazards. Attempts to solve these problems have met with limited success.The highly novel biocontrol method proposed here will provide a specific, environmentally friendly and safe method to protect our rivers, streams and oceans form the harmful consequences of these problemsRead moreRead less