Animal & Veterinary Sciences

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Molecular Biology

Continuing genotypic and other analysis of Mucor amphibiorum fungal isolates from diseased platypuses and amphibians

We have compared Mucor isolates from diseased Tasmanian platypuses and mainland toads and frogs using ISSR PCR and also sequencing of the conserved ITS regions. 

Supervisor
Dr Joanne Connolly
A/Prof Gavin Ash (SAWS)
Dr Ben Stodart (SAWS)

Surface tegument development of Fasciola hepatica under different culture conditions in vitro

Fasciolosis, caused by the parasite Fasciola, is a zoonotic disease in production animals and humans, causing significant economic losses (>US $3 billion p.a.) to the global agricultural sector. Over 500 million animals are infected with Fasciola sp. in the world, and up to 40 million sheep and 6 million cattle graze on fluke endemic pastures in Australia, causing economic loss within Australia of $90 million p.a. Resistance to the main anthelmintic used to treat this parasitic infection, triclabendazole, has been reported in Australia and is now widespread in Europe. At present, there is no commercial vaccine for controlling this disease; we are interested in developing a vaccine by targeting surface proteins expressed on the surface sheath(tegument) of the parasite since we know that immunity to Fasciola in sheep involves an antibody-mediated killing mechanism directed to these surface tegument proteins. However, the parasite is able to evade the host’s immune system by varying the tegumental proteins as it develops from a juvenile to adult parasite within the host but the surface proteins expressed by the parasite have  not yet been well defined.

Supervisor
Prof Terry Spithill
Dr Janelle Wright

Identification of Staphylococcus aureus biomarkers in milk of Dairy Cows

Milk from cows with mastitis (S. aureus infections) is unsafe for human consumption and detection of an infection is critical to food safety. At present, bacterial culture is performed on milk products but these tests can take days and often results are returned as negative or inconclusive. These poor results may be due to irregular distribution of S. aureus in the cow’s udder or contamination of other bacteria. For successful treatment of S. aureus, infected cows need to be diagnosed quickly, and treated to minimise spread of the pathogen to the herd.

Supervisor
Prof Terry Spithill
Dr Jan Lievaart
Dr Janelle Wright

Diversity among cryptochrome genes in chicken and their association with magnetic orientation behaviour

The discovery of the magnetic sense in migratory birds and subsequent research has identified the Earth’s magnetic field as the major cue in the orientation of many organisms ranging from tiny bacteria to many invertebrates and vertebrates. A recent study on chickens, a common laboratory animal, has shown that they also possess a magnetic sense. However, the mechanism that chickens, and indeed other birds, use for detecting the magnetic field is largely unknown. Cryptochromes are a family of proteins found in many animals, birds and plants where they play a role in mediating and regulating circadian rhythms and other responses to light. Recently, it was demonstrated that two cryptochrome genes are expressed in the retinas of European robins and are potential involved in detecting the magnetic field. The genetic analysis of the cryptochromes of these two birds suggests that cryptochrome eCry1b is the possible transducer for the avian magnetic sense. However, while these results appear promising too few birds have yet been screened for retinal cryptochromes and their potential association with the magnetic sense. This project combines analysis of orientation behaviour of chickens in a laboratory test with cloning and sequencing cryptochrome genes to investigate if any genetic variability exists between individuals able or not able to respond to magnetic cues.

Supervisor
Dr Nigel Urwin
Dr Raf Freire

Use of faecal DNA as a Tool for Diagnosing Plant Poisoning in Livestock

Plant poisonings cost the Australian livestock industry more than $100 million each year through loss of animals, losses in production, and associated veterinary costs (Dowling & McKenzie 1993). Part of the difficulty in treating (if possible) affected animals is the problem of ascertaining whether the animal(s) has in fact consumed a poisonous plant.  In many instances, the plant may no longer be present in the immediate area, simply because the animal has consumed it. Faecal DNA has been successfully used to determine the presence of specific (desirable) plants in the diets of grazing sheep and kangaroos (current research, Krebs et al). The aim of this research is to establish if consumption of poisonous plants can be determined using faecal DNA and if level of consumption impacts on the success of the technique.

There are a large number of toxic plants that grazing animals have access to, but in most instances these will be avoided by livestock.  For this initial study, only two plants will be selected:

The project will involve the following:

Supervisors
 Dr Gaye Krebs
Dr Scott Norman
Partner Investigator: Dr Kevin Ho (Chemistry Centre of Western Australia)

Livestock Semen Assessment: A Comparison of Traditional and New Methodologies

Using submitted extended boar semen, the student will compare routine traditional semen assessment methods with new/evolving methods, as below.

Traditional methods

New methods/technologies

Motility (BF microscopy)
% Live/dead
% Normal sperm

Sperm motility (CASA)
Ubiquitin (proteomics)
SCSA* (flow cytometery)

* Sperm chromatin structure assay

As part of this project, the student will learn a number of research techniques including Lab GLP and applications of biostatistics. In addition, each test employed must be validated. The student will be expected to undertake a literature review of semen evaluation methods.

Supervisor
Prof Peter Chenoweth
Prof Terry Spithill

 

 

 

 

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