Molecular and Diagnostic Parasitology

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The laboratory aims are directed towards identifying and better understanding of parasitic diseases using state-of-the art technologies. Our aim is to understand the evolution of parasitic machineries and their diversity on genomic platforms and contribute to the elucidation of their functions. Projects employ a broad multidisciplinary techniques in cell biology, molecular biology, comparative genomics and bioinformatics.

In parallel to these, the laboratory works closely with the veterinarians and the clinics (companion, farm and wild-life clinic) to develop methods to rapidly diagnose and identify parasitic organisms using molecular and experimental tools and generate the data for better understanding parasitic life histories.

New projects - students needed!!!

Emerging parasitic disease: epidemiological, diagnostic and experimental approach

The project Emerging parasitic diseases: epidemiological, diagnostic and experimental approach will focus on development of molecular diagnostic techniques and elucidation of the epidemiology of newly or neglected disease in veterinary parasitology including (i) haemo- / tissue- parasites (Leucocytozoon, Plasmodium, Atoxoplasma, Babesia) and (ii) gastrointestinal parasites (Giardia, Cryptosporidium, Tritrichomonas). Project is focused on delivering tools to rapidly identify these pathogens. Currently but not limited to are 3 areas are currently under development:

• Cryptosporidium muris and Cryptosporidum parvum: isolation and characterisation of wild isolates in rural and urban areas of Sydney
• Neospora caninum as cause of abortion and CNS disease in NSW
• Haemoparasites in wild birds in Australia and PNG
• Tritrichominas foetus in Australian cats

Serology (ELISA) of platypuses to investigate the presence of infectious diseases

The project will investigate the usefulness of ELISA in the investigation of the presence of parasitic diseases caused by apicomplexan parasites in populations of wild platypuses. ELISA will be adopted to routinely screen platypuses.

Characterisation of proteins targeted to Cryptosporidium muris mitochondrion

Using comparative genomics from three available genomes (C. hominis, C. pestis, C. muris each with ~3.500 predicted proteins, 70% with unknown function) to complete a list of protein targeted to mitochondrion. Antibodies will be raised to these proteins to enable their characterisation in biochemical assays. Yeast knock outs will be rescued with homologous proteins from Cryptosporidium muris.

Bioinformatics approach to Cryptosporidium identity: database prospects

The Bioinformatics approach to Cryptosporidium identity: database prospects study will examine (i) the applicability of web based platform to clinical and field data and (ii) develop an automated approach to identification and annotation to sequences.