A chicken

Mitigation of disease impact through modification of the host response

CSIRO researchers are developing novel strategies and products that will limit the spread of major animal diseases.

  • 16 December 2008 | Updated 14 October 2011

Our research

Our research draws on the knowledge of immunology and disease experts at CSIRO’s Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) in Geelong, Victoria. We also work with national and international collaborators.

We are working to develop:

  • novel therapeutics
  • improved vaccines and adjuvants
  • disease-resistant animals
  • RNA interference (RNAi) technology for the control of viral diseases and modulation of animal traits
  • new vaccine candidates for devastating poultry diseases.

Some of our successful outcomes include:

  • establishment of the Australian Facility for Poultry Immunogenomics, in collaboration with the Australian Poultry Cooperative Research Centre (CRC)
  • development of proof-of-concept for RNA interference (RNAi) technology for control of viral infection
  • discovery of a new vaccine candidate (NetB) for necrotic enteritis, a devastating poultry disease 
  • discovery of a new cytokine, chicken interferon lambda that has anti-viral and adjuvant activity
  • discovery of new chicken microRNA sequences.
CSIRO researchers have discovered a new vaccine candidate for the devastating poultry disease, necrotic enteritis.

Current research

Our current research areas include:

  • understanding the host immune response to avian influenza in chickens, ducks, ferrets and bats
  • assessing RNA-based antiviral therapy
  • studying immune molecules and receptors
  • combating necrotic enteritis in poultry
  • developing antivirals against Hendra virus and Nipah virus
  • developing applications for RNAi and microRNA (miRNA) technologies
  • production of disease-resistant transgenic animals
  • exploring phage-display peptides that could be used for the diagnosis and treatment of Campylobacter
  • developing new vaccines for Infectious Bursal Disease Virus (IBDV).

Staff

Our staff have a range of expertise:

  • Dr John Lowenthal, Stream Leader, leading poultry researcher
  • Dr Robert Moore, gene technologies
  • Dr Andrew Bean, avian immunology
  • Dr Tim Doran, RNAi (gene silencing)
  • Dr Bruce Mungall, antivirals
  • Dr Sandra Sapats, viral vaccines
  • Dr Mark Tizard, microRNA technology
  • Dr Sharon Bishop-Hurley, phage-display technology.

Key collaborators and supporters

We have a range of national and international collaborators and supporters:

Find out more about CSIRO Livestock Industries.