Safeguarding Australia and the World

In recognition of the growing international concern about bio-terrorism and bio-security, the ARC Network for Parasitology will focus on the development of new technologies for the early detection and continued surveillance of Australia's borders.

Developing such tools as sophisticated biosensors will allow Australia and other countries, particularly our Asian and Pacific Island neighbours, to monitor and control any invasion by exotic, emerging and re-emerging parasitic diseases.

In addition, such tools can be used for the early detection of the release of infectious diseases following a bioterrorist attack.

The specific objectives of the Network are to enhance and focus Australia s parasitology research effort to:

• Better understand the epidemiology and transmission dynamics of parasites; and
• Discover and develop better surveillance systems.

Case Study : Emerging heminthiases in China

DP McManus and Alex Loukas, Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, QIMR

More than 600 million Chinese are infected with parasites.

One of the most important of these is the Asian or Oriental human bloodfluke, Schistosoma japonicum. It causes schistosomiasis (Bilharzia), a very serious and debilitating disease, and a major health problem for more than 40 million Chinese living in Southern China.

Infection occurs when people contact with water contaminated by microscopically small cercariae larvae that are released form freshwater snails. As well as humans, Schistosoma japonicum infects a number of other mammals, such as water buffaloes, which complicates control efforts.

Current control is based on treatment with the drug praziquantel. However vaccines in combination with other control methods, such as novel drugs, are needed to make elimination of the disease possible.

Control of the parasite is presently complicated by the construction of the giant Three Gorges Dam across the Yangtze River. This dam will increase snail breeding areas and cause marked elevation in infection rates and associated disease.

The Network-based program of research has a very strong emphasis on mutual research training and scientific interaction that will:

• Determine whether another drug, artemether, can be used as an aid in control
• Increase our understanding of the immunological and genetic processes involving in infection and the development of the disease of schistosomiasis
• Determine the importance of buffalo infections in maintaining human schistosomiasis transmission
• Undertake genomics and post-genomics research on existing and newly discovered S. japonicum molecules that are candidates as new vaccines and diagnostics
• Develop a mathematical model that can predict the optimum methods for the sustained control of schistosomiasis in China

In August 2003, Professor Don McManus and his team received an International Collaborative Research Grants Scheme Award from the Hon. Senator Kay Patterson, then Federal Minister for Health and Aging, at Parliament House, Canberra.

The International Collaborative Research Grants (ICRG) Scheme is a partnership between the UK-based Wellcome Trust, Australia's National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the Health Research Council (HRC) of New Zealand. The Scheme is designed to foster collaborative research between the developing countries of the region and both Australia and New Zealand. Countries of the region include countries in South and South East Asia and the islands of the Pacific.

The grants scheme aims to provide support for teams of researchers drawn from different countries, to pursue collaborative research projects in health issues of importance to the people of the region.

Professor McManus' project, linked to the theme of Emerging Helminthiases in China was one of only 11 successful projects, and is entitled: Pathways to improved, sustainable morbidity control and prevention of schistosomiasis in the People's Republic of China. The 5 year program grant award is for AUD $2.5 million. Prof McManus' co-Investigators include Prof Gail Williams (UQ), Dr Alex Loukas (QIMR), Prof Feng Zheng and Prof Guo Jiagang (both IPD-CDC, Shanghai, China) and Prof Yuesheng Li (Hunan Inst Par Dis, China).

Current Project Funding