Tropical Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity
This group brings a wide range of internationally recognised research expertise in areas such as the control of vector borne diseases (dengue, malaria, and lymphatic filariasis), melioidosis, Group A streptococcal infection, strongyloidosis, and avian, amphibian and aquatic infections. Their research is conducted not only in collaboration with researchers in other research institutions, but also in public health organisations, quarantine, and agricultural and animal production sectors.
The discipline areas include molecular bacteriology, biotechnology, entomology, field epidemiology, cellular immunology, immunopathology, travel medicine, medical microbiology, medical and veterinary parasitology, public health surveillance, wildlife diseases, and aquatic and veterinary virology.
The group along with the establishment of the undergraduate veterinary program at JCU is intending to expand its interests and attract leading researchers in zoonotic diseases to JCU. This field is of great relevance given recent outbreaks of avian influenza in the Asia Pacific region. It will also enhance opportunities for research students.
The research interests of group members are well placed to contribute to projects pertaining to biosecurity. Tropical Australia is vulnerable to emerging and re-emerging infectious agents due to our geographic position, increased international travel, drug resistance and climatic and environmental changes. To improve understanding of potential agents that could cause epidemics, support for research through biodefence programs has been made available. A robust biosecurity system requires fundamental research into the mechanisms of these infectious agents, and research into improved public health surveillance and patient management. Research currently being conducted and planned by members of this cluster on vector control, surveillance and diagnostic, therapeutic and vaccine strategies, forms an integral part of the biosecurity agenda.
- contact: N.Ketheesan@jcu.edu.au
| Tropical Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity | |
| Staff Member | Research Interest |
Dr Lee Berger |
Amphibian diseases (Chytridiomycosis) |
Dr Graham Burgess |
Pathogenesis and epidemiology of viral diseases of animals and man. |
Dr Dion Canyon |
Vector Control |
Dr Peter Daniels |
Zoonotic infectious diseases |
Assoc. Prof David Durrheim |
Communicable Disease epidemiology and surveillance |
Dr Susan Edwards |
Molecular and functional analysis of epithelial transport proteins |
Dr Brenda Govan |
Host - pathogen interactions during infection |
Dr Peter Johnson |
Cell biology, signal transduction |
Dr Natkuman Ketheesan |
Immunopathogenesis of Tropical Infectious Diseases |
Assoc. Prof Peter Leggat |
Travel and Migration Medicine |
Dr John McBride |
Tropical Infectious diseases |
Dr Wayne Melrose |
Lymphatic filariasis diagnosis and control |
Dr Arun Menon |
Sexually transmitted infectious diseases |
Dr Robert Norton |
Melioidosis, Invasive Group A streptococcal disease, Rheumatic fever |
Dr Kimberly Oman |
Clinical infectious and tropical diseases, education |
Assoc. Prof Leigh Owens |
Infectious diseases and host responses of aquatic animals |
Assoc. Prof Kevin Pile |
Rheumatology and cytokines |
Dr Stuart Ramsay |
Nuclear imaging and infectious diseases |
Prof John Reeder |
Tropical Infectious diseases |
Dr Scott Ritchie |
Mosquito borne diseases (JE, dengue, malaria) |
Assoc. Prof Warren Shipton |
Mycotic diseases |
Assoc. Prof Alan Sive |
Paediatric infectious diseases |
Dr Lee Skerrat |
Veterinary and medical parasitology; wildlife diseases |
Dr Jan Smith |
Biotechnology and infectious diseases |
Assoc. Prof Rick Speare |
Zoonosis and parasitology |
Mr Jeffrey Warner |
Diagnosis and pathogenesis of melioidosis - Developing country lab capacity building |
Assoc. Prof John Whitehall |
Neonatal infectious diseases |
Dr Shona Wynd |
Community socio-cultural understandings of infectious disease |