3.3 Behaviour Responses
3.3.1 PBC 210
Programme Title: |
Population and behavioural responses of wild possums to fertility control. |
| Programme Leader: | Dr Phil Cowan |
| Institution: | Landcare Research, Lincoln |
Programme Goal: To determine the demographic and behavioural responses of possum populations to fertility control.
Objective 1
Objective Title: Demographic responses to fertility control.
Research Leader: Dr DSL Ramsey
Description:
Assess the effects of fertility control on possum population dynamics in six study sites where 0%, 50% or 80% of female possums are sterilised by:
- estimating annually by capture-mark-release methods, population size, breeding, recruitment and survival in February, June and September;
- completing annual adjustments to levels of sterility and immigration in the study populations to maintain experimental treatments;
- undertaking age-structured population analysis to determine the effects of fertility control on population parameters at different stages in the life cycle.
Produce milestone and annual reports and give one conference presentation.
Objective 2
Objective Title: Behavioural responses to fertility control.
Research Leader: Dr DSL Ramsey
Description
Determine the effects of fertility control on the social organisation and mating behaviour of possums in the wild by:
- measuring the effects of gonadectomy on home ranges and denning behaviour of male and female radio tagged possums;
- estimating the effects of tubal ligation on the transmission rate of Leptospira balcanica for male and female possums;
- estimating the effects of gonadectomy on the transmission rate of L. balcanica for male and female possums.
3.4 Vaccine Development
3.4.1 PBC 211
Programme Title: |
Immunology of bovine tuberculosis. |
| Programme Leader: | Dr Bryce Buddle |
| Institution: | AgResearch, Wallaceville |
Programme Goal: To improve diagnostic tests and vaccines for control of bovine tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis).
Objective 1
Objective Title: Improved diagnostic tests and vaccines for control of bovine tuberculosis.
Description:
Development and evaluation of diagnostic tests and vaccines for control of bovine tuberculosis in cattle and possums by:
- determining the effect of cytokines on enhancing the sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic tests for detection of bovine tuberculosis;
- establishing whether the co-administration of specific cytokines and adjuvants with a sub-unit tuberculosis vaccine can enhance cellular immune responses and protection of cattle against bovine tuberculosis;
- developing a vaccination/challenge model in newborn calves for protection against bovine tuberculosis;
- determining the effect of tuberculosis DNA vaccines on immune responses in cattle;
- determining whether immunisation with BCG can induce cytotoxic T-cell responses in cattle and establish a method for measuring CD8 T-cell activity in cattle;
- establishing whether two newly attenuated M. bovis strains administered as vaccines can protect possums against bovine tuberculosis;
- determining (in collaboration with Massey University) optimal dose of BCG for protection of possums against bovine tuberculosis when the vaccine is administered by the intranasal route.
Three papers will be submitted to refereed journals.
Objective 2
Objective Title: Possum immunology
Description:
Develop methods for measuring mucosal immune responses in possums. Develop vaccine delivery systems and further our understanding of how immune responses in possums are regulated by cytokines by:
- determining whether mycobacterial products, bacterial toxins and other bacterial or yeast products can function as adjuvants to stimulate possum mucosal immunity;
- determining whether the route of immunisation affects the mucosal immune response at distant sites;
- determining the adjuvant properties of immunostimulatory peptides, chimeric cytokine molecules and combinations of IL - 1_ and TNF-_ in possums.
One paper will be submitted to a referred journal.
3.5 Viruses
3.5.1 PBV 250
Programme Title: |
Possum Viruses. |
| Programme Leader: | Dr Tao Zheng |
| Institution: | AgResearch, Wallaceville and Massey University |
Programme Goal: To isolate, characterise and genetically manipulate possum viruses for the biological control of possums.
Objective 1
Objective Title: Possum virology.
Objective Leader: Dr Tao Zheng
Description:
Isolation and characterisation of possum viruses (possum herpesviruses) and genetic manipulation of Macropodid Herpesvirus 1 (MaHV-1), with the aim of developing a viral based foreign gene delivery system for the biological control of possums by:
- investigating the transmissibility of MaHV-1 among possums;
- developing a MaHV-1 based immunoassay, which can detect antibodies to broader herpesvirus antigens;
- using newly developed immunoassay test sera from possum serum bank to identify populations of possums which have a higher prevalence of antibodies to herpesviruses;
- investigating the reactivation of possum herpesviruses from serum positive possums;
- investigating the outbreaks of disease in possums that may be of viral origin with the aim of isolating and characterising new viruses.
Objective 2
Objective Title: Possum virology.
Objective Leader: Dr Joanne Meers
Description:
To evaluate the possum adenovirus as a vector for use in the biological control of possums by:
- investigating the tissue tropism of possum adenovirus in possums known to be infected with possum adenovirus, using an indirect in situ PCR assay;
- producing recombinant possum adenovirus proteins;
- using these proteins to develop a serological assay for the detection of antibodies to possum adenovirus;
- commencing screening possum serum banks to investigate seroprevalence of the virus;
- using sequence data from the possum adenovirus genome to determine suitable sites for insertion of reporter genes.
| © MAF 1999 |  |
|
| MAFnet Help | Important Disclaimer |
Contact for Enquiries
Farm Monitoring Programme Manager
Monitoring and Evaluation
MAF Policy
PO Box 2526
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 4 894 0623
Fax: +64 4 894 0741
Contact this person
