Continuation of the Darwin Prospective Melioidosis Study [ 2006 - 2008 ]

Research Grant

Researchers: Prof Bart Currie (Principal investigator) ,  A/Pr Robert Norton ,  Mr Mark Mayo ,  Prof Allen Cheng ,  Prof Brian Spratt

Brief description Melioidosis is an important infection in northern Australia. It is a common cause of fatal pneumonia and blood infection in the region. This project builds on the existing melioidosis collaboration between researchers in northern Australia and overseas. The aim is to use new DNA fingerprinting methods developed specifically for the melioidosis bacteria to understand better why melioidosis can be such a severe disease and how it spreads from the environment to humans and animals and also how it has possibly spread within Australia and overseas. Our studies in the Darwin rural region have found an alarmingly high rate of contamination of bore water with the melioidosis bacteria. We need to evaluate further the magnitude and public health implications of this contamination. Better recognition and treatment of melioidosis has resulted in a halving of the death rate from this disease in northern Australia (mortality decreased from 40%-15%). This study also aims to develop and test a new DNA detection system for rapid diagnosis of melioidosis. This will enable even earlier intervention with treatment specific for melioidosis which will hopefully decrease the mortality further.

Funding Amount $AUD 567,976.44

Funding Scheme NHMRC Project Grants

Notes Standard Project Grant