Finem Apicomplexan

Australia’s $33 billion livestock industry is under constant threat from disease outbreaks. Infections with apicomplexan parasites are a prominent cause of disease and result in animal deaths and reduced yields.

Treatments, when available, are costly. Apicomplexan parasites also sicken people exposed to infected meat and animal faeces, and cause devastating diseases, such as malaria. This project explores the use of new genetic tools targeting the parasite breeding cycle to rapidly change parasite populations. These changes can be designed to reduce disease severity or even eradicate parasites entirely.