Parasitology

Controlling liver fluke parasites.

The work of Professor Terry Spithill and his team of researchers is focussed on controlling liver fluke parasites (Fasciola hepatica, Fasciola gigantica) in livestock. Drug resistance threatens the control of liver fluke which causes major diseases in animals and humans throughout the world. The Spithill Lab recognises that controlling these diseases requires research into new vaccines, drugs and diagnostics.

Research areas in the Spithill Lab include:

  • Biochemical, proteomic and functional analysis of liver fluke tegument proteins
  • Evaluation of tegument proteins as vaccine candidates in livestock
  • Analysis of antigens recognised by immune responses in sheep and cattle associated with resistance to liver fluke to identify novel candidate vaccine targets
  • Developing methods for in vitro culture of liver fluke life stages for transcriptome and proteomic studies
  • Understanding the distribution of drug resistant liver flukes in Australia

News

1

09/10/2016

Einstein A Go-Go with Dr Shane, & Colleagues

Radio - Triple RRR

2

Aug-16

New battle in the war on liver fluke

Country News

3

Jul-16

Liver fluke research bid to save millions of dollars for farmers

The Deveondaler

4

21/06/2016

New liver fluke study

Country News

5

16/06/2016

New ways to beat liver fluke in cattle

LTU

6

05/03/2016

Two new liver fluke tests developed for use on Vic dairy and beef farms

The Weekly Times

7

20/01/2016

Aiming to break the cycle

Country News

8

06/10/2015

PhD student wins prestige scholarship

LTU

9

29/09/2015

Jane Kelley on Vimeo - Rural Finance Scholarship winner

Rural Finance

10

03/04/2015

Healthier stock for dairy farmers

Science Meets Business

11

Apr-15

Dairy farmers benefit from liver fluke breakthrough

The Southern Farmer

12

Mar-15

Keeping on top of liver fluke

Macalister Demonstration Farm, Newsletter

13

30/05/2014

#344: Liver Fluke in Victorian Dairy Farms

LTU

14

31/03/2014

La Trobe University research assistant Jane Kelley to put liver fluke under microscope on Victorian dairy farms

Weeklytimes

15

14/03/2014

Dairy award winner aims high

Farming Ahead

16

12/03/2014

Young Innovator Wins Dairy Australia Award

Dairy Australia

17

10/03/2014

Hidden cost of liver fluke

Radio - ABC Rural

18

07/03/2014

La Trobe researcher targets parasite

LTU

19

11/07/2013

Quest to beat $3billion global liver fluke threat

LTU

20

11/07/2013

Vaccine development for liver fluke parasite

ABC - Radio Australia