Leveraging native soil microbiota to target melioidosis pathogens in Northern Queensland
Role
Principal Investigator
Description
Melioidosis is a serious disease caused by the soil bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei (Bps). It is a major health concern in Northern Queensland and other tropical regions. As our modelling predicted, and as confirmed by the sharp rise in local cases in 2025, the incidence of melioidosis is likely to increase with ongoing climate change. At the same time, growing resistance to life-saving carbapenems is making treatment more difficult. In previous work, we identified Burkholderia ubonensis, a harmless soil bacterium that can selectively inhibit Bps. This finding suggests that native soil microbes may offer a new way to control Bps in the environment and could also provide a source of novel antimicrobial compounds. This project builds on that discovery. We will identify and characterise additional Bps-inhibiting microbes and compounds from Northern Queensland soils, with the aim of developing both environmental control strategies and new therapeutic options for melioidosis.
Date
01 Jul 2025 - 31 Dec 2025
Project Type
N/A
Keywords
melioidosis;novel therapeutics;biocontrol;Tropical infectious disease
Funding Body
James Cook University
Amount
0
Project Team
Jeffrey Warner;Catherine Rush