Biomedical Sciences & Molecular Biology

Leigh Owens

Adjunct Associate Professor
leigh.owens@jcu.edu.au

Jeffrey Warner

Head, Biomedical Sciences and Molecular Biology
jeffrey.warner@jcu.edu.au

Revealing the hidden knowledge in pathology big data: Machine learning to support clinical decision making for unknown infectious diseases and recognise biosecurity incursions in tropical Australia (Old ID 26978)

Jeffrey Warner

20 Aug 2020 - 30 Sep 2023

Pathology departments generate massive data from the results of routine and targeted tests conducted to serve community health needs. With the availability of large pathology data collections, the application of sophisticated machine learning (ML) algorithms allows the detection of novel data patterns to characterise disease processes and monitor population health. We will apply recursive partitioning (trees and forests) and support vector machines (SVM) to large pathology data sets to: (a) investigate the biosecurity potential of linked community data, and; (b) assist early decision support for patients presenting with a tropical pyrexia of unknown origin (PUOs).

Viral Causes of Crayfish Handling Mortalities (Old ID 23613)

Leigh Owens

18 Sep 2017 - 31 Dec 2020

Northern Queensland crayfish from farms affected by stress, particularly transportation stress, started to die with mortality reaching 20-40% after about three weeks. Two new viruses were found, Cheque iflavirus and Athtab Bunya-like virus. This research will determine the infection cycle of the viruses to understand how to intervene and control the impact of these viruses.

Handling Mortality in Redclaw Crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) from farms (Old ID 21741)

Leigh Owens

01 Aug 2014 - 30 Jun 2016

Crayfish have become stress-sensitive to handling with low grade mortalities continuing until the crayfish re-acclimate. It is suspected they are carrying so-called orphan viruses. This project will use two independent observational techniques, histopathology and rolling-cycle PCR to look for difficult-to-diagnose viruses. These results will be used to support chapters in the PhD theses of two doctoral students, Shaun Bochow and Kitikarn Sakuna.

Sequence identification of a new virus impacting the crayfish industry for RNAi intervention. (Old ID 22431)

Leigh Owens

01 Dec 2015 - 31 Dec 2017

The crayfish industry is set to bloom as hatchery technology has started to sustainably produce craylings to stock farms. Both hatchery and table demand for crayfish are completely unmet with farm gate prices consistently at $34/kg with a huge potential market. The crayfish industry has a pressing issue of chronic, stress-related mortality events. We have identified a positive sense, single stranded RNA virus (+ve ssRNA) from partial sequences taken from these crayfish. Crayfish cannot be vaccinated against this virus due to a lack of B-cell lineage (antibody producing cells). However, we can use RNA interference (RNAi) to knock down the load of the virus to a minimum, manageable load. To do this, we need to know the sequence of the virus. Positive ssRNA viruses make up about 1/3 of the virosphere, so we cannot assume what virus are likely to have in our crayfish based on our preliminary viral sequence.

Effective PPE waste processing using microwave pyrolysis (Old ID 28926)

Jeffrey Warner

01 Jul 2022 - 30 Jun 2023

This project aims to investigate the feasibility of processing the PPE waste materials using a Microwave Assisted Waste processing technology developed at James Cook University. The specific objectives of the project are: i. Identify the processing conditions (e.g. Microwave power, time) suitable to kill pathogens in the waste material ii. Investigate the presence of pathogens in the residual material or by-products iii. Understand the physical and chemical properties of the by-products to identify potential applications

HOT NORTH - Pilot Project - Round 4 - Cooking smoke and indoor air pollution : Impaired immunity to Tuberculosis at Australian's northern border? (Old ID 25026)

Jeffrey Warner

01 Sep 2018 - 30 Jun 2020

Middle Fly region of PNG has very high rates of TB and pre-existing lung disease may play a significant role in the acquisition and development of TB disease. Our study will determine the burden and characteristics of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and investigate the resultant lung immune response defects in this community. In doing so we will build local capacity in lung function testing and laboratory analysis and optimise a pipeline of sample analysis of lung immune responses from PNG to JCU, Townsville. Such information will complement existing TB programmes in South Fly region of the Western Province.

Antimicrobial peptide expression and metagenomic profiles of corals: a model for host microbiome interactions and a source of novel antibacterial medicines (Old ID 22908)

Jeffrey Warner

01 Sep 2016 - 31 Dec 2017

Antimicrobial peptide expression and metagenomic profiles of corals: a model for host microbiome interactions and a source of novel antibacterial medicines. The results from this grant also provide avenues to pursue further collaboration and grant funding in thearea of human health. This includes the results of aim 2 which has the potential to reveal targets forfurther development as antibacterial treatments. In addition, the techniques developed as part of aim 1could be effectively applied to explore the role of antimicrobial peptides in human gut microbiomedevelopment.This grant will add to a growing strength in proteomics and peptide characterisation research at JCU and will contribute to the collective track record required for collaborative funding bids such as LIEF funding for new mass spectrometry equipment.

Leveraging native soil microbiota to target melioidosis pathogens in Northern Queensland

Jeffrey Warner

01 Jul 2025 - 31 Dec 2025

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.