ARC grant to improve salmonella vaccine efficacy in poultry

The University of Adelaide has been awarded a $390,000 Linkage Grant by the Australian Research Council to improve the effectiveness of Salmonella Typhimurium vaccine in poultry, to lower the risk of food-borne pathogens, and ultimately reduce the number of cases of human salmonella infection.

The project, led by Associate Professor Kapil Chousalkar from the University of Adelaide, will use cutting edge technologies to study the host immune response from Salmonella Typhimurium vaccines, in particular Bioproperties’ Vaxsafe® ST, to reduce the risk of bacteria developing in poultry.

“In Australia, the consumption of contaminated eggs and egg products are often associated with human Salmonellosis,” says Associate Professor Chousalkar.
“Salmonella infection is a serious public health concern, its effects on humans include headache, fever, stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting, and can require hospitalisation.

“This University has been working together with national, state regulatory authorities and the poultry industry over several years on a range of intervention strategies to reduce the presence of Salmonella on farms. 

“Improving the effectiveness of vaccines to reduce Salmonella Typhimurium level, will lead to cleaner farm products and reduce the risk of salmonella infection through consumption of poultry products, including eggs,” Associate Professor Chousalkar says." Associate Professor Kapil Chousalkar, the University of Adelaide

“Improving the effectiveness of vaccines to reduce Salmonella Typhimurium level, will lead to cleaner farm products and reduce the risk of salmonella infection through consumption of poultry products, including eggs,” Associate Professor Chousalkar says.

The University's Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Anton Middelberg, said: “This new funding shows the diversity of the University of Adelaide’s research expertise and its alignment with our industry priorities.

“The University of Adelaide has clearly defined industry engagement priorities in health and biotech, defence, energy, mining and resources, and strategic commitments to tackling the grand challenges of improving health and wellbeing, energy sustainability, and security for the benefit of society. This funding announcement is further evidence of how the University will achieve its aims,” he said.

The team working on this project also includes Dr Andrea McWhorter, from the University of Adelaide, scientists from RMIT and industry partners Bioproperties Pty Ltd and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The ARC’s Linkage Program promotes national and international research partnerships between researchers and business, industry, community organisations and other publicly funded research agencies.

Details of the ARC funding announcement can be found here.