New and Emerging Diseases
OIE Collaborating Centre Reports
Activities in 2010
Title of Collaborating Centre: / New and Emerging DiseasesAddress of Collaborating Centre: / Australian Animal Health Laboratory
Geelong, Victoria 3220, AUSTRALIA
Tel.: / (+61-3) 52.27.50.00
Fax: / (+61-3) 52.27.55.55
e-mail address: /
website: / www.csiro.au
Name of Head of Centre (Responsible Official): / Dr Martyn Jeggo
Name of OIE Contact Point: / Dr Martyn Jeggo
Name of writer of this report
(if different from above) / Dr Peter Daniels
Part I: Summary of activities specifically related to the mandate of
OIE Collaborating Centres
1. Activities as a centre of research, expertise, standardisation and dissemination of techniques within the remit of the mandate given by the OIE
Research
a. AAHL is a national laboratory facility for the biocontainment of foreign animal diseases and new and emerging animal diseases and viral zoonoses, operating at BSL3 (enhanced) and BSL4. It provides a rapid diagnostic capability and outbreak diagnostic surge capacity through a Diagnosis, Surveillance and Response group and conducts research in to the major transboundary animal diseases and viral zoonoses under the theme of transforming animal biosecurity. Work is directed towards 3 main objectives: Reduction of Disease Emergence or Invasion Risk, Mitigation of Disease Impact through Decision Support for Limiting Disease Spread and Mitigation of Disease Impact through Modification of the Host Response.
b. Research dealing specifically with emerging infectious zoonotic diseases includes:
· development of novel antiviral treatments for Henipavirus infections including passive immunotherapies
· optimization of novel Henipavirus vaccines
· development of an improved diagnostic capability for Henipavirus infections including stall-side tests
· establishing reverse genetics systems for henipaviruses
· establishment and use of continuous bat cell lines for host-virus interaction and immunological studies
· comparative pathogenesis study on different strains of Hendra and Nipah viruses with a focus on transmission mechanisms
· optimization of the ferret model for henipavirus research and vaccine/therapeutics trials
· study of Paramyxovirus genetic systems
· pathogenesis studies of SARS Coronavirus in bats
· pathogenesis studies of Reston ebolavirus in pigs
c. AAHL is undertaking various projects relating to AI pathogenesis and studies of AI vaccines and vaccination.
· Challenge models of H5N1 infection have been developed in chickens, ducks, ferrets and mice. Vaccine efficacy testing has been conducted for vaccine manufacturers and the protective effect of LPAI H5N1 is being assessed in ducks and chickens.
· Comparative pathogenesis studies are being conducted both with field strains of H5N1 from various countries and species and with AI viruses constructed using reverse genetics (in collaboration with US and European research organisations).
· Two major studies with an international poultry breeding company have commenced; one using transgenic techniques to develop poultry with an enhanced immune system that will be substantially resistant to AI infection and another to develop anti-viral therapeutics.
· Evaluation of the anti-viral properties of commercial chemical compounds is also being conducted. The relative susceptibility of AI isolates from various Southeast Asian countries to the major influenza antivirals is being tested in an ongoing study.
· A molecular diagnostic test for rapid identification and differentiation of important poultry viruses (infectious bursal disease virus, Newcastle disease virus, avian influenza) is under development.
· Wild bird isolates of avian influenza viruses from Australia are being sequenced and analysed.
· Epidemiological studies in Indonesia and Vietnam have commenced investigating AI transmission in markets, AI infection in ducks, and the impact of vaccination on AI transmission in both commercial and village sectors.
d. Work on foot and mouth disease includes:
· development of new diagnostic approaches and reagents
· Modelling of issues related to the control of biosecurity emergencies, particularly through development of understanding of livestock marketing systems in Australia
· Epidemiological studies of effectiveness of foot and mouth disease control programs in Vietnam
· Management of classical swine fever and foot and mouth disease at the village level in Laos
e. Wildlife disease research is continues on:
· Etiology and diagnostic markers for Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumour
· Koi herpesvirus as a potential biological control agent
f. Research on other diagnostic technologies and test development includes
· Evaluation of rapid molecular detection and characterisation systems for risk evaluation of unknown viruses isolated in Australia
· Rapid characterisation of unknown viruses using microarray hybridisation and PCR-select-subtraction and mass (454) sequencing
· Development and production of immunological reagents and tests for emerging infectious diseases using recombinant antibody technology
· Development of diagnostic tests for abalone herpesvirus and applying these in transmission trials and surveillance
Expertise
· In addition to the specific missions by AAHL staff listed under section 3 below, AAHL’s Dr. Linfa Wang serves as a member of the WHO SARS Reference and Verification Laboratory Network
· With respect to terrestrial animal disease, AAHL is a designated OIE Reference Laboratory for Hendra and Nipah Virus Diseases, Bluetongue Disease, Newcastle Disease and Avian Influenza. See separate reports.
2. Proposal or development of any procedure that will facilitate harmonisation of international regulations applicable to the surveillance and control of animal diseases, food safety or animal welfare
AAHL has been collaborating with the OIE in reviewing approaches and standards to diagnostic test validation. Dr Axel Colling attended the OIE ad hoc Group Meeting on validation of diagnostic assays at the OIE headquarters in Paris, France between Jan 20-22nd 2010.and was invited to present a paper on Validation of Diagnostic Assays: OIE General Principles and OIE Procedure at the 2nd Global Conference of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres in Paris on 21-23rd June 2010. As Chair of the OIE ad hoc working group on Diagnostic Test Validation, he subsequently led discussions of the recent developments in the area of test validation during an FAO/IAEA/OIE consultants meeting at the IAEA/FAO Joint Division in Vienna prior to presenting the new OIE methods and procedures for diagnostic test validation at the 1st Congress of the European Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (EAVLD), Lelystad, the Netherlands 15-17 September, 2010.
These activities are leading to proposed new sections and approaches in the OIE Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals.
3. Placement of expert consultants at the disposal of the OIE
Dr Axel Colling attended the OIE ad hoc Group Meeting on validation of diagnostic assays held at the OIE headquarters in Paris, France, 20-22 January 2010.
Dr Wilna Vosloo was invited to participate in the workshop 'Understanding FMDV early pathogensis and transmission' organised by the Global FMD Reseasrch Alliance (GFRA) held at Pirbright, UK, 21-22 January 2010
Dr Peter Daniels attended a joint OFFLU Steering and Executive Committee meeting at OIE Headquarters in Paris, 25 January 2010
Dr Linfa Wang participated in the 2nd International Berlin Bat Meeting held in Berlin, 19-21 February 2010
Dr Wina Vosloo attended the 5th Sub-Regional Meeting of the SEAFMD Laboratory Network held in Vientiane, Lao PDR, 11-12 March 2010
Dr Wilna Vosloo attended the OIE Sub-Commission for Foot and Mouth Disease in South East Asia in Vientiane, Lao PDR, 15-19 March 2010
Dr Martyn Jeggo and Dr Linfa Wang attended the Second FAO-OIE-WHO Joint Scientific Consultation: Influenza and other Emerging Zoonotic Diseases at the Human Animal Interface in Verona, Italy on April 27-29 2010.
Dr Wilna Vosloo participated in the OIE ad hoc Group on the evaluation of Foot Mouth Disease status of members held at OIE Headquarters in Paris, 16-18 June 2010
Dr Alex Hyatt, Dr Axel Colling, Dr Martyn Jeggo, Dr Peter Walker, and Dr Wilna Vosloo attended the 2nd Global Conference of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, Paris, 21-23 June 2010
Dr Linfa Wang was invited to attend the International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases in Atlanta, Georgia, 11-14 July 2010
Dr Peter Daniels attended an OFFLU Steering Committee and Executive Committee meeting at IAEA in Vienna, 14-15 July 2010.
Dr Wilna Vosloo attend the OIE Foot and Mouth Disease Vaccination Workshop held in Siem Reap, Cambodia, 3-4 August 2010
Dr Wilna Vosloo attended a workshop on Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Countermeasures which was hosted by USDA in conjunction with the Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria (INTA) held in Argentina, 24-25 August 2010
Dr Axel Colling attended an FAO/IAEA/OIE consultants meeting to establish a roadmap for the implementation of the new OIE process for the validation of diagnostic tests in Vienna, Austria, 6-9 September 2010.
Dr Linfa Wang attended the Emerging and Re-Emerging Vector Borne and Zoonotic Viral Infectious Diseases Workshop in Hanoi, Vietnam, 9-10 September 2010
Mr Shane Riddell and Dr Wilna Vosloo attended the EU Foot-and-Mouth Disease Meeting in Vienna, Austria, 27-28 September 2010
Dr Wilna Vosloo attended the FAO/OIE FMD Reference Laboratory Network meeting at Pirbright, 4-6 October 2010
Dr Martyn Jeggo attended the Global Rinderpest Eradication Symposium in Rome, 13-14 October 201
Dr Linfa Wang attended the Cold Spring Harbour Asia Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases in China, 18-22 October 2010
Dr Linfa Wang was a conference organiser and speaker at 4th Symposium of Emerging Viral Diseases co-hosted by the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Wuhan, China, 24-27 October 2010.
Dr John Allen, Dr Peter Daniels, Mr Paul Selleck and Dr Frank Wong attended the OFFLU Technical Review Meeting in Jakarta, 28-29 October 2010, to specifically address the scientific issues surrounding an international response to the situation that has emerged in Indonesia wherein strains of H5N1 resistant to currently available vaccines have emerged in the commercial poultry sector.
Dr Peter Daniels and Mr Paul Selleck participated in an OFFLU Technical Group Meeting held at FAO Headquarters, Rome 16-17 November 2010.
Dr Wilna Vosloo participated in the OIE adhoc Group on the evaluation of Foot Mouth Disease status of members held at OIE Headquarters in Paris, 6-8 December 2010
Part II: Other activities related to the mandate
of OIE Collaborating Centres
4. Provision of scientific and technical training, within the remit of the mandate given by the OIE, to personnel from OIE Members
AAHL has delivered substantial training in the area of new and emerging infectious disease. These activities have been comprehensively covered in the report of the Collaborating Centre for Laboratory Capacity Building and in the reports of the Avian Influenza and Hendra and Nipah Virus Diseases reference laboratories.
5. Organisation of scientific meetings on behalf of the OIE
Dr Wilna Vosloo chaired the FMD International Symposium and Workshop, Melbourne, Australia, 12-14 April 2010.
Dr Martyn Jeggo is chairing the conference organizing committee for the 1st International One Health Congress, Melbourne, Australia scheduled from 14 to 16 February, 2011, co-sponsored by the WHO, OIE and the FAO/IAEA Joint Division
6. Coordination of scientific and technical studies in collaboration with other laboratories, organisations or collaborating centres
Collaborative research with other scientific agencies is a core activity for AAHL. Details of current projects have been presented in Section 1 of this report
7. Publication and dissemination of any information within the remit of the mandate given by the OIE that may be useful to Members of the OIE
Books and Book Chapters
Bamford, D. H., Calisher, C., Davison, A. J., Fauquet, C., Ghabrial, S., Hunter, E., Lamb, R. A., Le Gall, O., Rancaniello, V., Theilmann, D. A., Vetten, H. J. Walker, P. J. 2010. Desk Encyclopedia of Human and Medical Virology, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Elsevier.
Eaton, B. T. Wang, L. F. 2010. Henipaviruses. In: MAHY, B. W. J. VAN REGENMORTEL, M. H. V. (eds.). Elsevier.
Halpin, K., Wang, J. Smith, I. L. 2010. Japanese encephalitis virus. In: LIU, D. (ed.). CRC Press.
Jori, F., Etter, E., Gummow, B. Vosloo, W. 2010. A stochastic probability model to quantify the risk of transmission of foot and mouth disease virus at the wildlife/livestock interface of Kruger National Park, South Africa, The Conference.
Smith, G. A., Moore, P. Smith, I. L. 2010. Australian bat lyssavirus. In: LIU, D. (ed.). CRC Press.
Smith, I. L., Broos, A. Smith, G. A. 2010. Hendra virus. In: LIU, D. (ed.). CRC Press.
Warner, S., Savin, K., Wong, F., Fegan, M., Sawbridge, T., Lancaster, M., Kvalheim, N., Mohammad, I., Corbeil, S. Crane, M. 2010. Full genome sequencing and its application in the identification of new biosecurity threats, The Conference.
Conferences
Barr, J., Crameri, G., Bossart, K., Yu, M., Smith, C., Bingham, J., Dejong, C., Hall, R., Cardosa, J., Field, H., Middleton, D. Wang, L. F. 2010. Development of multiplex bead-based assays and experimental infection studies of SARS-CoV - a summary. AB-CRC 2010 National Workshop. Australian Biosecurity CRC.
Bean, A. G. 2010. The Immune responses to influenza virus in the chicken. 9th International Veterinary Immunology Symposium (9th IVIS). The symposium.
Bowden, T., Boyd, V., Felgner, P. Davies, D. 2010. Enhancing the serological capability for pathogen detection and surveillance using protein microarrays. Australian Biosecurity CRC for Emerging Infectious Disease National Workshop. Fraser Island, Queensland, Australia: Australian Biosecurity CRC.
Boyle, D. 2010. Technologies to enhance detection - pathogen detection and characterisation using nucleic acid and protein technologies. AB-CRC 2010 National workshop. Australian Biosecurity CRC.
Bulach, D., Amos-Ritchie, R., Wang, L. Boyle, D. 2010. High-throughput sequencing strategies for viral agent discovery. AB-CRC 2010 National Workshop. Australian Biosecurity CRC.
Butler, J., Brown, L., Middleton, D., Rockman, S. Sapats, S. 2010. Mammalian adaptation of H5N1 avian influenza: The importance of a good polymerase. 4th European Congress of Virology. Villa Erbe Congress Centre - Cernobbio, Lake Como, Italy: European Society for Virology.
Butler, J., Brown, L., Middleton, D., Rockman, S. Sapats, S. 2010. Pathogenic consequences of H5N1 polymerase changes in the mammalian host. Society for General Microbiology Spring 2010 meeting. Edinburgh international conference centre, Edinburgh Scotland: Society for General Microbiology.
Butler, J., Brown, L., Middleton, D., Rockman, S. Sapats, S. 2010. Rapid Adaptation of H5N1 Avian Influenza to Mammals: The Importance of the Viral Polymerase. Australian Society for Microbiology 2010 Annual Meeting. Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre: Australian Society for Microbiology.