How do kangaroo herpesviruses jump to new host species?

该项目旨在研究袋鼠和其他有袋动物的甲疱疹病毒。当这些病毒从自然宿主传播到新的宿主物种时，它们会在圈养的有袋动物种群中引起严重疾病的暴发，但人们对这些跨物种传播事件知之甚少。该项目旨在研究这些病毒及其跨物种传播能力，采用将疱疹病毒视为动态混合病毒群体的新方法。该项目还旨在开发新的、实用的和可获得的疫苗来预防疾病。预计通过预防圈养有袋动物种群的疾病将产生效益，包括对保护工作和澳大利亚旅游业的效益。

This project aims to study alphaherpesviruses of kangaroos and other marsupials. These viruses cause outbreaks of severe disease in captive populations of marsupials when they are transmitted from natural hosts to new host species, but these cross-species transmission events are poorly understood. This project aims to study these viruses, and their capacity for cross-species transmission, using new approaches that consider herpesviruses as dynamic, mixed populations of viruses. This project also aims to develop novel, practical, and accessible vaccines to prevent disease. Benefits are expected to arise through prevention of disease in captive marsupial populations, including benefits for conservation efforts and for Australian tourism.