How do kangaroo herpesviruses jump to new host species?

本项目旨在研究袋鼠和其他有袋动物的α疱疹病毒。当这些病毒从自然宿主传播到新的宿主物种时，会在圈养的有袋动物种群中引起严重疾病的爆发，但对这些跨物种传播事件的了解甚少。该项目旨在研究这些病毒及其跨物种传播的能力，使用新的方法，将疱疹病毒视为动态的混合病毒种群。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。通过预防圈养有袋动物种群的疾病，包括保护工作和澳大利亚旅游业的利益，预计将产生效益。

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.