Improving disease resilience in ecosystems using synthetic biology

该项目旨在利用合成生物学的最新方法，通过鉴定和增强免疫力来保护受疾病威胁的物种。新出现的传染病是对生态系统的重大威胁，需要新的方法来对付它们。壶菌病是脊椎动物中最具破坏性的疾病，导致全球200多种两栖动物种群数量下降。该项目的预期结果是提高青蛙对壶菌病的认识和免疫力，并使青蛙恢复到环境中。该项目将展示合成生物学在澳大利亚和海外同样受到威胁的野生动物防治疾病和保护景观生物多样性方面的有用性。

This project aims to use the latest methods in synthetic biology to conserve species threatened by disease, through characterising and enhancing immunity. Emerging infectious diseases are a major threat to ecosystems and new methodologies are needed to fight them. Chytridiomycosis is the most devastating disease of vertebrates, causing population declines in over 200 amphibian species worldwide. The expected outcomes of the project are improved understanding and increased immunity of frogs to chytridiomycosis and restoration of frogs into the environment. The project will demonstrate the usefulness of synthetic biology to tackle disease and preserve biodiversity in the landscape for similarly threatened wildlife in Australia and overseas.