Enhanced preparedness to diagnose 200+ priority pests and diseases

disease preparedness

Status: In Progress

Start date: 1 July 2021

Completion date: 30 June 2026

Project code: A-032

Species/Threats: Multiple

Scientists in laboratory.

Summary

Under the Centre’s guidance, the Pest and Disease Diagnosis and Research (PDDR) unit within Biosecurity and Food Safety (BFS) will start a program to implement rapid, scalable diagnostic tests for top priority pests and diseases in primary industries within the state of New South Wales.

This program will use expertise from various disciplines within PDDR and seek advice from Animal, Plant and Aquatic Biosecurity. National and international collaborations will ensure best practices.

The strategy includes improving screening and diagnostic capabilities using targeted and multiplexed testing, adaptable to high through-put for biosecurity responses. It will also enhance response and tracing capabilities with whole-genome sequencing, as used in the Salmonella Enteritis response and for SARS-CoV-2 by NSW Health.

Objectives

The objectives of the project are to:

  1. Develop a priority list of pests and diseases impacting NSW biosecurity.
  2. Develop and validate rapid, accurate and scalable tests for 200+ priority pests and proof of concept methodology for massively multiplexes diagnostics.
  3. Develop a reference whole of genome sequence for key priority pest species including bioinformatic pipelines for the assembly and analysis of genomes.
  4. Create a repository for a catalogue of critical reagents, natural and synthetic positive controls, and reference genomes and data.

Project team

Dr Brendon O'Rourke

Project Lead | NSW DPIRD

Dr Peter Kirkland

NSW DPIRD

Dr Will Cuddy

NSW DPIRD

Dr Cheryl Jenkins

NSW DPIRD

Dr Zoe Spiers

NSW DPIRD

Project partners

Community resources

Customised rapid diagnostic tech targets priority pests and diseases

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