Press releases

The first study detailing the species within the gut microbiomes of many of Australia's iconic marsupial species is published in Microbial Genomics.

A new study, 'Genomic diversity and antimicrobial resistance of Vibrio cholerae isolates from Africa: a PulseNet Africa initiative using nanopore sequencing to enhance genomic surveillance', published in Microbial Genomics today outlines the findings from a collaborative workshop to strengthen local capabilities for disease surveillance.

International research team identify 35 viral genomes in Antarctic penguins, revealing how wildlife and viruses evolve together in extreme environments. The paper, titled 'Diversity of polyomaviruses and papillomaviruses in penguins from eastern and western Antarctica' is published in Microbial Genomics. 

Researchers from the University of Queensland reveal the relationship between levels of stress hormones and increased susceptibility to secondary infection in koalas with koala retrovirus (KoRV), an often fatal disease contributing towards their declining populations, in a new paper published in the Journal of General Virology.

• The first systematic review on the effects of bipolar medications on the gut microbiome furthers our understanding of the connection between the gut and the brain in patients treated for bipolar disorder. 
• By analysing existing datasets, researchers concluded that the health of the gut microbiome may predict a patient’s response to treatment with drugs. 
• The results of the study could pave the way for new personalised therapeutic strategies and inspire further studies and clinical trials focused on treatments with the microbiome in mind.