Journal Articles
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Item Evolutionary relationships in Santalales inferred using target capture with Angiosperms353, focusing on Australasian Santalaceae sensu lato(CSIRO Publishing, Australia, 2025-08) Anderson BM; Edlund M; James SA; Lepschi BJ; Nickrent DL; Sultan A; Tate JA; Petersen G; Murphy DThe angiosperm order Santalales comprises more than 2500 species, most of which are hemi- or holoparasitic on other plants, and derive water and nutrients via specialised structures that attach to host roots or stems. The parasitic lifestyle has affected the morphology and genomes of these plants, and classification of the order has been difficult, with outstanding questions about membership of and relationships between families in the order. We chose to focus on improving phylogenetic sampling in the broadly circumscribed Santalaceae sens. lat., with emphasis on Australasian members of Amphorogynaceae and Viscaceae as part of the Genomics for Australian Plants Initiative. We used target capture with the Angiosperms353 bait set to generate a dataset of 318 nuclear loci × 195 samples, including publicly available data from other Santalales families. Phylogenetic inferences using maximum likelihood concatenation and a summary coalescent approach were largely congruent and resolved relationships between most families, agreeing with much of the previous work on the order. Some relationships that have been difficult to resolve remained so, such as branching order among some families in Olacaceae sens. lat. and Santalaceae sens. lat. Denser sampling in Amphorogynaceae and Viscaceae provided new insights into species-level relationships in genera such as Leptomeria and Choretrum, and allowed testing of recent phylogenetic work in Korthalsella. Our new phylogenetic hypothesis is consistent with one origin of root hemiparasitism, two origins of holoparasitism and five origins of aerial parasitism in the order. Although Angiosperms353 was successful, some phylogenetic bias in gene recovery suggests that future studies may benefit from more specific baits and deeper sequencing, especially for Viscaceae.Item Health equity in a climate-altered world(y Elsevier B V on behalf of Public Health Association of Australia, 2025-08-01) Murray L; Vyas A; Reweti A; Humphrey K; Murray L; Vyas A; Reweti A; Humphrey KItem Widespread occurrence of benzimidazole resistance single nucleotide polymorphisms in the canine hookworm, Ancylostoma caninum, in Australia(Elsevier Ltd on behalf of the Australian Society for Parasitology Incorporated, 2025-03) Abdullah S; Stocker T; Kang H; Scott I; Hayward D; Jaensch S; Ward MP; Jones MK; Kotze AC; Šlapeta JCanine hookworm (Ancylostoma caninum), a gastrointestinal nematode of domestic dogs, principally infects the small intestine of dogs and has the potential to cause zoonotic disease. In greyhounds and pet dogs in the USA, A. caninum has been shown to be resistant to multiple anthelmintics. We conducted a molecular survey of benzimidazole resistance in A. caninum from dogs at veterinary diagnostic centers in Australia and New Zealand. First, we implemented an internal transcribed spacer (ITS)-2 rDNA deep amplicon metabarcoding sequencing approach to ascertain the species of hookworms infecting dogs in the region. Then, we evaluated the frequency of the canonical F167Y and Q134H isotype-1 β-tubulin mutations, which confer benzimidazole resistance, using the same sequencing approach. The most detected hookworm species in diagnostic samples was A. caninum (90%; 83/92); the related Northern hookworm (Uncinaria stenocephala) was identified in 11% (10/92) of the diagnostic samples. There was a single sample with coinfection by A. caninum and U. stenocephala. Both isotype-1 β-tubulin mutations were present in A. caninum, 49% and 67% for Q134H and F167Y, respectively. Mutation F167Y in the isotype-1 β-tubulin mutation was recorded in U. stenocephala for the first known time. Canonical benzimidazole resistance codons 198 and 200 mutations were absent. Egg hatch assays performed on a subset of the A. caninum samples showed significant correlation between 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) to thiabendazole and F167Y, with an increased IC50 for samples with > 75% F167Y mutation. We detected 14% of dogs with > 75% F167Y mutation in A. caninum. Given that these samples were collected from dogs across various regions of Australia, the present study suggests that benzimidazole resistance in A. caninum is widespread. Therefore, to mitigate the risk of resistance selection and further spread, adoption of a risk assessment-based approach to limit unnecessary anthelmintic use should be a key consideration for future parasite control.Item Food Group Consumption and Nutrient Intake by Breastfeeding Women: Comparison to Current Dietary Guidelines and Nutrient Recommendations.(MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2025-01-21) Jin Y; Coad J; Brough L; Billeaud C; Asher OBACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Optimal nutrition is essential for the health of breastfeeding women and their infants. This study aimed to assess food and nutrient intake and alignment with nutrition guidelines for breastfeeding women living in New Zealand. METHODS: Seventy-six breastfeeding women were enrolled in the longitudinal Mother and Infant Nutrition Investigation study and completed a weighed four-day diet diary including supplement use at three months postpartum. The number of servings consumed for each food group were calculated based on the 2020 Eating and Activity Guidelines for New Zealand Adults. Nutrient intakes were compared to the nutrient reference values for Australia and New Zealand. RESULTS: Overall, the percentages of women who met the recommended number of servings for fruits, vegetables, grain foods, meats and milk/milk products were 25%, 0%, 5%, 34%, and 13%, respectively. None of women met the current recommendations for all food groups. Many participants had intakes below the estimated average requirement or adequate intake and were at risk of nutrient inadequacy for vitamin E (55%), vitamin D (53%), manganese (61%), and selenium (55%). CONCLUSIONS: Breastfeeding women had a low alignment with the current dietary guidelines and were at risk of an inadequate intake of vitamin E, D, manganese, and selenium. Research to investigate the barriers and enablers of healthy food choices is needed.Item Tail risk connectedness in the Australian National Electricity Markets: The impact of rare events(Elsevier B.V., 2024-12-25) Pham SD; Do HX; Nepal R; Jamasb TThe tail risks can exhibit different and important features than average measures of risk in interconnected electricity markets. This paper examines the interconnectedness of tail risks within the regionally interconnected Australian National Electricity Market. We use the Conditional Autoregressive Value-at-Risk (CAViaR) and time-varying parameter vector autoregression (TVP-VAR) connectedness approach. Analysing historical data between 01 January 2006 and 04 February 2024. The results show significant levels of connectedness for both negative and positive tail risks, highlighting the dynamic and interdependent nature of these markets. Notably, we identify asymmetries in the transmission of tail risks and their key drivers, including oil market volatility and global geopolitical risks. Our findings show that some regions play a pivotal role in the risk dynamics across the regions of the network and the influence of energy source diversity on risk profiles. The study underscores the complexity of managing the expected increase in tail risks in interconnected electricity markets, emphasizing the need for adaptive, forward-thinking strategies tailored to evolving global and local conditions.Item Genomic diversity of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli isolates recovered from human and poultry in Australia and New Zealand, 2017 to 2019.(Microbiology Society, 2024-11-05) Cribb DM; Biggs PJ; McLure AT; Wallace RL; French NP; Glass K; Kirk MDWe used genomic and epidemiological data to assess and compare the population structure and origins of Campylobacter, a major foodborne pathogen, in two neighbouring countries with strong trade and cultural links, similar poultry production systems and frequent movement of people and food products. The most common sequence types (STs) differed between Australia and New Zealand, with many unique to each country. Over half of all STs were represented by a single isolate. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) genotypes were detected in 0.8% of all samples, with no MDR isolates detected in poultry. Quinolone and tetracycline resistant ST6964 was prevalent in New Zealand (10.6% of C. jejuni). Closely related isolates suggested some similar food sources or contacts. We have shown that there is little genetic overlap in human and poultry STs of Campylobacter between the countries, which highlights that this common foodborne pathogen has domestic origins in Australia and New Zealand.Item Different nightmares, shared dreams? Australia and New Zealand's intuitive alliance(Taylor and Francis Group, 2024-10-23) Powles A; Wallis JWhat does this apparent relegation of the strategic significance of Australia’s relationship with New Zealand to a partnership in Australia’s 2023 Defence Strategic Review tell us about the status of the Australia-New Zealand alliance? Based on interviews and roundtables with leaders, officials, and academics in both countries in late 2023 and early 2024, we argue that the depth and breadth of Australia and New Zealand’s defence, economic, regulatory, and people-to-people cooperation and integration has made their relationship ‘intuitive’. That is, Australia and New Zealand’s relationship has come to be seen as part of the natural order of things, so that the two countries see each other as a natural, permanent partner, parting company with whom is unthinkable. But we also argue that this may prevent the two neighbours from recognising and responding to tensions. To address this, we examine differences between the two countries’ perceptions of themselves, their strategic interests, and their alliance, and find that the management of expectations will continue to generate tensions. While we conclude that these tensions will not fundamentally undermine the relationship, we acknowledge that it has not yet been seriously tested, for example by conflict in East Asia.Item How does–and how could–Te Tiriti o Waitangi inform the perceptions and praxis of the trans-Tasman alliance?(Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group, 2024-09-03) Greener BKTe Tiriti o Waitangi is one of the founding documents of Aotearoa New Zealand. It provides for the potential for partnership between Maori and the Crown, though its promise has not been fully realised. When it comes to the trans-Tasman relationship, Te Tiriti emphasises the importance of genuine partnership, of understanding history and the depth of relationships, but it could also have further effects on the alliance with either an increased inclusion of Māori values into New Zealand’s foreign policy or increased autonomy for Māori within a domestic setting.Item Mandatory fortification with folic acid for the prevention of neural tube defects: a case study of Australia and New Zealand.(Springer Nature, 2023-01-19) Thurston L; Borman B; Bower CPURPOSE: To present a case study of the considerations of mandatory fortification with folic acid in Australia and New Zealand. METHODS: Review of published reports and consumer advocacy views. RESULTS: Australia and New Zealand jointly approved mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid to prevent neural tube defects in 2007. Fortification was fully implemented in Australia in 2009 and has resulted in reduction in NTD. At the last minute, industry lobbying led to the New Zealand government not proceeding with fortification. With continued consumer advocacy, mounting scientific evidence, and a change of government, approval was given in 2021 for mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid. CONCLUSION: In large part as a response to consumer pressure, New Zealand has now joined with Australia (and around 70 other countries) in fortifying flour with folic acid for the prevention of NTD.Item Etiology and epidemiology of digital dermatitis in Australian dairy herds.(Elsevier B.V., 2024-02-06) McPherson A; Tranter B; Phipps A; Laven R; House J; Zadoks RN; Rowe SABSTRACT Bovine digital dermatitis (BDD) is an important cause of lameness in dairy cows worldwide. However, there is very little known about this disease in Australian herds, which are predominantly managed on pasture. The primary objectives of this cross-sectional study were to describe the presence and prevalence of BDD in Australian dairy herds and to characterize the microbiota of healthy skin and M4 lesions of BDD-affected, pasture-managed cows. Cows from 71 dairy herds were examined at milking time to identify the presence of BDD lesions. True prevalence was estimated using Bayesian methods with informative priors for sensitivity and specificity. Biopsy samples (n = 60) were collected from cows with and without BDD-lesions in 7 pasture-based herds. The microbiota in the superficial and deep strata of each tissue biopsy were characterized via sequencing of the V3-V4 region of the bacterial ribosomal RNA gene. Lesions were detected in 1,817 (11.5%) of 15,813 cows, and in 68 of 71 (95.8%) herds. The median herd-level apparent and true prevalences of BDD were 8.5 and 18.1%, respectively, but this varied considerably between farms. On farms with BDD, M4 lesions accounted for 70 to 100% of all lesions (interquartile range = 95.1 to 100%, median = 100%). M2 lesions (i.e., large ulcerative lesions) were observed at low prevalence (<2.2%) in the few herds (7/71, 9.9%) where they were found. There was a statistically significant difference in the composition of the microbiota between healthy skin and M4 lesions but not between superficial and deep tissue layers. Several gut- and effluent-associated bacterial taxa, including Lentimicrobium and Porphyromonas, which have previously been associated with BDD, were abundant in BDD lesions but not in control biopsies. Our study supports the idea that such taxa are involved in, though possibly not essential to, lesion development and persistence in pasture-managed cows in Australia. Our results also suggest that Dichelobacter may contribute to the disease process. We conclude that BDD is likely to occur in most Australian dairy farms, but that further studies are needed to identify its impact on cow welfare and productivity. Further investigation of the etiology of BDD in Australian dairy herds is also necessary to inform prevention and control strategies. INTERPRETIVE SUMMARY: We visited 71 farms in Australia to estimate the prevalence of bovine digital dermatitis (an infectious skin disease that causes lameness in cows). Most farms (68 / 71) were identified to be endemic for the disease, but that the painful lesion types (score = M2) were uncommon. Microbiome analysis was conducted on 60 biopsy sample of cows with and without BDD lesions. We found that cows with BDD had higher abundances of gut- and effluent-associated bacterial taxa, including Lentimicrobium and Porphyromonas. We conclude that BDD is present on most Australian dairy farms.