Second International Footrot Research Symposium

13th - 14th November 2008, The University of Sydney, Camden

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Participants came from Australia, NZ and the UK to attend this Footrot research symposium. The collaborative research program between the Faculty and the ARC Centre for Structural and Functional Microbial Genomics was showcased.

This ambitious research program aims to determine the molecular basis for virulence in the causative bacterium and develop new generation recombinant vaccines. Meanwhile, results presented by Om Dhungyel illustrated the potential for “conventional” recombinant fimbrial vaccine to eradicate footrot in Australia. PhD student Vidya Bharwaj presented plans for her PhD immunology program which will determine why some sheep fail to respond to any vaccine. The third international conference will be held in New Zealand.

On the 11th and 12th November, prior to this symposium, the delegates attended the NSW Footrot Control Symposium – a celebratory conference for the NSW Footrot Strategic Plan organised by the NSW DPI and the University of Sydney. Many people involved in the 20 year disease control program participated. Emeritus Professor John Egerton, Richard Whittington, Herman Raadsma and Om Dhungyel were invited speakers from the Faculty.