Conference Agenda

Mammalian meat allergy (MMA) is an IgE-mediated allergic condition triggered by sensitisation to galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-Gal) following tick bite. First described in Australia in 2007, MMA is now recognised globally, yet its national burden in Australia has never been systematically characterised. We addressed this gap by analysing 11 years of national α-Gal specific IgE testing data (2014–2024), encompassing over 16,000 tests from 14,000 individuals. Our findings reveal MMA as a substantial and rapidly growing health concern, with case detection increasing 22% annually since 2020. The geographic distribution of cases closely mirrors the range of Ixodes holocyclus, with extreme spatial clustering within this endemic zone: just nine discrete regions account for over half od the national MMA disease burden. This tight coupling between vector ecology and disease distribution underscores the central role of I. holocyclus in driving MMA in Australia, with only minor contributions from other tick species. Among serially tested patients, α-Gal specific IgE levels declined over time in the vast majority of individuals, supporting the utility of repeat testing for clinical monitoring. This study provides the first comprehensive national epidemiological assessment of MMA in Australia and establishes baseline metrics for ongoing surveillance of this emerging tick-borne allergic condition.

Late-arresting sporozoite vaccines against Plasmodium falciparum achieve high efficacy but pose manufacturing and intravenous delivery challenges. We describe an alternative chemo-attenuation strategy that exploits first-in-class antimalarials targeting parasite aspartyl proteases plasmepsin IX and X. A single low-dose infection with virulent Plasmodium berghei sporozoites, delivered intravenously or by mosquito bite, followed by cure with a dual plasmepsin IX/X inhibitor prevented blood-stage infection by generating chemo-attenuated liver merozoites (CALM) that are incapable of erythrocyte invasion. CALM vaccination conferred sterile protection in mice for up to 2 years. Protective immunity involved both antibodies and CD8+ T cells recognising a spectrum of Plasmodium antigens including CSP, SERA1, RPL6, GAP50, RNT, PHIST, S20 and RBP. Studies in humanised mice confirmed plasmepsin IX/X inhibition similarly prevents Plasmodium falciparum liver-to-blood transition, demonstrating conservation of the drug’s late liver-stage mechanism across species. By enabling controlled liver-stage arrest without complex genetic attenuation or irradiation, plasmepsin IX/X-targeting drugs provide a practical, broadly applicable pathway to whole-parasite chemovaccination. This approach may convert seasonal mosquito exposure into progressive immune education if long-acting injectable (LAI) formulations prove feasible. These findings lay the foundation for clinical evaluation of CALM vaccination including via mosquito-bite immunisation. Aspirationally, LAI CALM could transform malaria prevention programs at scale.

The Australian sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina dorsalis, is a significant ectoparasite of sheep responsible for flystrike, leading to substantial production losses, animal injury, and mortality. Current flystrike control strategies rely heavily on surgical mulesing and insecticides; however, these approaches present ongoing welfare, sustainability, and efficacy challenges. Despite the economic and biological importance of this species, genomic resources for L. c. dorsalis remain limited, constraining our understanding of its biology and population dynamics. To address this gap, we employed an integrated genomics approach combining Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) long-read sequencing, Illumina short-read sequencing, and Omni-C proximity ligation to generate a chromosomal-level genome assembly. Additionally, comprehensive long- and short-read RNA sequencing was used to construct a high-resolution de novo transcriptome. Together, these datasets provide a robust foundation for genome annotation and functional characterization. This multi-omics framework provides new insights into the genetic architecture, evolutionary history, and key biological processes of L. c. dorsalis. Importantly, the chromosomal-level assembly enables population genomics analyses across Australian blowfly populations, facilitating investigation of genetic diversity, structure, and dispersal. These resources establish a critical platform for advancing genomic research and supporting the development of improved and sustainable flystrike management strategies, bridging fundamental genomics with applied sheep health outcomes.