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Launched in 2018, ‘Beating Buruli in Victoria’,  is a collaborative research project involving a team of more than 22 scientists from across the Doherty Institute, Austin Health, Bio 21 and the Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group (PEARG) at the University of Melbourne, Curtin University,  Millersville University (USA), CSIRO, Agriculture Victoria, the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, Barwon Health, the Victorian Department of Health and more. 

Together, using extensive fieldwork, advanced genomic analyses and computer science, the team achieved a major breakthrough, by showing mosquitoes transmit the ulcer-causing bacteria Mycobacterium ulcerans from the environment to people. This discovery unlocks the potential for evidence-based public health interventions and effective disease control.  

It is for solving this 80-year-old mystery that the team has been shortlisted for the 2024 Eureka Prize for Infectious Diseases Research, an award for outstanding infectious diseases research that benefits, or has the potential to benefit, human health.   

The University of Melbourne’s Professor Tim Stinear, Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Mycobacterium ulcerans and lead of the ‘Beating Buruli in Victoria’ project celebrated the recognition, emphasising the value of teamwork and persistence in solving complex scientific mysteries. 

“The team is thrilled and delighted to be recognised for our work that spanned many years and had its share of challenges. We are energised to go further with our research and use our new findings to take the next step and eliminate Buruli ulcer,” said Professor Stinear.   

“This acknowledgement is a wonderful endorsement of the efforts of our team.” 

Back row: Dr Peter Mee, Nicholas Bell, Prof Tim Stinear, Prof Paul Johnson, Jessica Porter Front row: Dr Veronique Paris, Dr Kim Blasdell, Dr Ee Laine Tay, Dr Emma Hobbs, Dr Katherine Gibney, Dr Andrew Buultjens

Not pictured: Prof Ary Hoffmann, Dr Sara Windecker, Caroline Lavender, Maria Globan, Prof Nick Golding, Prof John Wallace, Dr Arvind Yerramilli, Dr Koen Vandelannoote, Dr Stacey Lynch-Allen,  Dr Jane Oliver 

The University of Melbourne Laureate Professor Ary Hoffmann AC, said the team’s collaborative effort made it possible to finally uncover the intricacies of Buruli ulcer. 

“Important breakthroughs typically require cross-disciplinary expertise. The ‘Beating Buruli’ initiative brought together experts from human health, microbiology, entomology and marsupial biology, covering field and laboratory research,” said Professor Hoffmann.   

“During our work for this project, PEARG also addressed a significant knowledge gap around a native Australian mosquito species, which led to new targeted pest control approaches,” he added.  

Professor Paul Johnson, an Infectious Diseases Physician at Austin Health, said, “There are very few precedents for bacterial pathogens being spread by mosquitoes and no known examples of mycobacterial pathogens being transmitted this way. This presented challenges which the team overcame methodically, delivering robust evidence to inform practical measures to control Buruli ulcer.” 

“The first big breakthrough came when a child with a Buruli lesion on the point of his ear led us to start testing mosquitoes in the mid 2000s. It has taken all this time to be sure, but now, we are sure. Now, there is something specific you can do to protect yourself and your family if you live in a Buruli endemic area – avoid your local mosquitoes!” 

Finalists across Australia are in the running for Australian Museum Eureka Prizes, which will be announced later this year. Find out more: https://australian.museum/get-involved/eureka-prizes/ 

The ‘Beating Buruli in Victoria’ project was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the Victorian Department of Health. Find out more: https://www.health.vic.gov.au/infectious-diseases/beating-buruli-in-victoria 

Image credits: Rahul Ratwatte (Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity)