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Dr Lee McMichael

Lecturer

School of Veterinary Science
Faculty of Science
l.mcmichael@uq.edu.au

Overview

My research has focused on molecular studies of pathogens, disease syndromes and health of Australian wildlife and domestic species. Particular research interests include the study of emerging and novel viral infections and syndromes of Australian bat species. I am passionate about my undergraduate teaching in the discipline of animal genetics and genomics and my supervision and mentorship of Higher Degree Research students, being awarded the School of Veterinary Science, Helen Keates Developing Teacher Award, and Higher Degree Research Supervision Excellence Award in 2022. I mentor my students in developing their molecular biology skills in a diverse range of project areas, from molecular detection and characterisation of pathogens with zoonotic potential in wildlife and companion animals, characterisation of novel viruses of wildlife with potential wildlife health and conservation impacts and gene expression analyses in disease of companion animals.

Research Interests

  • Overview
    Dr McMichael's research focuses on molecular studies of emerging viruses with veterinary health, zoonotic and conservation implications; investigation of health biomarkers and gene expression analyses in disease of companion animals with translational outputs; and threatening disease syndromes of Australian wildlife species with a particular focus on threatened Australian bat species.
  • Pathogenic threats to Australian Pteropus (flying fox) species
    Generously supported by the Australian Bat Society, the Keith Mackie Lucas student scholarship, SVS Philanthropic Funds, and in collaboration with Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Biosecurity Sciences Laboratory.
  • Tick paralysis in the endangered Spectacled flying fox
    Generously supported by NSW Wildlife Information Rescue and Education Service (WIRES) and the Department of Environment and Science Threatened Species Research Grant Program, in collaboration with the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) and the Tolga Bat Hospital.
  • Tick borne pathogens
    Generously supported by Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, in collaboration with QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute.
  • Cleft palate syndrome in the endangered Spectacled flying fox
    Generously supported by Wildlife Health Australia (WHA), Morris Animal Foundation Veterinary Student Scholar Program, and in collaboration with the Tolga Bat Hospital, James Cook University and the University of Missouri.

Research Impacts

Dr McMichael's research into the epidemiology of Hendra virus in its Australian reservoir flying fox host has contributed to establishing risk management policies at Queensland state government levels. Her continuing research into emerging viruses in Australian bats has lead to the discovery and characterision a number of novel viruses with potential wildlife health and conservation implications. Dr McMichael works collaboratively with Biosecurity Queensland (Department of Agriculture and Fisheries), and several Australian universities, inclusive of Griffith University, University of Southern Queensland, James Cook University and Macquarie University as part of her research into emerging infectious diseases. Dr McMichael also has ongoing collaborations with wildlife research organisations, in particular the University of Queensland Hidden Vale Teaching and Research Centre and the Tolga Bat Rehabilitation and Research Organisation, in undertaking conservation orientated research in Australian endangered species, particularly the mahogany glider and spectacled flying fox.

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
  • Master of Plant Protection, The University of Queensland
  • Bachelor of Science (Honours), The University of Queensland

Publications

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Supervision

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Available Projects

  • Cleft palate syndrome of the endangered Spectacled flying fox

    The endangered Spectacled flying fox population is in rapid decline due to decreasing habitat, climate extremes and mass mortality events. The species was listed as endangered in 2019 (EPBC Act 1999) and is one of 110 priority species in the Australian Threatened Species Strategy in 2022. The Spectacled flying fox has crucial long-distance pollination and seed dispersal roles in far north Queensland's Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. Lifehistory analyses of the species has shown that high mortality rates result in lower longevity and population fecundity (Fox 2008). Thus, conservation efforts must be directed towards reducing annual mortality rates within this important species to ensure a stable population. The lethal cleft palate syndrome affecting Spectacled flying fox neonates is the only occurrence of congenital orofacial deformities known to occur in a megabat species globally. It results in the death or abandonment of neonates shortly after birth. Incidence of the syndrome has fluctuated annually over the past 20 years varying between nil to 1/1000 births.

    Genome and transcriptome bioinformatic analysis of Spectacled flying fox normal and syndrome affected individuals, will allow identification and annotation of candidate genes analogous to cranio-facial embryologic development genes in humans, that are indeed putatively associated with human cleft palate syndromes. However, identification of defective genes in developmental pathways with known association to cleft palate, will likely only provide partial elucidation of the cause of the syndrome if a hypothesised gene-environment interaction is true. This project aims to investigate both genetic and environmental risk factors to Spectacled flying fox neonatal cleft palate syndrome. In addition to genetic analyses, the project will investigate the exposure to environmental toxins, such as pesticides and naturally occurring teratogenic plant and mycotoxins, which have known associations with epigenetic effects.

    The successful PhD candidate: Bioinformatic skills are necessary, while rabies vaccination and either ecological or veterinary knowledge of bats would be desirable.

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Publications

Featured Publications

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Other Outputs

PhD and MPhil Supervision

Current Supervision

Possible Research Projects

Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.

  • Cleft palate syndrome of the endangered Spectacled flying fox

    The endangered Spectacled flying fox population is in rapid decline due to decreasing habitat, climate extremes and mass mortality events. The species was listed as endangered in 2019 (EPBC Act 1999) and is one of 110 priority species in the Australian Threatened Species Strategy in 2022. The Spectacled flying fox has crucial long-distance pollination and seed dispersal roles in far north Queensland's Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. Lifehistory analyses of the species has shown that high mortality rates result in lower longevity and population fecundity (Fox 2008). Thus, conservation efforts must be directed towards reducing annual mortality rates within this important species to ensure a stable population. The lethal cleft palate syndrome affecting Spectacled flying fox neonates is the only occurrence of congenital orofacial deformities known to occur in a megabat species globally. It results in the death or abandonment of neonates shortly after birth. Incidence of the syndrome has fluctuated annually over the past 20 years varying between nil to 1/1000 births.

    Genome and transcriptome bioinformatic analysis of Spectacled flying fox normal and syndrome affected individuals, will allow identification and annotation of candidate genes analogous to cranio-facial embryologic development genes in humans, that are indeed putatively associated with human cleft palate syndromes. However, identification of defective genes in developmental pathways with known association to cleft palate, will likely only provide partial elucidation of the cause of the syndrome if a hypothesised gene-environment interaction is true. This project aims to investigate both genetic and environmental risk factors to Spectacled flying fox neonatal cleft palate syndrome. In addition to genetic analyses, the project will investigate the exposure to environmental toxins, such as pesticides and naturally occurring teratogenic plant and mycotoxins, which have known associations with epigenetic effects.

    The successful PhD candidate: Bioinformatic skills are necessary, while rabies vaccination and either ecological or veterinary knowledge of bats would be desirable.

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ResearcherID: C-7948-2018

ORCID: 0000-0002-7675-4859

Scopus ID: 6602388083

Google Scholar ID: 6llLKz0AAAAJ

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