Research team nominated in awards for solving decades-old Buruli mystery

The Beating Buruli project, launched in 2018, sought to investigate how Buruli ulcer (BU) – an infectious disease of the skin – is spread in Victoria.

After years of dedicated collaborative work led by the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Beating Buruli confirmed that mosquitoes are the primary vectors in transmitting BU to Victorians.

Often dubbed the ‘flesh-eating’ Buruli ulcer, BU is a skin infection caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans (M. ulcerans). Untreated, the infection can cause redness, swelling and eventually a bump or lump that breaks down to form an ulcer in the skin.

BU spreads to humans from animals (not person to person) and is primarily found in tropical regions. Though it has existed in Australia for decades, BU has become endemic to Victoria in recent years as cases increase and spread to new areas.

While mosquitoes are the primary vectors, recent research had found increasing evidence that both possums (specifically possum faeces) and mosquitoes play a role in transmission.

When and where BU transmission occurs in Victoria had baffled researchers since the first discovery of M. ulcerans in the 1940s.

This breakthrough marks a major step forward in curbing the spread of BU in our community.

Beating Buruli in Victoria is nominated for the category 'Keeping people healthy and safe in the community'. The Awards will be announced at a gala event on 19 November 2024.

The Doherty Institute is a joint venture between the Royal Melbourne Hospital and the University of Melbourne.