PHA’s Dr Yasmin Chalmers, Manager, Digital Systems, Dr Yvonne Ogaji, Project Officer, Surveillance and Evie Kielnhofer, Project Officer, Biosecurity Planning recently attended a networking and informational event at AgriBio in Bundoora, Victoria. The meeting allowed the PHA team to meet face-to-face and learn more about the diverse work conducted across AgriBio.  

In addition to exploring collaboration opportunities and gaining cross-disciplinary insight, the PHA attendees enjoyed a guided tour of the AgriBio facilities, led by several on-site staff members who work across various research areas. 

The tour began in AgriBio’s specimen collection area, where samples for diagnostic evaluation first enter the facility. Upon arrival, each sample’s details are entered into the database, labelled, barcoded, and triaged for further processing by diagnostic staff. Chain of custody for each sample is carefully maintained throughout the diagnostic process to ensure accurate tracking, quality control, and timely results.  

With over 200 clients in the plant industry, AgriBio processes a variety of samples daily that arrive by courier, mail, or directly from clients. Processing times for these diagnostic samples vary from one day to several weeks, depending on the complexity of the tests required. AgriBio also handles samples from interstate. The recent Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) incursion has increased the number of diagnostic samples, highlighting the need for rigorous testing. 

AgriBio’s is also home to the Victorian Agricultural Insect Collection (VAIC) and the Victorian Plant Pathology Herbarium (VPRI), which supports diagnostics with a reference collection of pathogenic and entomological specimens.  

Information about specimens held within the VAIC and VPRI is also available to registered users of the Australian Plant Pest Database (APPD), managed by PHA. The APPD supports the crucial work of reference collections in supporting pest risk assessments, market access and area of freedom claims that underpin Australia’s strong domestic and international trade status. 

Once samples have been processed, they may undergo further testing in one of AgriBio’s Physical Containment (PC) 2 laboratories, where diagnostic methods include morphological and molecular techniques. Samples suspected of harbouring pathogenic fungi, for example, are examined microscopically, while others may undergo DNA amplification via Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). AgriBio conducts around 70,000 PCR tests annually, utilising equipment for rapid, in-field diagnosis, such as Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) testing and nanopore sequencing machines for plant pests including fruit fly, Varroa mite, Khapra beetle and Fall army worm. 

In addition to diagnostics, AgriBio conducts virus screenings of imported seed consignments as directed by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). They also support the agricultural industry through tissue culture and pathogen elimination.   

PHA expresses its sincere appreciation to AgriBio, VAIC and VPRI for this invaluable opportunity to strengthen collaboration and share expertise, furthering biosecurity preparedness and diagnostics.