Associate Professor Kate Mounsey completed her PhD in 2007 at the Menzies School of Health Research in Darwin and commenced at UniSC in 2012. Kate teaches in the areas of Immunology, Pathophysiology and Physiology, and is a fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Kate is internationally recognised for her research on the parasitic mite Sarcoptes scabiei, causing sarcoptic mange in animals and scabies in humans. She has received fellowship support from the NHMRC (Training Fellowship in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research, QIMR Berghofer, 2008-11) and the ARC (Discovery Early Career Research Award, UniSC, 2012-15). Kate’s multidisciplinary research expertise incorporates mite molecular biology, acaricide treatments, drug resistance and immunopathology. Kate maintains a strong commitment to stakeholder engagement, research dissemination and translation, and has been actively involved in community-based research to improve skin health in vulnerable populations. In recent years she has applied her experience to sarcoptic mange in wombats, awarded funding to explore the development of Bravecto as a sarcoptic mange treatment, collaborating with community-based mange treatment organisations. Kate also collaborates with Professor Robert Harvey at UniSC, investigating scabies mite and other arthropod neurotransmitter receptors, with the aim to developing novel, targeted and ecologically friendly control methods.
Available Research Projects- HDR, Honours and SRP Students
Precision receptor-specific miticides for safeguarding Australian honeybees - with Prof Robert Harvey (UniSC), Prof Robert Vandenberg (University of Sydney), Prof Megan O'Mara (University of Queensland) and Dr Vincent Dietemann (Swiss Bee Research Center at Agroscope, Switzerland). This project aims to investigate neurotransmitter receptors in Varroa destructor mites. The project expects to generate new interdisciplinary knowledge by: i) Functionally characterising Varroa neurotransmitter receptors, the key targets of miticides; and ii) Exploiting differences in Varroa and honeybee receptor structure and pharmacology to develop novel Varroa-specific miticides.
Precision receptor-specific insecticides for combatting red imported fire ants - with Prof Robert Harvey (UniSC), Prof Robert Vandenberg (University of Sydney), and Dr Alicia Toon (National Fire Ant Eradication Program, Biosecurity Queensland). This project aims to investigate neurotransmitter receptors in the red imported fire ant (RIFA, Solenopsis invicta), one of the world’s most destructive invasive species. The project expects to generate new fundamental knowledge by: i) Functionally characterising fire ant neurotransmitter receptors, the key targets of known insecticides; ii) Designing and testing new chemical and next-generation gene knockdown control methods. Expected outcomes of this project include RIFA receptor screening platforms and novel biocides with low ecotoxicity.
Genetic analysis of scabies mite acaricide target genes. We will study the DNA of scabies mite GABA and glutamate receptors collected from mites and skin crusts obtained wombats with sarcoptic mange across South Eastern Australia. We will compare recent and historical samples to assess the impact of treatment programs on genetic acaricide resistance in scabies mites. Collaborators include Prof Scott Carver, Prof Robert Harvey, Yolandi Vermaak (Wombat Rescue ACT), Roz Holme (Cedar Creek Wombat Hospital) and Katja Gutwein (Mange Management, VIC).
Immune susceptibility to scabies and sarcoptic mange. Immune parameters associated with susceptibility and resistance to scabies in different host species remain poorly characterised. We use our collection of biological samples collected from hosts with different clinical phenotypes to explore immunopathology. Collaborators include Prof Scott Carver, Dr Christina Naesborg-Nielsen, Prof Bart Currie, Dr Deborah Holt, A/Prof Katja Fischer, and Dr Melinda Dean.
Research Grants
| Project name | Investigators | Funding body | Year | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Precision receptor-specific miticides for safeguarding Australian bees. | Prof Robert Harvey; A/Prof Kate Mounsey; Prof Robert Vandenberg; Prof Megan O'Mara; Dr Vincent Dietemann | ARC Discovery Project | 2025-2028 |
This project aims to investigate neurotransmitter receptors in Varroa destructor mites. The project expects to generate new interdisciplinary knowledge by: i) Functionally characterising Varroa neurotransmitter receptors, the key targets of miticides; and ii) Exploiting differences in Varroa and honeybee receptor structure and pharmacology to develop novel Varroa-specific miticides. |
| Development of novel double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) gene knockdown control methods for Varroa destructor mites and red imported fire ants. | Prof Robert Harvey, A/Prof Kate Mounsey | UniSC Accelerate Scheme |
2024-2025 |
This project aims to investigate neurotransmitter receptors in the red imported fire ant (RIFA, Solenopsis invicta), one of the world’s most destructive invasive species. Expected outcomes of this project include RIFA receptor screening platforms and novel biocides with low ecotoxicity. |
| Evaluating the efficacy, drug resistance and ecological impact of sarcoptic mange treatment in wombats. | A/Prof Kate Mounsey, Prof Robert Harvey, A/Prof Ben Kefford, Dr Renee Brawata, Yolandi Vermaak, Roz Holme | NSW Government Curb Wombat Mange Program | 2023-2025 |
We will assess the efficacy of Bravecto in severe sarcoptic mange, and test wombat mites for altered treatment responses. This will be undertaken in partnership with two wombat rehabilitation organisations in NSW/ACT. Additionally, we will conduct the first ecotoxicity studies exploring the potential impacts of moxidectin and fluralaner on freshwater species co-located in regions where mange wombats are prevalent. |
| Developing feasible in-situ control of mange disease in wombats | Prof Scott Carver, Dr Shane Richards, Prof Michael Charleston, Prof David Phalen, A/Prof Kate Mounsey, Dr David Nichols | ARC Linkage Project | 2020-24 | Globally important, the Sarcoptes scabiei mite infects >100 mammal species and is among the 50 most common human diseases, causing health, welfare and population impacts. This infection is treatable, and we will test a new treatment (fluralaner), develop new models to guide management, and conduct replicated field trials. This will enable science-based guidelines, advancing disease control, local eradication, and regulatory approval for wombats. |
| Molecular Detection of Scabies by PCR Using a Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) Approach | J MCarthy, C Pasay, B Currie, M Field, T Papenfus, A Bowen, J Francis, D Holt, K Fischer, K Mounsey, D Tilakaratne | NHMRC Hot North Pilot Project | 2017 |
This project aimed to develop high sensitivity molecular diagnostics for scabies. |
| A porcine model to provide new insights on scabies immunopathology. | K Mounsey | ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award | 2012–2014 | A limitation to scabies research has been the inability to undertake longitudinal infection studies in humans. This project utilises a porcine model to characterise the development of immune responses in scabies. |
| Inside the skin: understanding different host responses in scabies. | K Mounsey, J McCarthy, S Walton, D Holt and B Currie | NHMRC Project Grant | 2012–2014 | Crusted scabies is a poorly understood form of scabies compromising the success of community control strategies. This research compares the immune response in the skin of patients with different clinical manifestations of scabies. This will reveal immune defects predisposing to severe disease. |
Research areas
- Molecular, medical and veterinary parasitology and entomology
- Diagnosis, control and drug resistance in arthropods
- Parasite immunology
Teaching areas
- Immunology
- Pathophysiology
- Medical Laboratory Science
- Physiology
Program coordinator
Recent publication highlights include:
Fischer K, Fernando D, Mounsey K, Bernigaud C, Surve N, Estrada-Chavez G, Hay R, Currie B, Chosidow O (2024). Scabies. Nature Reviews Disease Primers. 10(1):74. doi: 10.1038/s41572-024-00552-8.
Lightbody I, Cash-Deans S, Pasay C, Oprescu F, Mounsey K (2024). A cross-sectional survey of knowledge and attitudes towards scabies control in Australian aged care facilities. Epidemiology and Infection. 152, e125 1-8. doi: 10.1017/S0950268824001377
Takano K, Carver S, Vermaak Y, Fischer K, Harvey RJ, Mounsey KE (2024). Assessment of the in vitro acaricidal activity of Bravecto® (fluralaner) and a proposed orange oil-based formulation vehicle for the treatment of Sarcoptes scabiei. Parasites & Vectors. 17(1):194. doi: 10.1186/s13071-024-06275-9
Bergamin G, Hudson J, Currie BJ, Mounsey KE (2024). A systematic review of immunosuppressive risk factors and comorbidities associated with the development of crusted scabies. International Journal of Infectious Diseases.107036. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2024.107036.
Takano K, de Hayr L, Carver, S, Harvey RJ, Mounsey K (2023). Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic considerations for treating sarcoptic mange with cross-relevance to Australian wildlife. International Journal of Parasitology: Drugs and Drug Resistance. 21:97-113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpddr.2023.02.004
Mounsey K (2023). Commentary: Transcriptome analysis of host inflammatory response to the ectoparasitic mite Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis. Frontiers in Immunology. 4:1128688. 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1128688
Kate's areas of expertise include Immunology, Pathophysiology, Molecular medical and veterinary parasitology, Diagnosis, control and drug resistance in infectious tropical diseases
In the news
From Varroa mites to brain receptors, key UniSC research projects receive ARC funding
29 NovAlmost $2.2 million in funding from the Australian Research Council has been awarded to UniSC to investigate new ways to kill Varroa mites without harming honeybees, develop pheromone traps for parasitic worms and gain novel insights into vital brain receptors.