Living on air: how do bacteria scavenge atmospheric trace gases? This project aims to determine the molecular and cellular basis of atmospheric trace gas oxidation by bacteria. Bacteria have a remarkable ability to adapt to resource limitation and environmental change by entering dormant states. Our research has shown they survive in this state by using atmospheric hydrogen and carbon monoxide as energy sources. This interdisciplinary project will determine how bacteria achieve this by elucidati ....Living on air: how do bacteria scavenge atmospheric trace gases? This project aims to determine the molecular and cellular basis of atmospheric trace gas oxidation by bacteria. Bacteria have a remarkable ability to adapt to resource limitation and environmental change by entering dormant states. Our research has shown they survive in this state by using atmospheric hydrogen and carbon monoxide as energy sources. This interdisciplinary project will determine how bacteria achieve this by elucidating the regulation, mechanism, and integration of the three uncharacterised enzymes that mediate this process. Outcomes and benefits include understanding of the processes that facilitate bacterial persistence, regulate atmospheric composition, and in turn support resilience of natural ecosystems.Read moreRead less
The biogenesis of bacterial outer membranes; how bacteria build their surface membranes. The outer membrane protects probiotic bacteria in the human intestine and enables pathogenic bacteria to cause infectious diseases. We will determine bacteria build their outer membranes - outstanding training opportunities come through cutting edge technology and the development of skills not common in Australia.
Molecular insights into bacterial metal ion homeostasis and toxicity. This project aims to measure bacterial cellular metal concentrations, elucidate mechanisms cells use to adapt to changing extracellular metal concentrations, and reveal the molecular targets of metal toxicity. Metal ions are essential to all forms of life, and half of all proteins use metal ions for cellular chemical processes. However, how cells precisely balance sufficient metal ions for essential cellular chemistry without ....Molecular insights into bacterial metal ion homeostasis and toxicity. This project aims to measure bacterial cellular metal concentrations, elucidate mechanisms cells use to adapt to changing extracellular metal concentrations, and reveal the molecular targets of metal toxicity. Metal ions are essential to all forms of life, and half of all proteins use metal ions for cellular chemical processes. However, how cells precisely balance sufficient metal ions for essential cellular chemistry without accumulating a toxic excess (metal homeostasis) is poorly understood. Discovering the roles of metal ions in bacterial cells will be key to defining the chemical biology of living systems and will provide information essential to understanding how microbes adapt to changing environments.Read moreRead less
Dissociation of a Tetrameric Enzyme with Interface-Targeted Peptides. With antibiotic resistance on the rise, there is an urgent need to develop new antibiotics and an equally urgent need to characterise new antibiotic targets. One such target is dihydrodipicolinate synthase (DHDPS) which catalyses the critical step in lysine and cell wall biosynthesis in bacteria. This proposal aims to generate new drugs targeting DHDPS for effective and rapid treatment of bacterial infections, including gastro ....Dissociation of a Tetrameric Enzyme with Interface-Targeted Peptides. With antibiotic resistance on the rise, there is an urgent need to develop new antibiotics and an equally urgent need to characterise new antibiotic targets. One such target is dihydrodipicolinate synthase (DHDPS) which catalyses the critical step in lysine and cell wall biosynthesis in bacteria. This proposal aims to generate new drugs targeting DHDPS for effective and rapid treatment of bacterial infections, including gastroenteritis. Recent statistics show that over 5 million Australians suffer from gastroenteritis each year and hospitalisation for this infection is nearly seven times higher for indigenous than non-indigenous children. Accordingly, this research has the potential to assure a healthier future for millions of Australians.Read moreRead less
The protein O-glycosylation pathway of Neisseria: a model system for O-glycosylation of bacterial proteins with potential use in biotechnology. Proteins can be modified by the addition of sugar molecules. This process, called glycosylation, has been studied for some time in humans and other higher organisms, but is relatively new in the field of bacteria. This study will use the bacterium Neisseria as a model system for this process and work to harness the system for use in biotechnology.
Eradicating bacterial biofilms with nitroxide-antimicrobial hybrids. This project aims to develop new antimicrobials to address the rise of drug-resistant infections and resilient bacterial communities called biofilms. We aim to break new ground in our fundamental knowledge of antimicrobial mechanisms and exploit this understanding by fusing cellular/molecular microbiology and synthetic chemistry approaches. We seek to gain an in-depth understanding of how nitroxides induce bacterial biofilm dis ....Eradicating bacterial biofilms with nitroxide-antimicrobial hybrids. This project aims to develop new antimicrobials to address the rise of drug-resistant infections and resilient bacterial communities called biofilms. We aim to break new ground in our fundamental knowledge of antimicrobial mechanisms and exploit this understanding by fusing cellular/molecular microbiology and synthetic chemistry approaches. We seek to gain an in-depth understanding of how nitroxides induce bacterial biofilm dispersal, which is critical for the discovery of anti-biofilm molecules that do not fail due to resistance development. These breakthroughs should induce a step-change in our ability to reduce the occurrence of biofilm-related infection in fields ranging from medical and veterinary to biotechnology and agriculture.Read moreRead less
The Fine Tuned Physiology of Microaerophilic Gastric Spirilla. The aim of the project is to understand the molecular basis of fundamental properties of the physiology of enterogastric spiral bacteria of the genera Campylobacter and Helicobacter. The characteristics of these obligate microaerophiles which will be investigated are their aerobic respiratory chains, the special metabolites and enzymes involved in thiol-disulphide redox balance, and their essential requirement for carbon dioxide. Mic ....The Fine Tuned Physiology of Microaerophilic Gastric Spirilla. The aim of the project is to understand the molecular basis of fundamental properties of the physiology of enterogastric spiral bacteria of the genera Campylobacter and Helicobacter. The characteristics of these obligate microaerophiles which will be investigated are their aerobic respiratory chains, the special metabolites and enzymes involved in thiol-disulphide redox balance, and their essential requirement for carbon dioxide. Microaerobes include some bacteria, archea and protozoa. Realisation of the widespread habitats and importance of microaerophiles, has led recently to a vigorous interest in understanding their physiology. Knowledge of the basic properties of microaerophily has potential applications to Environmental Microbiology, Agriculture, Industrial Microbiology, Veterinary Science and Medicine.Read moreRead less
Bacterial polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon transport and degradation. This project aims to investigate the molecular processes underpinning the degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by bacteria. PAHs are persistent environmental contaminants linked to several human diseases, including cancer. Bacteria capable of degrading PAHs could be used to naturally and effectively reduce environmental PAH loads to below safe levels. The project will apply techniques in functional genomics an ....Bacterial polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon transport and degradation. This project aims to investigate the molecular processes underpinning the degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by bacteria. PAHs are persistent environmental contaminants linked to several human diseases, including cancer. Bacteria capable of degrading PAHs could be used to naturally and effectively reduce environmental PAH loads to below safe levels. The project will apply techniques in functional genomics and biochemistry to help define the ways that PAHs are taken up from the environment by bacteria, their fate within bacterial cells, and the ways that bacteria overcome the inherent toxicity of PAHs. The knowledge generated is expected to enhance our capacity to rationally deploy bacteria for PAH degradation.Read moreRead less
Investigating pathways of lipoglycan formation in the bacterial cell wall. This project aims to investigate how the complex cell walls of Mycobacteria and Corynebacteria are assembled. The project will utilise a combination of genetic, biochemical and advanced analytical approaches to investigate individual steps in the synthesis of key cell wall components and understand how the assembly of these components is coordinated with bacterial growth. Important outcomes of this research will be detail ....Investigating pathways of lipoglycan formation in the bacterial cell wall. This project aims to investigate how the complex cell walls of Mycobacteria and Corynebacteria are assembled. The project will utilise a combination of genetic, biochemical and advanced analytical approaches to investigate individual steps in the synthesis of key cell wall components and understand how the assembly of these components is coordinated with bacterial growth. Important outcomes of this research will be detailed information on processes that regulate the growth of bacteria with important biotechnology, veterinary and medical significance, as well as information on mechanisms of cell wall synthesis that may be conserved in all bacteria.Read moreRead less
A functional genomic approach for understanding metal ion adaptation in marine cyanobacteria. Unicellular marine cyanobacteria constitute 20-40% of total marine chlorophyll biomass and carbon fixation, and hence significantly impact the global carbon cycle and are very relevant to combating global warming. This research will reveal some of the major mechanisms by which marine cyanobacteria have adapted to metal levels in coastal and oligotrophic environments. Thus these results will help us und ....A functional genomic approach for understanding metal ion adaptation in marine cyanobacteria. Unicellular marine cyanobacteria constitute 20-40% of total marine chlorophyll biomass and carbon fixation, and hence significantly impact the global carbon cycle and are very relevant to combating global warming. This research will reveal some of the major mechanisms by which marine cyanobacteria have adapted to metal levels in coastal and oligotrophic environments. Thus these results will help us understand the distribution and diversity of these organisms in relation to global primary productivity. They will also lead to the development of more robust biomarkers for metal stress and pollution in coastal environments.Read moreRead less