Defining New Building Blocks for the Construction of Artificial Genetic Circuits. By characterising the components of a natural genetic switch, we will make available a set of well defined genetic building blocks for construction of rationally designed biological circuits. The ability to build such circuits would have significant economic benefit in areas such as metabolic engineering, to improve the efficiency of production of natural compounds from micro-organisms, and in biomedicine, for the ....Defining New Building Blocks for the Construction of Artificial Genetic Circuits. By characterising the components of a natural genetic switch, we will make available a set of well defined genetic building blocks for construction of rationally designed biological circuits. The ability to build such circuits would have significant economic benefit in areas such as metabolic engineering, to improve the efficiency of production of natural compounds from micro-organisms, and in biomedicine, for the controlled release of therapeutic compounds. The involvement of Honours and Ph.D students in this project will expose the next generation of Australian scientists to this emerging discipline. International collaboration leading to publications in high impact scientific journals will enhance Australia's scientific reputation.Read moreRead less
Competition or cooperation between marine biofilm bacteria recycling POM? Biofilms develop on any wetted surface by adhesion and subsequent growth of microorganisms. Recycling the energy, carbon and nitrogen contained in oceanic particulate organic matter (POM) is a global process essential for life on Earth. Ocean POM is degraded by its biofilm consortia, particularly bacteria secreting digestive enzymes. It is not known whether biofilm bacteria compete or cooperate in recycling POM. This proj ....Competition or cooperation between marine biofilm bacteria recycling POM? Biofilms develop on any wetted surface by adhesion and subsequent growth of microorganisms. Recycling the energy, carbon and nitrogen contained in oceanic particulate organic matter (POM) is a global process essential for life on Earth. Ocean POM is degraded by its biofilm consortia, particularly bacteria secreting digestive enzymes. It is not known whether biofilm bacteria compete or cooperate in recycling POM. This project combines microscopy image analysis, flow cytometry and molecular genetics to determine bacterial interactions quantitatively in mixed-species biofilms on natural POM. Results will increase knowledge of bacterial community functioning and biofilm recycling of POM in marine environments.Read moreRead less