New inhibitors of HIV based on cellular enzymes. Over 39 million people are infected with HIV worldwide. However, none of the most highly affected countries have yet reached the peak in AIDS-related illness and death, thus the global impact of HIV/AIDS will get significantly worse, before it gets better.
In Australia, HIV is again on the rise. Ironically, improved treatments that have extended life expectancy will cause the number of HIV infected Australians to rise for many years to come. ....New inhibitors of HIV based on cellular enzymes. Over 39 million people are infected with HIV worldwide. However, none of the most highly affected countries have yet reached the peak in AIDS-related illness and death, thus the global impact of HIV/AIDS will get significantly worse, before it gets better.
In Australia, HIV is again on the rise. Ironically, improved treatments that have extended life expectancy will cause the number of HIV infected Australians to rise for many years to come. Therefore many Australians will suffer from the combined impact of the AIDS illness itself, opportunistic infections, the side-effects of treatment and natural aging. We aim to develop new drugs to combat this disease to help people everywhere lead happier, healthier and more productive lives.Read moreRead less
NMR Studies of Second Generation Polynuclear Platinum Compounds. Cancer affects one in four Australians and 50% of cancer patients are treated with cisplatin. BBR3464 is a new type of platinum anticancer drug that has shown promise in clinical trials, including results in cancers that do not respond to cisplatin treatment. Second-generation analogues, now under development, may offer significant advantages. This international collaboration between Prof. Berners-Price and the inventor of these ne ....NMR Studies of Second Generation Polynuclear Platinum Compounds. Cancer affects one in four Australians and 50% of cancer patients are treated with cisplatin. BBR3464 is a new type of platinum anticancer drug that has shown promise in clinical trials, including results in cancers that do not respond to cisplatin treatment. Second-generation analogues, now under development, may offer significant advantages. This international collaboration between Prof. Berners-Price and the inventor of these new drugs puts Australian research at the forefront of the clinical development. There is the potential for the generation of new IP from new strategies in the design of improved anticancer drugs. The project builds strong international links and provides international training for Australian PhD students.Read moreRead less
Conformationally constrained and immobilized beta-peptides. The research builds on world-class expertise in Australia (particularly Adelaide) in proteomics to provide a basis for fundamental advances in chemistry that will underpin the development of new pharmaceuticals and smart materials, and future technologies and industries. We create a mix of research at the interface of disciplines within academia and industry, with linkages to the very best international researchers and centres. A new cr ....Conformationally constrained and immobilized beta-peptides. The research builds on world-class expertise in Australia (particularly Adelaide) in proteomics to provide a basis for fundamental advances in chemistry that will underpin the development of new pharmaceuticals and smart materials, and future technologies and industries. We create a mix of research at the interface of disciplines within academia and industry, with linkages to the very best international researchers and centres. A new critical mass of expertise in a number of advancing areas of chemistry, biology, and materials science will be introduced to Australia. This will enhance existing strengths and opportunities in proteomics and biomedical research for the treatment of disease.Read moreRead less
Pharmacological and biochemical characterisation of Australian mygalomorph spider venoms. This project will increase our limited knowledge of Australian mygalomorph venoms by isolation, identification and characterisation of novel toxins in theraphosid and Northern mouse-spider venoms. Thereby, the scientific basis for the treatment of mygalomorph spider bites might be improved. Secondly, new insights into pharmacology and the potential development of novel therapeutics and molecular probes of t ....Pharmacological and biochemical characterisation of Australian mygalomorph spider venoms. This project will increase our limited knowledge of Australian mygalomorph venoms by isolation, identification and characterisation of novel toxins in theraphosid and Northern mouse-spider venoms. Thereby, the scientific basis for the treatment of mygalomorph spider bites might be improved. Secondly, new insights into pharmacology and the potential development of novel therapeutics and molecular probes of target molecules might be expected.Read moreRead less
Particle Design for Recovery and Delivery of Bioactives. This project will develop new strategies for economically viable recovery of bioactives from complex solutions, slurries and sludges of biomaterials eg. waste streams from milk and soy bean processing, and fermentation broths. These bioactives, often proteins, have growing applications as high value drugs, nutriceuticals and food additives but are difficult to separate and to maintain in an active form. Crystallisation will be used as a ....Particle Design for Recovery and Delivery of Bioactives. This project will develop new strategies for economically viable recovery of bioactives from complex solutions, slurries and sludges of biomaterials eg. waste streams from milk and soy bean processing, and fermentation broths. These bioactives, often proteins, have growing applications as high value drugs, nutriceuticals and food additives but are difficult to separate and to maintain in an active form. Crystallisation will be used as a primary separation technique. Molecular studies of protein interactions will be used to predict good crystallisation conditions and linked to process crystallisation studies. Both standard and novel particle design strategies will be used to control crystal size and morphology, as well as package the boactive in a deliverable form without loss of activity.Read moreRead less
Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Hybrid star polymers grown from carbohydrate clusters. The aim of the project is to make complex polymer architectures based on stars grown from sugar clusters. The star molecules are expected to have unique properties for transporting guest molecules in drug delivery systems. The outcome will be the development of totally biodegradable, non-toxic cluster/star structures capable of complexing to drugs. This is the first attempt to utilise these clusters ....Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Hybrid star polymers grown from carbohydrate clusters. The aim of the project is to make complex polymer architectures based on stars grown from sugar clusters. The star molecules are expected to have unique properties for transporting guest molecules in drug delivery systems. The outcome will be the development of totally biodegradable, non-toxic cluster/star structures capable of complexing to drugs. This is the first attempt to utilise these clusters, with sugar-based vinyl monomers for star synthesis.Read moreRead less
Characterisation of insulin-independent glucose uptake mediated by guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G-proteins) coupled receptors. This project will provide first class postdoctoral training for Dr Sato in the laboratory of A/Prof Bengtsson one of the pioneers in the field of cell metabolism. He will learn new approaches to the study of cell signalling including the use of ribonucleic acid interference (RNAi) technologies and of a series of functionally altered mutants of phosphatidylinosito ....Characterisation of insulin-independent glucose uptake mediated by guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G-proteins) coupled receptors. This project will provide first class postdoctoral training for Dr Sato in the laboratory of A/Prof Bengtsson one of the pioneers in the field of cell metabolism. He will learn new approaches to the study of cell signalling including the use of ribonucleic acid interference (RNAi) technologies and of a series of functionally altered mutants of phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase that he will bring back to Monash University. A better understanding of the cell signalling mechanisms involved in glucose transport will be of enormous benefit in developing new approaches to the treatment of diseases such as type II diabetes.Read moreRead less
Identification of structural proteins in the tissue cyst wall of Toxoplasma gondii. Most infections with Toxoplasma gondii are asymptomatic, however, infection during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage or blindness, deafness and mental retardation in the developing baby. Furthermore, in AIDS patients, toxoplasmosis is the leading cause of fatal encephalitis as the normally dormant tissue cysts are reactivated in the absence of an effective immune system. In Australia, it has been estimated that ~ ....Identification of structural proteins in the tissue cyst wall of Toxoplasma gondii. Most infections with Toxoplasma gondii are asymptomatic, however, infection during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage or blindness, deafness and mental retardation in the developing baby. Furthermore, in AIDS patients, toxoplasmosis is the leading cause of fatal encephalitis as the normally dormant tissue cysts are reactivated in the absence of an effective immune system. In Australia, it has been estimated that ~30% of the population is infected with T. gondii and the occurrence of congenital toxoplasmosis is 0.2% of live births, which translates to roughly 500 cases/year. Our research will identify structural proteins in Toxoplasma cyst walls that will lead to the design of new strategies to control the diseases caused by these parasites.Read moreRead less
Inhibitors of enzymes in the lysine biosynthetic pathway. Recent reports of increasing bacterial resistance to antibiotics highlight the need for continual development of new antibacterial agents. Inhibitors of the biosynthesis of the amino acid lysine - an essential component of bacterial proteins and cell wall - may provide a novel class of antibiotics. This project describes investigations of the mechanism of the first two enzymes in the lysine biosynthetic pathway and the design and synthesi ....Inhibitors of enzymes in the lysine biosynthetic pathway. Recent reports of increasing bacterial resistance to antibiotics highlight the need for continual development of new antibacterial agents. Inhibitors of the biosynthesis of the amino acid lysine - an essential component of bacterial proteins and cell wall - may provide a novel class of antibiotics. This project describes investigations of the mechanism of the first two enzymes in the lysine biosynthetic pathway and the design and synthesis of inhibitors of these enzymes.Read moreRead less
The development of a two-colour flow cytometric assay for the detection of whole cell biosensors in environmental samples. Macquarie University and the University of Copenhagen have expertise in fluorescence detection and whole cell biosensors respectively. The project will take advantage of these skills and develop a sensitive assay for monitoring biosensor bacteria in soil. The technology will be significant as it will enable real time analysis of antibiotic production in situ through the de ....The development of a two-colour flow cytometric assay for the detection of whole cell biosensors in environmental samples. Macquarie University and the University of Copenhagen have expertise in fluorescence detection and whole cell biosensors respectively. The project will take advantage of these skills and develop a sensitive assay for monitoring biosensor bacteria in soil. The technology will be significant as it will enable real time analysis of antibiotic production in situ through the detection of GFP expression. This work will then be used to isolate new antibiotic produces and will be extended to research into the bioavailability of toxic compounds and stress. An existing collaboration between the two institutions will be extended enabling the transfer and application of biosensor technology to Australia.Read moreRead less