Antibiotic resistance is a looming public health crisis. New antibiotics with new mechanisms of action are desperately needed. The long-term goal of this research is to develop new drugs that disarm bacteria to overcome the problem of antibiotic resistance.
Of pets, vets and antimicrobials: fluoroquinolone use in dogs and resistance biology. Antimicrobial resistance is a current and growing threat relevant to human health, animal welfare, food production, and environmental preservation. This project will provide new insights into the basic science of antimicrobial resistance, through the generation of accurate data on the role of companion animal use of antibiotics on the development and control of resistance. Ultimate project goals are to produce ....Of pets, vets and antimicrobials: fluoroquinolone use in dogs and resistance biology. Antimicrobial resistance is a current and growing threat relevant to human health, animal welfare, food production, and environmental preservation. This project will provide new insights into the basic science of antimicrobial resistance, through the generation of accurate data on the role of companion animal use of antibiotics on the development and control of resistance. Ultimate project goals are to produce recommendations that limit the generation of further resistance. Project outcomes have demonstrable relevance to human preventative health, which is recognised as a national research priority. The health and welfare of pets will also be improved, which has associated community benefits.Read moreRead less
Neurotrophic Active Natural Products: Total Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Neovibsanins A and B, and Analogues. New chemical entities (drug candidates) that promote neurite outgrowth have significant ramifications to mankind as they have real potential to repair damaged, or grow replacement, nerve cells affected by neuro and central nervous system (CNS) degenerative disease (e.g. Alzhiemer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's etc). This scientific endeavour will reveal new drug like molecules fo ....Neurotrophic Active Natural Products: Total Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Neovibsanins A and B, and Analogues. New chemical entities (drug candidates) that promote neurite outgrowth have significant ramifications to mankind as they have real potential to repair damaged, or grow replacement, nerve cells affected by neuro and central nervous system (CNS) degenerative disease (e.g. Alzhiemer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's etc). This scientific endeavour will reveal new drug like molecules for potential biological and clinical application, thereby assisting a substantial proportion of Australians suffering from these debilitating diseases. Read moreRead less
Probing polynuclear platinum biomolecule interactions. 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 with the inventor of these new drugs puts Australian research at t ....Probing polynuclear platinum biomolecule interactions. 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 with 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
Towards Next Generation Anthelmintics. The agricultural industry is in urgent need of new, safe and cost effective treatments for parasite infections in commercial livestock (sheep, cattle, goats). The current multi billion dollar agrochemical industry provides only three classes of antiparasitic drug, all of which are >25 yrs old and are largely ineffective due to the widespread resistance. This project will advance the development of a new class of antiparasitic treatment, improving outcomes f ....Towards Next Generation Anthelmintics. The agricultural industry is in urgent need of new, safe and cost effective treatments for parasite infections in commercial livestock (sheep, cattle, goats). The current multi billion dollar agrochemical industry provides only three classes of antiparasitic drug, all of which are >25 yrs old and are largely ineffective due to the widespread resistance. This project will advance the development of a new class of antiparasitic treatment, improving outcomes for Australian farmers by reducing reliance on expensive ineffective agrochemical imports, reducing chemical load on the environment, improving pastures and increasing yields. In short, improved livestock health will lead to more sustainable and productive farming, and a stronger economy.Read moreRead less
Development of a topical treatment to replace surgical mulesing in sheep. 10,800 farms in Australia are sheep farms and a further 30,000 have sheep. Exports of wool earn over $2 billion annually. The animal rights campaign to ban mulesing has forced the industry to outlaw mulesing by 2010. Mulesing is largely confined to Australian Merino sheep and requires Australian research. If practical alternatives are not found costs will rise compromising the economic viability of many sheep farms. C ....Development of a topical treatment to replace surgical mulesing in sheep. 10,800 farms in Australia are sheep farms and a further 30,000 have sheep. Exports of wool earn over $2 billion annually. The animal rights campaign to ban mulesing has forced the industry to outlaw mulesing by 2010. Mulesing is largely confined to Australian Merino sheep and requires Australian research. If practical alternatives are not found costs will rise compromising the economic viability of many sheep farms. Chemical use on the breech will increase causing environmental contamination. A simple topical alternative to mulesing will allow farmers to economically manage flies and satisfy welfare imperatives. This will support rural communities and sustain Australia's export income from wool.Read moreRead less
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors as targets in inflammatory and neurodegenerative processes. The national/community benefits that are expected to arise from this research are economic and social in nature. The novel approach employed in this project to identify inflammatory pathways and regulation has the potential to provide information that is critical in the design of novel peptide/protein based drugs. With blockbuster protein-based drugs having sales in excess of $10 billion per annum this ....Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors as targets in inflammatory and neurodegenerative processes. The national/community benefits that are expected to arise from this research are economic and social in nature. The novel approach employed in this project to identify inflammatory pathways and regulation has the potential to provide information that is critical in the design of novel peptide/protein based drugs. With blockbuster protein-based drugs having sales in excess of $10 billion per annum this proposal has the potential for very significant economic benefits for Australia. Furthermore, novel therapeutic agents for inflammatory diseases would have social benefits for Australia by decreasing the number of individuals affected and thereby reducing the physical and emotional stress associated with inflammatory diseases. Read moreRead less
Chemical and Biochemical Characterisation of Novel Iron Chelators with Therapeutic Potential. Iron is essential for life, but iron-overload is a potentially fatal condition. There is no natural mechanism to excrete iron in humans, so patients suffering from iron-overload disorders are treated with the chelator Desferal to enable iron excretion typically from an early age. Desferal is orally ineffective and must be given by subcutaneous infusion (12-24h, 5-6 days/week) resulting in poor patient c ....Chemical and Biochemical Characterisation of Novel Iron Chelators with Therapeutic Potential. Iron is essential for life, but iron-overload is a potentially fatal condition. There is no natural mechanism to excrete iron in humans, so patients suffering from iron-overload disorders are treated with the chelator Desferal to enable iron excretion typically from an early age. Desferal is orally ineffective and must be given by subcutaneous infusion (12-24h, 5-6 days/week) resulting in poor patient compliance. We will conduct critical chemical and biological experiments with a new series of potentially orally active iron chelators identified in our lab. The results from this project will be vital for the development of these compounds as pharmaceuticals.Read moreRead less
Applying the CCK framework to angiogenic-based therapeutics. The aim of this project is to graft peptides involved in angiogenesis-related disorders onto a mini-protein framework. The cyclic cystine knot (CCK) framework is a plant based protein framework that has unique structural properties that make it exceptionally stable. The significance of this project is that the framework has the potential to overcome the limitations that are generally associated with peptide-based therapeutics, includin ....Applying the CCK framework to angiogenic-based therapeutics. The aim of this project is to graft peptides involved in angiogenesis-related disorders onto a mini-protein framework. The cyclic cystine knot (CCK) framework is a plant based protein framework that has unique structural properties that make it exceptionally stable. The significance of this project is that the framework has the potential to overcome the limitations that are generally associated with peptide-based therapeutics, including poor stability and bioavailability. Vastly improved therapeutic leads may be produced from this approach.Read moreRead less
What is in therapeutically prescribed herbal medicines? Phytochemical characterisation of steroidal saponins from two popular nutraceuticals, False Unicorn and Tribulus terrestris. Plants containing steroidal saponins have long been used as therapeutic products, but their active constituents remain poorly characterized. This project aims to identify and structurally characterize steroidal saponins from False Unicorn and Tribulus terrestris, two popular nutraceuticals which are currently marketed ....What is in therapeutically prescribed herbal medicines? Phytochemical characterisation of steroidal saponins from two popular nutraceuticals, False Unicorn and Tribulus terrestris. Plants containing steroidal saponins have long been used as therapeutic products, but their active constituents remain poorly characterized. This project aims to identify and structurally characterize steroidal saponins from False Unicorn and Tribulus terrestris, two popular nutraceuticals which are currently marketed in Australia. Existing knowledge of these saponin constituents is surprisingly incomplete and inaccurate. Full structural elucidation will enable the development of 'standardised' herbal saponin profiles for better control of product quality and will allow alternatives for the herbs to be chosen, which cannot be undertaken until this composition is known. A phytochemical survey of Australian Tribulus terrestris will determine whether this native sub-species is suitable for commercial harvest.Read moreRead less