Sugar transporters in coral symbiosis and origin of parasitism. We aim to identify how symbiotic algae feed sugar to their coral hosts. Corals need this algal sugar to exist, but no one knows how it is transferred, so understanding this crucial mechanism is hugely significant. The first benefit of this research will be a fundamental understanding about how two organisms (algae and coral) cooperate to build habitats like the Great Barrier Reef. We also aim to explore whether coral/algal coopera ....Sugar transporters in coral symbiosis and origin of parasitism. We aim to identify how symbiotic algae feed sugar to their coral hosts. Corals need this algal sugar to exist, but no one knows how it is transferred, so understanding this crucial mechanism is hugely significant. The first benefit of this research will be a fundamental understanding about how two organisms (algae and coral) cooperate to build habitats like the Great Barrier Reef. We also aim to explore whether coral/algal cooperation paved the way for the origin of parasitism. The second key outcome will be to identify the precise molecular mechanism that allowed parasitism to arise. This will benefit us through understanding the origins of important diseases such as human malaria and related infections of livestock and wildlife.
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Linking sex-specific adaptation to the evolution of infectious disease. This project aims to examine how differences in the response of males and females to pathogen attack can influence the evolution of infectious disease. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of host-pathogen co-evolution, by integrating approaches from the fields of evolutionary genetics, sexual selection, and epidemiology. Expected outcomes include an enhanced capacity to build interdisciplinary collabor ....Linking sex-specific adaptation to the evolution of infectious disease. This project aims to examine how differences in the response of males and females to pathogen attack can influence the evolution of infectious disease. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of host-pathogen co-evolution, by integrating approaches from the fields of evolutionary genetics, sexual selection, and epidemiology. Expected outcomes include an enhanced capacity to build interdisciplinary collaborations and development of theory that predicts infection dynamics in any species with separate sexes. This is expected to provide significant benefits, such as improving our knowledge of why the sexes differ and potentially providing new avenues for understanding disease outbreaks and preventing population declines or extinctions.Read moreRead less
The macrophage nucleus - its form and function during migration in vivo. As cells migrate through tissues, they encounter complex, 3-dimensional environments that provide cues to guide them and present obstacles in their path. This project focuses on macrophages, a large immune cell capable of both amoeboid and mesenchymal modes of migration. The nucleus is the largest organelle and its bulk and stiffness must be managed as migrating cells travel through constrictions. The project uses specialis ....The macrophage nucleus - its form and function during migration in vivo. As cells migrate through tissues, they encounter complex, 3-dimensional environments that provide cues to guide them and present obstacles in their path. This project focuses on macrophages, a large immune cell capable of both amoeboid and mesenchymal modes of migration. The nucleus is the largest organelle and its bulk and stiffness must be managed as migrating cells travel through constrictions. The project uses specialised high-end microscopy and genetic methods to examine how the nucleus of migrating zebrafish macrophages deforms, repositions and is restructured during migration in living tissues, and how this influences macrophage locomotion. The goal is to provide fundamental insights into the cell biology of macrophage migration.Read moreRead less
Cracking the code of snails to elucidate parasite disease transmission. In Australia, a disease caused by liver flukes causes major economic losses to livestock production. The role of Australian pond snails as intermediate hosts for this parasite is poorly understood. This project aims to explore the phylogeography, biology and genomics of these snails. It expects to create novel molecular resources for important snail species and verify their roles as key vectors of flatworm parasites. The cur ....Cracking the code of snails to elucidate parasite disease transmission. In Australia, a disease caused by liver flukes causes major economic losses to livestock production. The role of Australian pond snails as intermediate hosts for this parasite is poorly understood. This project aims to explore the phylogeography, biology and genomics of these snails. It expects to create novel molecular resources for important snail species and verify their roles as key vectors of flatworm parasites. The curation of genomic and transcriptomic data sets, and elucidation of snail–parasite interactions will underpin the development of environmental diagnostic tests and deliver a new generation of intervention strategies to reduce the burden of liver fluke disease through the control of their snail intermediate hosts.Read moreRead less
Microtubule structure in nervous system repair. This Project aims to investigate the role of structural and functional cellular components known as microtubules in nervous system regeneration. This Project aims to use innovative approaches in confocal and electron microscopy, genetics, and cell biology, with the expectation of generating new knowledge into nervous system repair. Expected outcomes of this Project include a comprehensive description of how microtubules are rearranged following ner ....Microtubule structure in nervous system repair. This Project aims to investigate the role of structural and functional cellular components known as microtubules in nervous system regeneration. This Project aims to use innovative approaches in confocal and electron microscopy, genetics, and cell biology, with the expectation of generating new knowledge into nervous system repair. Expected outcomes of this Project include a comprehensive description of how microtubules are rearranged following nervous system injury and the importance of microtubule modifying proteins in promoting regeneration. This should provide significant benefits in our understanding of the cellular mechanisms behind nervous system repair, and offer new approaches for promoting regeneration after injury.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230101173
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$374,318.00
Summary
Inhibiting adenylate-forming enzymes via a new reaction-hijacking mechanism. This project aims to identify and validate the adenylate-forming enzymes that are susceptible to reaction-hijacking inhibition in malaria parasites. This class of enzymes can be induced to synthesise their own nucleoside sulfamate inhibitor conjugates via a novel mechanism. This project expects to provide new knowledge about the molecular basis of this novel inhibition mechanism and susceptible target enzymes in the par ....Inhibiting adenylate-forming enzymes via a new reaction-hijacking mechanism. This project aims to identify and validate the adenylate-forming enzymes that are susceptible to reaction-hijacking inhibition in malaria parasites. This class of enzymes can be induced to synthesise their own nucleoside sulfamate inhibitor conjugates via a novel mechanism. This project expects to provide new knowledge about the molecular basis of this novel inhibition mechanism and susceptible target enzymes in the parasites. Adenylate-forming enzymes play critical roles in a diverse range of biochemical pathways, such as protein translation and fatty acid metabolism. The project seeks to deliver a new paradigm for the design of future antiparasitic agents.Read moreRead less
Characterising a novel stress-sensing signalling factor. Aim: To understand how phosphorylation regulates signalling pathways to allow metabolic adaptations in response to energetic stress. Significance: A fundamental understanding of the activation of signalling pathways via phosphorylation is vital for our knowledge of homeostasis and the mechanisms controlling cell survival. Expected outcomes: To generate new systems biology and physiology data to understand how the stress response is regulat ....Characterising a novel stress-sensing signalling factor. Aim: To understand how phosphorylation regulates signalling pathways to allow metabolic adaptations in response to energetic stress. Significance: A fundamental understanding of the activation of signalling pathways via phosphorylation is vital for our knowledge of homeostasis and the mechanisms controlling cell survival. Expected outcomes: To generate new systems biology and physiology data to understand how the stress response is regulated and characterise new stress-sensing pathways. Benefits: A greater understanding of the molecular mechanisms controlling metabolism in response to stress has extremely broad applications to improve metabolic efficiency in fields ranging from exercise- and life-sciences to agriculture.Read moreRead less
"Painting" the 3D proteome: folding, conformation and interactions. The project aims to develop a "residue painting approach", employing novel chemical biology reagents and advanced quantitative proteomics, to monitor changes in protein folding, conformations and interactions in cells, in response to stimuli. Proteins direct almost all functions required to sustain life. The project expects to map the dynamic 3D-structures of thousands of proteins that inform the networks they are in, and of the ...."Painting" the 3D proteome: folding, conformation and interactions. The project aims to develop a "residue painting approach", employing novel chemical biology reagents and advanced quantitative proteomics, to monitor changes in protein folding, conformations and interactions in cells, in response to stimuli. Proteins direct almost all functions required to sustain life. The project expects to map the dynamic 3D-structures of thousands of proteins that inform the networks they are in, and of the conformations they adopt. Expected outcomes include the development of novel biotechnology tools for protein structure and function analysis, the illumination of important cell biology pathways underpinning molecular responses to stimuli and stress, and the training of our next generation of scientists.Read moreRead less