Antimicrobial defences in the evolution of sociality. Disease microorganisms were probably important selective agents during the evolution of most species. Social insects, the ants, bees, wasps and termites, may have been especially vulnerable because their colonies contain large numbers of closely related individuals living in close proximity; ideal conditions for contagious diseases. We will explore the evolution of antimicrobial defences in social insects and related groups. Social insects ....Antimicrobial defences in the evolution of sociality. Disease microorganisms were probably important selective agents during the evolution of most species. Social insects, the ants, bees, wasps and termites, may have been especially vulnerable because their colonies contain large numbers of closely related individuals living in close proximity; ideal conditions for contagious diseases. We will explore the evolution of antimicrobial defences in social insects and related groups. Social insects are important ecologically and economically and understanding their relationships with microbial diseases will facilitate their conservation and control. Knowledge of these interactions may also prove useful to human societies becoming increasingly vulnerable to disease.Read moreRead less
Antimicrobial Defences and Evolution of Sociality. Microbial diseases threaten all societies, human or otherwise. Insect societies present ideal conditions for contagious disease, specifically crowding of closely related individuals. We propose a gradient in the strength and breadth of antimicrobial defences from the solitary to the social condition and this is correlated with increasing crowding and decreasing genetic diversity. To test this hypothesis, we compare the microbial environments o ....Antimicrobial Defences and Evolution of Sociality. Microbial diseases threaten all societies, human or otherwise. Insect societies present ideal conditions for contagious disease, specifically crowding of closely related individuals. We propose a gradient in the strength and breadth of antimicrobial defences from the solitary to the social condition and this is correlated with increasing crowding and decreasing genetic diversity. To test this hypothesis, we compare the microbial environments of nests and colonies, and the antimicrobial mechanisms, of solitary, semi-social and social insects. Outcomes from this research on disease regulation will inform the use, management and conservation of these economically and ecologically important animals.Read moreRead less
Microbial Pathogens as Selective Agents in the Evolution of Arthropod Sociality. We will reveal ecological and evolutionary forces that have shaped a major response of social insects to microbial disease, then apply the results to drug discovery. We will generate the first data on a new approach to antibiotic bioprospecting in the social insects yielding two major outcomes: First, we identify novel sources of antimicrobial compounds. Second, we demonstrate that the new, biorational approach is a ....Microbial Pathogens as Selective Agents in the Evolution of Arthropod Sociality. We will reveal ecological and evolutionary forces that have shaped a major response of social insects to microbial disease, then apply the results to drug discovery. We will generate the first data on a new approach to antibiotic bioprospecting in the social insects yielding two major outcomes: First, we identify novel sources of antimicrobial compounds. Second, we demonstrate that the new, biorational approach is a potent tool for natural product pharmaceutical bioprospecting. Both outcomes contribute directly to the National Research Priority Goal for the Sustainable Use of Australia's Biodiversity by developing new ways to find and identify novel natural resources.
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The costs and consequences of resistance to stress in microbial systems. The coexistence of antibiotic resistant and sensitive bacteria in microbial communities represents a paradox. Combining novel ecological models and competition experiments, this project aims to investigate how the pulsing of antibiotics and resources affects the coexistence of resistant and sensitive bacteria. This project expects to generate new knowledge into how the complex non-equilibrium dynamics of natural systems fee ....The costs and consequences of resistance to stress in microbial systems. The coexistence of antibiotic resistant and sensitive bacteria in microbial communities represents a paradox. Combining novel ecological models and competition experiments, this project aims to investigate how the pulsing of antibiotics and resources affects the coexistence of resistant and sensitive bacteria. This project expects to generate new knowledge into how the complex non-equilibrium dynamics of natural systems feeds back to regulate the spread of antibiotic resistance in microbial communities. This should advance our fundamental understanding of microbial competition, and provide a foundation for the development of new ecologically-aware strategies for managing resistance.Read moreRead less
Chemical warfare at small scales: does eukaryotic chemical defense theory fit biofilms? The ecology of bacteria has long been treated separately from the ecology of higher organisms. Thus we do not know whether the ecology of bacteria operates by the same general rules as those of plants and animals. This significantly diminishes our understanding of the natural world, and our capacity to manage our environment. In this project we will systematically test ecological defense theories in bacterial ....Chemical warfare at small scales: does eukaryotic chemical defense theory fit biofilms? The ecology of bacteria has long been treated separately from the ecology of higher organisms. Thus we do not know whether the ecology of bacteria operates by the same general rules as those of plants and animals. This significantly diminishes our understanding of the natural world, and our capacity to manage our environment. In this project we will systematically test ecological defense theories in bacterial systems. Our aim is to merge our understanding of the ecology of these very different organisms. This integration of plant and animal ecology and environmental microbiology is new for both fields, and thus studies such as this one have the potential to put Australia at the forefront of this exciting new approach to our environment.Read moreRead less
Plant : fungal symbioses in Australian forests - new perspectives using laser microdissection. Ericaceae are important components of the Australian flora in many habitats, including forests and fragile alpine regions that are significant to Australia's cultural and natural heritage, and several species are considered threatened. This project addresses the fundamental question of whether networks of symbiotic fungal mycelia act as below-ground bridges between Ericaceae plants and tree roots. If d ....Plant : fungal symbioses in Australian forests - new perspectives using laser microdissection. Ericaceae are important components of the Australian flora in many habitats, including forests and fragile alpine regions that are significant to Australia's cultural and natural heritage, and several species are considered threatened. This project addresses the fundamental question of whether networks of symbiotic fungal mycelia act as below-ground bridges between Ericaceae plants and tree roots. If demonstrated, this would alter current views of carbon and nutrient cycling in Australian forests and provide the basis for better informed decisions for the sustainable management of Australian forest resources. This is particularly important in the context of carbon sequestration and future climate change.Read moreRead less
Stress, virulence and bacterial disease in temperate seaweeds: the rise of the microbes. Climate change is predicted to increase the spread and virulence of pathogens, and decrease the resistance to disease via temperature stress on the hosts. Combined with other human impacts (higher nutrients, pollution), we may be facing a major rise in the effect of disease on natural communities. However, these effects are largely unstudied. We will investigate the impact of marine pathogens on kelps and ....Stress, virulence and bacterial disease in temperate seaweeds: the rise of the microbes. Climate change is predicted to increase the spread and virulence of pathogens, and decrease the resistance to disease via temperature stress on the hosts. Combined with other human impacts (higher nutrients, pollution), we may be facing a major rise in the effect of disease on natural communities. However, these effects are largely unstudied. We will investigate the impact of marine pathogens on kelps and other seaweeds when they are stressed by temperature, elevated nutrients or other anthropogenic stressors. Kelp are the 'trees of the oceans', the organisms responsible for creating much of the habitat that fishes and other organisms live in. The loss of kelp forests due to disease would radically change these environments.Read moreRead less
Dispersal and colonisation in eukaryotes and prokaryotes. The problem of pest or disease organisms for humanity is fundamentally a problem of unwanted colonisation. For example, colonisation of the surfaces of human tissues by bacterial biofilms is responsible for up to 70% of bacterial infections; colonisation of the surfaces of boat hulls by marine organisms costs the marine shipping industry > $5 billion per year. This proposal will generate fundamental information on the ability of both bac ....Dispersal and colonisation in eukaryotes and prokaryotes. The problem of pest or disease organisms for humanity is fundamentally a problem of unwanted colonisation. For example, colonisation of the surfaces of human tissues by bacterial biofilms is responsible for up to 70% of bacterial infections; colonisation of the surfaces of boat hulls by marine organisms costs the marine shipping industry > $5 billion per year. This proposal will generate fundamental information on the ability of both bacteria and higher organisms to disperse and colonise surfaces, allowing for the development of novel technologies for the prevention of unwanted colonisation of surfaces. Read moreRead less
Reserving nitrogen in soils through microbial nitrate reduction to ammonium. This project aims to identify those microbes able to transform nitrate to ammonium and thus increase soil nitrogen conservation. More than 50 per cent of the nitrogen in fertilisers applied to soils is lost into the environment, which is both a financial loss to farmers and a main anthropogenic source of nitrogen pollution. Some microbes can transform nitrate into ammonium through dissimilatory reduction (DNRA) and thus ....Reserving nitrogen in soils through microbial nitrate reduction to ammonium. This project aims to identify those microbes able to transform nitrate to ammonium and thus increase soil nitrogen conservation. More than 50 per cent of the nitrogen in fertilisers applied to soils is lost into the environment, which is both a financial loss to farmers and a main anthropogenic source of nitrogen pollution. Some microbes can transform nitrate into ammonium through dissimilatory reduction (DNRA) and thus increase soil nitrogen retention. However, the DNRA process and the responsible microbial groups remain largely unknown. This project plans to use isotope tracing and biomolecular approaches to identify those DNRA microbial groups and elucidate the DNRA reaction process. The findings may support the use of DNRA to improve soil nitrogen.Read moreRead less
Ecological significance of coral disease on the Great Barrier Reef. Coral disease has contributed significantly to the accelerating deterioration of coral reefs globally, but its impact on the Great Barrier Reef is unknown. This project will determine the prevalence of coral disease on the GBR and evaluate the potential threat it poses to reef health. It will build Australian capacity in the ecology and pathology of coral disease, an emergent global research priority, and provide an important ....Ecological significance of coral disease on the Great Barrier Reef. Coral disease has contributed significantly to the accelerating deterioration of coral reefs globally, but its impact on the Great Barrier Reef is unknown. This project will determine the prevalence of coral disease on the GBR and evaluate the potential threat it poses to reef health. It will build Australian capacity in the ecology and pathology of coral disease, an emergent global research priority, and provide an important benchmark for determining whether disease incidence is increasing. It will provide insights into potential links between environmental / anthropogenic stressors and disease incidence, and identify potential threats to coral reef health.Read moreRead less