Comprehensive transcriptional mapping of emergent division-linked cell fate decisions. This project proposal will lead to a better understanding of the molecular mechanics that drive certain cellular behaviors. To do this, we will use a frontier technology, RNA sequencing, which we think has the potential to revolutionise Australian science and make Australia an even more attractive place for young researchers. The community at large benefits from novel technologies as they create new opportunit ....Comprehensive transcriptional mapping of emergent division-linked cell fate decisions. This project proposal will lead to a better understanding of the molecular mechanics that drive certain cellular behaviors. To do this, we will use a frontier technology, RNA sequencing, which we think has the potential to revolutionise Australian science and make Australia an even more attractive place for young researchers. The community at large benefits from novel technologies as they create new opportunities for university research and attract young minds to the challenges of maths and science.Read moreRead less
Does a novel class of small RNA molecules control self-incompatibility in solanaceous plants? Self-incompatibility is a simple and genetically defined cell recognition system that prevents inbreeding in many plant species. Flowers of self-incompatible plants can distinguish self pollen from foreign pollen, and allow only foreign pollen to fertilise their egg cells. This proposal will investigate the possibility that the part of the genetic self-incompatibility locus controlling recognition of ....Does a novel class of small RNA molecules control self-incompatibility in solanaceous plants? Self-incompatibility is a simple and genetically defined cell recognition system that prevents inbreeding in many plant species. Flowers of self-incompatible plants can distinguish self pollen from foreign pollen, and allow only foreign pollen to fertilise their egg cells. This proposal will investigate the possibility that the part of the genetic self-incompatibility locus controlling recognition of pollen is a novel type of gene that encodes a small RNA molecule but no protein. Knowledge gained by studying the self-incompatibility genes will help us to understand how plant cells recognise each other, and may allow us to manipulate seed (and hence crop) production.Read moreRead less
The Role of High-Frequency Antigenic Variation in The Pathogenesis of Mycoplasma infection. The main goal of the proposed project is to understand the molecular mechanisms of phase/antigenic variation and its effects on mycoplasma pathogenesis. In this context I will use the well-characterised Mycoplasma synoviae haemagglutinin, MSPA, to establish the role of its phase-variable expression in the type and extent of M. synoviae disease. Additionally, the relationship between MSPA phase variation a ....The Role of High-Frequency Antigenic Variation in The Pathogenesis of Mycoplasma infection. The main goal of the proposed project is to understand the molecular mechanisms of phase/antigenic variation and its effects on mycoplasma pathogenesis. In this context I will use the well-characterised Mycoplasma synoviae haemagglutinin, MSPA, to establish the role of its phase-variable expression in the type and extent of M. synoviae disease. Additionally, the relationship between MSPA phase variation and gene rearrangements in the MSPB-encoding gene will be elucidated. The results will contribute to our understanding of the pathogenesis of bacterial disease and of the evolution of pathogenic mechanisms in bacterial pathogens.Read moreRead less
New approaches for screening cereal germplasm for enhanced microbial pathogen resistance and desirable grain texture. The trait of grain hardness (texture) is of significance to the Australian infrastructure, as exports of hard wheat contribute over 5 billion dollars per year on average to the national economy and hard wheats are also important for domestic usage. The genes responsible for grain texture also impart resistance to bacterial and fungal pathogens which can cause extensive damage. ....New approaches for screening cereal germplasm for enhanced microbial pathogen resistance and desirable grain texture. The trait of grain hardness (texture) is of significance to the Australian infrastructure, as exports of hard wheat contribute over 5 billion dollars per year on average to the national economy and hard wheats are also important for domestic usage. The genes responsible for grain texture also impart resistance to bacterial and fungal pathogens which can cause extensive damage. However, the Australian gene pool has very limited genetic diversity in grain textures and thus possibly in pathogen resistance. The project will work out the science behind these two traits and identify lines with new variants of textures and pathogen resistances, thus greatly benefiting the national infrastructure and local primary industries.Read moreRead less
Transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of terminal lymphocyte differentiation and alterations of the same that lead to leukemia. In the developed world infection diseases are the number three killer behind heart disease and cancer, and huge financial effort is put into treatment and prevention. Despite this, results have often been disappointing. One cause of these poor outcomes is the lack of knowledge of how effective immune responses are generated. This project aims to better understand th ....Transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of terminal lymphocyte differentiation and alterations of the same that lead to leukemia. In the developed world infection diseases are the number three killer behind heart disease and cancer, and huge financial effort is put into treatment and prevention. Despite this, results have often been disappointing. One cause of these poor outcomes is the lack of knowledge of how effective immune responses are generated. This project aims to better understand the processes that control the generation of protective lymphocytes. It will deliver information that may enable a more targeted approach to vaccine-development and treatments of infections. As defective differentiation can also be a cause of leukemia it may also lead to targets of cancer treatment.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0883081
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$350,000.00
Summary
High Content Cell Signaling Discovery and Screening Facility. The national benefits of this facility will be an increase in basic knowledge of how cells transmit signals to determine their behaviour in normal or stressed situations. There will be high impact publications in learned journals, new IP developed, enhanced education and training in cutting edge technologies. The discoveries from this work will provide candidates for development by the Biotechnology industry in Australia. All of this ....High Content Cell Signaling Discovery and Screening Facility. The national benefits of this facility will be an increase in basic knowledge of how cells transmit signals to determine their behaviour in normal or stressed situations. There will be high impact publications in learned journals, new IP developed, enhanced education and training in cutting edge technologies. The discoveries from this work will provide candidates for development by the Biotechnology industry in Australia. All of this will promote an innovation culture and economy. The work done in this facility addresses several National Research Priority areas including Promoting and maintaining good health, Frontier technologies for transforming industry and Safeguarding Australia.Read moreRead less
Proteomic and Transcriptional Profiling of Cartilage. Gene expression and signalling pathways that regulate cartilage formation, and its orderly transition to bone, are poorly described. Our studies will, for the first time, combine two complementary cutting-edge approaches, protein identification by proteomic analysis, and mRNA profiling by microarray analysis, to define these pathways and develop a comprehensive catalogue of proteins and gene expression patterns during cartilage development a ....Proteomic and Transcriptional Profiling of Cartilage. Gene expression and signalling pathways that regulate cartilage formation, and its orderly transition to bone, are poorly described. Our studies will, for the first time, combine two complementary cutting-edge approaches, protein identification by proteomic analysis, and mRNA profiling by microarray analysis, to define these pathways and develop a comprehensive catalogue of proteins and gene expression patterns during cartilage development and bone formation. This information will provide insight into the regulation of cartilage differentiation, maturation and structure, and will provide a critical platform for the development of more sophisticated cartilage and bone biomaterials for improved tissue repair and regeneration.Read moreRead less
Studies on the regulation of the pro-apoptotic protein Bim in mammalian development and cancer. This project is aimed at understanding the regulation of a gene, which is a tumour suppressor and is often mutated or down regulated in many different forms of cancers. A better understanding of how this gene works may eventually lead to better therapeutics to treat these cancers. This is relevant in the Australian context given that our aging population and obesity epidemics (the link between obesity ....Studies on the regulation of the pro-apoptotic protein Bim in mammalian development and cancer. This project is aimed at understanding the regulation of a gene, which is a tumour suppressor and is often mutated or down regulated in many different forms of cancers. A better understanding of how this gene works may eventually lead to better therapeutics to treat these cancers. This is relevant in the Australian context given that our aging population and obesity epidemics (the link between obesity, insulin resistance and various forms of cancers is well established) are leading to a rapid increase in new cancer cases, thus driving a rapid increase in demand for better treatments. This is particularly relevant in Indigenous health where obesity is on the rise following the transition from a traditional to an urban lifestyle.Read moreRead less