Hydrophobin proteins on the fungal frontline. This project aims to use advanced biophysical techniques to study the role of hydrophobin proteins in three diseases caused by fungi. The specific focus will be on hydrophobins from fungal species that cause severe loss of rice plants, cause invasive growths in humans, and infect the eggs of endangered turtles and result in death of the turtle embryos. Hydrophobins are small fungal proteins that assemble into large biological layers at the boundary ....Hydrophobin proteins on the fungal frontline. This project aims to use advanced biophysical techniques to study the role of hydrophobin proteins in three diseases caused by fungi. The specific focus will be on hydrophobins from fungal species that cause severe loss of rice plants, cause invasive growths in humans, and infect the eggs of endangered turtles and result in death of the turtle embryos. Hydrophobins are small fungal proteins that assemble into large biological layers at the boundary between the fungus and the host. This research aims to focus on characterising the structure of the layers, understanding how they form and how they attach to the host tissue. This work may lead to new antifungal strategies aimed at reducing the impact of these devastating fungal infections.Read moreRead less
Nuclear transport in stress. This project aims to provide key new insights into cell resistance to stress centred on subcellular transport in stress. Environmental stress in its various forms results in the breakdown of cellular functions such as conventional transport into and out of the host cell nucleus. This project will examine a nuclear transporter that has the ability to remain active in stress. Results will establish a platform for stress biology research by the evaluation of nuclear tra ....Nuclear transport in stress. This project aims to provide key new insights into cell resistance to stress centred on subcellular transport in stress. Environmental stress in its various forms results in the breakdown of cellular functions such as conventional transport into and out of the host cell nucleus. This project will examine a nuclear transporter that has the ability to remain active in stress. Results will establish a platform for stress biology research by the evaluation of nuclear transport in stress in cellular and in-vivo models, and its impact on cell fate. These outcomes will have broad-reaching benefits for enacting climate change responses as well as enhancing Australia’s international collaborative network and providing research training opportunities.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0560862
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$546,700.00
Summary
South Australian Facility for Advanced Molecular Imaging. The aim of this project is to establish the South Australian Facility for Advanced Molecular Imaging. The Facility builds on existing expertise and cooperation between the collaborating institutions to expand our capability in advanced analytical confocal microscopy of a wide range of materials from living cells to artificial surfaces. New state-of-the-art microscopes will allow the direct quantitative analysis of molecular interactions w ....South Australian Facility for Advanced Molecular Imaging. The aim of this project is to establish the South Australian Facility for Advanced Molecular Imaging. The Facility builds on existing expertise and cooperation between the collaborating institutions to expand our capability in advanced analytical confocal microscopy of a wide range of materials from living cells to artificial surfaces. New state-of-the-art microscopes will allow the direct quantitative analysis of molecular interactions with high temporal and spatial resolutions. This will advance: understanding the regulation of cellular signalling, gene expression and growth in normal and pathological conditions; development of biosensor technology; and the application of new biomaterials in medicine and industry.Read moreRead less
Defining systems that clear dangerous misfolded proteins from body fluids. The project intends to establish how the human body defends itself against protein-folding related disease and loss of quality of life. Exposure to everyday physical and chemical stresses can cause proteins to lose their normal shape and become misfolded. Misfolded proteins are causally involved in human ageing and serious diseases (for example, Alzheimer's disease). However, the body does have a protective system that cl ....Defining systems that clear dangerous misfolded proteins from body fluids. The project intends to establish how the human body defends itself against protein-folding related disease and loss of quality of life. Exposure to everyday physical and chemical stresses can cause proteins to lose their normal shape and become misfolded. Misfolded proteins are causally involved in human ageing and serious diseases (for example, Alzheimer's disease). However, the body does have a protective system that clears dangerous misfolded proteins from body fluids. Using cutting-edge approaches and a novel animal model, the project aims to establish how this system works. The outcomes are expected to improve understanding of the molecular processes affecting human ageing and disease and strengthen the framework needed to develop better strategies to combat these.Read moreRead less
Molecular toxinology of Australia's lesser known venomous snakes. This proposal represents a tremendous opportunity for biodiscovery from venomous snakes. This will be achieved through the researchers' unique approach of investigating previously unmapped venom systems for divergent, bioactive proteins. An understanding of venomous animal protein evolution great potential in drug discovery and other commercial applications. This project will provide Australian graduate and post-graduate stude ....Molecular toxinology of Australia's lesser known venomous snakes. This proposal represents a tremendous opportunity for biodiscovery from venomous snakes. This will be achieved through the researchers' unique approach of investigating previously unmapped venom systems for divergent, bioactive proteins. An understanding of venomous animal protein evolution great potential in drug discovery and other commercial applications. This project will provide Australian graduate and post-graduate students with finely tuned skills in cutting edge methodological techniques and a fluent understanding of molecular evolution, preparing them to be internationally competitive scientists.Read moreRead less
The atlas of trace metals in the mouse brain: a new tool for neuroscientists. This project will produce the first atlas of trace metals in the mouse brain: a set of 'maps' of a type of brain often used to study diseases affecting the human brain. This online resource will show neuroscientists unprecedented 3D detail of the distribution in the brain of trace metals, which are implicated in such diseases as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
INTRINSIC PROPERTIES OF THE PORE FORMING DOMAIN OF THE RYANODINE RECEPTOR CALCIUM CHANNEL. The project is to understand how a calcium ion channel is able to regulate muscle performance. The ion channel, known as the ryanodine receptor, is essential for human and animal survival. The results of the project will be integral to understanding muscle performance in humans and will have long term implications for Australian sports physiology and sports science. The project will also be integral to ....INTRINSIC PROPERTIES OF THE PORE FORMING DOMAIN OF THE RYANODINE RECEPTOR CALCIUM CHANNEL. The project is to understand how a calcium ion channel is able to regulate muscle performance. The ion channel, known as the ryanodine receptor, is essential for human and animal survival. The results of the project will be integral to understanding muscle performance in humans and will have long term implications for Australian sports physiology and sports science. The project will also be integral to understanding muscle performance and development in animals and will have repercussions for the Australian livestock and racing industries. The results may lead to the development of new insecticides since insect mobility depends on ryanodine receptor activity. This will benefit to Australian agriculture.Read moreRead less
Metabolic Profiling of Human Embryonic Stem Cells. Stem cell therapies are becoming a commercial reality. Stem cell products have an estimated value of US$ 87 million this year and are predicted to be worth US$ 8.5 billion within a decade. Development of stem cell products will be an international research effort with many contributing to the final products. Research described here will augment this effort, strengthening Australia's contribution by developing novel intellectual property and appl ....Metabolic Profiling of Human Embryonic Stem Cells. Stem cell therapies are becoming a commercial reality. Stem cell products have an estimated value of US$ 87 million this year and are predicted to be worth US$ 8.5 billion within a decade. Development of stem cell products will be an international research effort with many contributing to the final products. Research described here will augment this effort, strengthening Australia's contribution by developing novel intellectual property and applications. The training of individuals skilled in stem cell research will add to Australia's pool of stem cell researchers. Individuals trained in this area will be paramount to maintaining Australia's research effort and in the application of these technologies into the Australian health sector.Read moreRead less
Synthetic leukocytes: bio-inspired DNA nanorobots powered by flow. Inspired by the way white blood cells roll along blood vessel walls, our goal is to build DNA nanorobots that roll along surfaces in flow. We take a synthetic biology approach to using biomolecules, such as DNA and proteins, to build functional particles and surfaces. To achieve this, we will combine our teams’ technological advances in DNA nanotechnology, plasma-activation for biomolecule immobilisation, and microfluidic devices ....Synthetic leukocytes: bio-inspired DNA nanorobots powered by flow. Inspired by the way white blood cells roll along blood vessel walls, our goal is to build DNA nanorobots that roll along surfaces in flow. We take a synthetic biology approach to using biomolecules, such as DNA and proteins, to build functional particles and surfaces. To achieve this, we will combine our teams’ technological advances in DNA nanotechnology, plasma-activation for biomolecule immobilisation, and microfluidic devices. This project will contribute new methods for synthetic particle motion in flow and provide new insights into biomolecule interactions and motion. Ultimately, this will allow us to harness rolling for the delivery of synthetic nanorobots for detection and remediation in flow systems, such as the body.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100759
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,000.00
Summary
Trans-omic networks: A machine learning and omics integration approach. This project aims to map and model ‘trans-omic’ networks that cut through omic layers using machine learning and multi-omic data integration. Global networks regulated by molecular programs, including signalling, epigenetic, transcriptional and translational regulation, orchestrate cellular functions. Technological advances can profile these molecular programmes, giving rise to various ‘omics’. However, data generated from e ....Trans-omic networks: A machine learning and omics integration approach. This project aims to map and model ‘trans-omic’ networks that cut through omic layers using machine learning and multi-omic data integration. Global networks regulated by molecular programs, including signalling, epigenetic, transcriptional and translational regulation, orchestrate cellular functions. Technological advances can profile these molecular programmes, giving rise to various ‘omics’. However, data generated from each omic layer are predominantly analysed separately owing to their heterogeneity. To understand cellular functions in its entirety, it is essential to interpret omic data across multiple omic layers. Applying this project’s methods is expected to improve use of omics data and fundamental molecular programs.Read moreRead less