The development of a two-colour flow cytometric assay for the detection of whole cell biosensors in environmental samples. Macquarie University and the University of Copenhagen have expertise in fluorescence detection and whole cell biosensors respectively. The project will take advantage of these skills and develop a sensitive assay for monitoring biosensor bacteria in soil. The technology will be significant as it will enable real time analysis of antibiotic production in situ through the de ....The development of a two-colour flow cytometric assay for the detection of whole cell biosensors in environmental samples. Macquarie University and the University of Copenhagen have expertise in fluorescence detection and whole cell biosensors respectively. The project will take advantage of these skills and develop a sensitive assay for monitoring biosensor bacteria in soil. The technology will be significant as it will enable real time analysis of antibiotic production in situ through the detection of GFP expression. This work will then be used to isolate new antibiotic produces and will be extended to research into the bioavailability of toxic compounds and stress. An existing collaboration between the two institutions will be extended enabling the transfer and application of biosensor technology to Australia.Read moreRead less
Metabolic engineering of Zymomonas mobilis for higher value fermentation products. This project will provide an opportunity to revolutionise the Australian chemical and sugar industries. Unlike the traditional methods of the petrochemical industry, bioconversion of carbohydrates to chemicals such as succinic acid via fermentation is cosiderably environmental friendly. For the sugar industry this project will provide an opportunity to produce not only conventional sugar products but also high val ....Metabolic engineering of Zymomonas mobilis for higher value fermentation products. This project will provide an opportunity to revolutionise the Australian chemical and sugar industries. Unlike the traditional methods of the petrochemical industry, bioconversion of carbohydrates to chemicals such as succinic acid via fermentation is cosiderably environmental friendly. For the sugar industry this project will provide an opportunity to produce not only conventional sugar products but also high value commodities via the process integration of succinic acid production using agricultural residues such as bagasse. This will contribute to significant levels of job creation in Australia, and further benefits will be that such products will be important both for import replacement and export potential.Read moreRead less
Metabolic engineering to develop recombinant Zymomonas mobilis for the production of fuel ethanol and fermentation chemicals. This project will provide an opportunity to revolutionise the Australian chemical and sugar industries. Unlike the traditional methods of the petrochemical industry, bioconversion of carbohydrates to chemicals, such as succinic acid via fermentation is more considerably environmentally friendly. For the sugar industry this project will provide an opportunity to produce no ....Metabolic engineering to develop recombinant Zymomonas mobilis for the production of fuel ethanol and fermentation chemicals. This project will provide an opportunity to revolutionise the Australian chemical and sugar industries. Unlike the traditional methods of the petrochemical industry, bioconversion of carbohydrates to chemicals, such as succinic acid via fermentation is more considerably environmentally friendly. For the sugar industry this project will provide an opportunity to produce not only conventional sugar products but also high value commodities via the process integration of succinic acid production using agricultural residues, such as bagasse. This will contribute to significant levels of job creation in Australia, with the further benefit that such products will be important for both import replacement and export potential.Read moreRead less
New Proteins from the Mobile Genome: Structure-Led Discovery. The project will provide full descriptions of proteins with the capacity to become mobilised, as well as providing a source of completely novel genes with commercial potential. The proteins and enzymes discovered, and the metabolic processes with which they are identified, will have applications in a wide range of Australian industries: agriculture, forestry, pollution control and pharmaceutical design. This work therefore offers op ....New Proteins from the Mobile Genome: Structure-Led Discovery. The project will provide full descriptions of proteins with the capacity to become mobilised, as well as providing a source of completely novel genes with commercial potential. The proteins and enzymes discovered, and the metabolic processes with which they are identified, will have applications in a wide range of Australian industries: agriculture, forestry, pollution control and pharmaceutical design. This work therefore offers opportunities for many future directions in biotechnology, an area of growing strength in Australia. Read moreRead less
ARC Centre of Excellence - Structural and Functional Microbial Genomics. The research falls under the National Research Priority Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries, with the priority goal of frontier technologies. The research has commercial applications, such as the development of novel antimicrobials and vaccines, with potentially enormous impact in the biotechnology area of biomedical health and the primary industries. In addition, the project will use ....ARC Centre of Excellence - Structural and Functional Microbial Genomics. The research falls under the National Research Priority Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries, with the priority goal of frontier technologies. The research has commercial applications, such as the development of novel antimicrobials and vaccines, with potentially enormous impact in the biotechnology area of biomedical health and the primary industries. In addition, the project will use state-of-the-art technology, including use of synchrotron radiation at the Monash-based Australian Synchrotron facility from 2007.Read moreRead less
Exploring and harnessing mobile DNA: Integrons and gene cassettes in natural populations of Bacteria. Bacteria respond rapidly to environmental change by acquiring new genes via lateral gene transfer. The integron/gene cassette system is important in this process as it is found in an increasingly broad range of bacteria. As well as being common, we have shown that the system is associated with an unprecedented amount of genetic novelty. Here we explore the limits of this novelty and its con ....Exploring and harnessing mobile DNA: Integrons and gene cassettes in natural populations of Bacteria. Bacteria respond rapidly to environmental change by acquiring new genes via lateral gene transfer. The integron/gene cassette system is important in this process as it is found in an increasingly broad range of bacteria. As well as being common, we have shown that the system is associated with an unprecedented amount of genetic novelty. Here we explore the limits of this novelty and its contribution to bacterial evolution. In so doing we have the potential to identify new commercially important genes and develop enabling technologies. These discoveries could produce beneficial outcomes for exploitation by a wide range of Australian industries.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354619
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
Australian Microbial Genomics Research Network. The Australian Microbial Genomics Research Network aims to bring together Australian scientists with complementary expertise in microbial genomics within two ARC Centres, a Ramaciotti Centre and four institutions across three states. This initiative will involve the strategy and planning of the proposed Network.
ARC Centre for Structural & Functional Microbial Genomics. Australian Primary Industry will benefit from a team of experts in microbial genetics, bioinformatics and protein structure and function undertaking integrated studies on microbial genomics and phenomics that are focused on fundamental biological processes and host/pathogen interactions. Whole genome expression and protein profiling will be used to characterise genes whose expression is altered in the infected host and to analyse genes i ....ARC Centre for Structural & Functional Microbial Genomics. Australian Primary Industry will benefit from a team of experts in microbial genetics, bioinformatics and protein structure and function undertaking integrated studies on microbial genomics and phenomics that are focused on fundamental biological processes and host/pathogen interactions. Whole genome expression and protein profiling will be used to characterise genes whose expression is altered in the infected host and to analyse genes involved in the control of key cellular processes. The Centre will also determine the shapes of key molecules and their interactions. Practical outcomes will include new veterinary vaccines and the identification of novel antimicrobial targets.Read moreRead less
Mechanisms of action and expression of bioactive compounds produced by the surface associated marine bacterium Pseudoalteromonas tunicata. The marine surface-associated bacterium Pseudoalteromonas tunicata produces a number of bioactive metabolites that inhibit the colonisation and growth of common fouling organisms such as bacteria, fungi, algae and invertebrate larvae. The antibacterial and antifungal compounds represent novel metabolites active against a remarkable range of both medically and ....Mechanisms of action and expression of bioactive compounds produced by the surface associated marine bacterium Pseudoalteromonas tunicata. The marine surface-associated bacterium Pseudoalteromonas tunicata produces a number of bioactive metabolites that inhibit the colonisation and growth of common fouling organisms such as bacteria, fungi, algae and invertebrate larvae. The antibacterial and antifungal compounds represent novel metabolites active against a remarkable range of both medically and agriculturally important bacteria and fungi. This project aims to explore the identity, mode of action and regulation of expression of these compounds. This research proposal addresses several significant biological concepts and will lead to the development of novel environmentally friendly antifouling and antimicrobial technologies.Read moreRead less
ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology. The ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology (CoESB) will provide the technical innovation critical for Australia to develop a vibrant bioeconomy building on the nation’s strengths in agriculture. For thousands of years we have used microbes to create bread, wine, cheese. Now, our Centre will pioneer new approaches to the design of synthetic microbes, enabling the development of custom-designed microbial communities, synthetic organelles and ne ....ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology. The ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology (CoESB) will provide the technical innovation critical for Australia to develop a vibrant bioeconomy building on the nation’s strengths in agriculture. For thousands of years we have used microbes to create bread, wine, cheese. Now, our Centre will pioneer new approaches to the design of synthetic microbes, enabling the development of custom-designed microbial communities, synthetic organelles and new to nature biological pathways and enzymes. CoESB will combine engineering with molecular biology to design and construct novel biological systems that can convert biomass from agriculture or waste streams to biofuel, bioplastics and other high-value chemicals.Read moreRead less