Enhancing aquaculture production of the tropical abalone using complementary genetic and environmental approaches. While temperate abalone are one of our most valuable seafoods, there is a growing demand worldwide for the ?cocktail?-sized tropical abalone Haliotis asinina. Australia is well positioned to capture the market for this rapidly growing species. We propose to enhance the already favourable growth rates of Haliotis asinina in aquaculture by delineating critical environmental and geneti ....Enhancing aquaculture production of the tropical abalone using complementary genetic and environmental approaches. While temperate abalone are one of our most valuable seafoods, there is a growing demand worldwide for the ?cocktail?-sized tropical abalone Haliotis asinina. Australia is well positioned to capture the market for this rapidly growing species. We propose to enhance the already favourable growth rates of Haliotis asinina in aquaculture by delineating critical environmental and genetic factors that effect production. This proposal uniquely melds commercial production practices at MG Kailis Export Pty Ltd with expertise in aquaculture and marine biotechnology present at The University of Queensland and CSIRO Marine Research. This knowledge will enhance the development of this new aquaculture industry in tropical Australia.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160101470
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,000.00
Summary
Improving poultry health and performance through microbiota manipulations. The project aims to develop methods to modulate microbiota to improve poultry health and productivity and reduce the need for antibiotics. Probiotic administration is currently the only way in agriculture to restore imbalanced intestinal microbiota. Recent research shows that intestinal microbiota resist all new-coming bacteria and remove them from the intestinal environment. The initial inoculum at the time of birth shap ....Improving poultry health and performance through microbiota manipulations. The project aims to develop methods to modulate microbiota to improve poultry health and productivity and reduce the need for antibiotics. Probiotic administration is currently the only way in agriculture to restore imbalanced intestinal microbiota. Recent research shows that intestinal microbiota resist all new-coming bacteria and remove them from the intestinal environment. The initial inoculum at the time of birth shapes the gut microbiota for life and has the strongest influence on development of the immune system. Accordingly, at-hatch administration of proven beneficial strains to poultry is likely to ensure permanent colonisation with beneficial bacteria. This process would improve both the productivity and health of poultry and other agricultural animals.Read moreRead less
Improving likelihood estimators: theory and applications to analysing productivity and efficiency and forecasting of probability of economic recession. This project aims to improve one of the most popular statistical methods to empower applied researchers with a more reliable analytical tool. This project will develop mathematical theory and use it to analyse patterns of economic growth, productivity and efficiency of countries. This can be used to forecast probability of entering economic reces ....Improving likelihood estimators: theory and applications to analysing productivity and efficiency and forecasting of probability of economic recession. This project aims to improve one of the most popular statistical methods to empower applied researchers with a more reliable analytical tool. This project will develop mathematical theory and use it to analyse patterns of economic growth, productivity and efficiency of countries. This can be used to forecast probability of entering economic recession, with a focus on Australia.Read moreRead less
Strength in uniformity - novel clonal technologies for a more productive avocado industry. Cost and time efficient clonal propagation protocols to multiply elite avocado rootstocks for increased productivity is a major industry gap. This project will develop novel approaches coupling tissue culture with recent advances in root induction, which will profitably deliver large numbers of uniform and high yielding avocado plants to national and international growers.
Determinants, Motives and Channels of Pacific Island Workers' Remittances from Australia. This research will inform current policy debate on the benefits to migrant-sending communities of expanding migration opportunities for migrants from the Pacific islands through targeted worker schemes. Australian industry and agricultural employers are experiencing acute labour shortages while Pacific island governments are urging Australia and New Zealand to open their labour markets to low-skilled worker ....Determinants, Motives and Channels of Pacific Island Workers' Remittances from Australia. This research will inform current policy debate on the benefits to migrant-sending communities of expanding migration opportunities for migrants from the Pacific islands through targeted worker schemes. Australian industry and agricultural employers are experiencing acute labour shortages while Pacific island governments are urging Australia and New Zealand to open their labour markets to low-skilled workers in the face of growing unemployment and political instability. The findings will also provide Australian foreign aid organisations with a better understanding of the way in which migrants' remittances are determined and migrant's interaction with money transfer agencies.Read moreRead less
Empowering Indigenous businesses through improved financial literacy. This project aims to compare the level of financial and commercial literacy of Indigenous and non-Indigenous small business owners. It will analyse financial performance, contrast the support and resources available to Indigenous small business owners in independent and franchised businesses in urban, regional and remote areas of Australia. It is anticipated that the research will promote financial health and sustainability of ....Empowering Indigenous businesses through improved financial literacy. This project aims to compare the level of financial and commercial literacy of Indigenous and non-Indigenous small business owners. It will analyse financial performance, contrast the support and resources available to Indigenous small business owners in independent and franchised businesses in urban, regional and remote areas of Australia. It is anticipated that the research will promote financial health and sustainability of Indigenous businesses and lead to greater levels of financial literacy in Indigenous businesses in the future.Read moreRead less
Modelling Income Distributions over Space and Time: 1985-2010. The aim of this project is to develop and use interpolation and extrapolation methods, designed to overcome data scarcity, to estimate annual income distributions for countries, regions and the world for the period 1985 to 2010, facilitating measurement and comparison of changes in inequality, per capita income, poverty, and pro-poor growth, at national, regional and global levels. Reliable estimates of these welfare measures provide ....Modelling Income Distributions over Space and Time: 1985-2010. The aim of this project is to develop and use interpolation and extrapolation methods, designed to overcome data scarcity, to estimate annual income distributions for countries, regions and the world for the period 1985 to 2010, facilitating measurement and comparison of changes in inequality, per capita income, poverty, and pro-poor growth, at national, regional and global levels. Reliable estimates of these welfare measures provide valuable information for policy advisors and other researchers interested in growth and welfare of society.Read moreRead less
DNA methylation in IVF and cloned embryos. In vitro fertilisation (IVF) and cloning are new assisted reproductive technologies that in time will revolutionise genetic improvement of Australia's economically important animals. IVF and cloning can be associated with aberrant growth that results from atypical gene expression. DNA methylation is central to gene regulation and determines which genes are expressed. In this project a new technique will be used to quantify DNA methylation in naturall ....DNA methylation in IVF and cloned embryos. In vitro fertilisation (IVF) and cloning are new assisted reproductive technologies that in time will revolutionise genetic improvement of Australia's economically important animals. IVF and cloning can be associated with aberrant growth that results from atypical gene expression. DNA methylation is central to gene regulation and determines which genes are expressed. In this project a new technique will be used to quantify DNA methylation in naturally conceived, IVF and cloned embryos. The information will be used to improve IVF and cloning so that these technologies can be applied with confidence to increase the international competitiveness of Australia's livestock industries.Read moreRead less
E-Cadherin Endocytosis In Morphogenesis: Recycling And Growth Factor Induced Uptake.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$498,088.00
Summary
E-cadherin is a cell-cell adhesion protein expressed in all epithelia with essential roles in establishing cell polarity and in tissue patterning during development. In the adult, E-cadherin functions to maintain epithelial integrity. E-cadherin is also a vital tumour suppressor, protecting cells against metastatic transformation. Our earlier studies showed that E-cadherin is constantly moved, or trafficked, to and from the surface of epithelial cells. The endocytosis or internalisation of cell ....E-cadherin is a cell-cell adhesion protein expressed in all epithelia with essential roles in establishing cell polarity and in tissue patterning during development. In the adult, E-cadherin functions to maintain epithelial integrity. E-cadherin is also a vital tumour suppressor, protecting cells against metastatic transformation. Our earlier studies showed that E-cadherin is constantly moved, or trafficked, to and from the surface of epithelial cells. The endocytosis or internalisation of cell surface E-cadherin serves to regulate its role in adhesion. More recently, we and others have shown that E-cadherin is endocytosed in response to growth factors, in conjunction with the activated growth factor receptors themselves. E-cadherin can influence the trafficking and signaling of these receptor tyrosine kinases. This joint endocytosis is an elegant mechanism for the simultaneous downregulation of cell adhesion and activation of signaling for cell growth and motility. The growth and differentiation of epithelial cells during tissue patterning or morphogenesis relies critically on these endocytic pathways. Our research is aimed at defining the endosomes and cellular machinery involved in E-cadherin-receptor endocytosis, moreover we will pursue initial findings suggesting that there are different pathways and fates for E-cadherin endocytosed at the behest of different growth factors. We will study endocytosis during the processes of epithelial cyst formation and tubulation of cysts as an in vitro model for mammalian morphogenesis. These studies will provide important and novel information for understanding the roles of E-cadherin in adhesion and in growth factor signaling during epithelial morphogenesis. Ultimately these findings will be of relevance to epithelial development and the prevention of cancer.Read moreRead less