Characterisation of vital carbohydrate synthases in pathogenic oomycetes. This project aims to understand the mechanisms that control cell wall stability in the fish pathogen, Saprolegnia parasitica. The biochemical properties and function of vital enzymes involved in cell wall biosynthesis will be determined using innovative approaches at the interface of biochemistry, microbiology, cell biology, and structural biology. Next generation ion mobility mass spectrometry will be used to solve challe ....Characterisation of vital carbohydrate synthases in pathogenic oomycetes. This project aims to understand the mechanisms that control cell wall stability in the fish pathogen, Saprolegnia parasitica. The biochemical properties and function of vital enzymes involved in cell wall biosynthesis will be determined using innovative approaches at the interface of biochemistry, microbiology, cell biology, and structural biology. Next generation ion mobility mass spectrometry will be used to solve challenging structural questions that cannot be tackled with conventional techniques. Expected outcomes include new knowledge on challenging membrane proteins that allows development of novel strategies for disease control in aquaculture. The data may also be applicable to crop protection from related plant pathogens.Read moreRead less
Cell wall structure and dynamics in emerging fungal pathogens of crops. The project aims to understand the role of fungal cell wall biosynthetic enzymes in cell wall stability. The fungal cell wall is a dynamic structure whose composition constantly changes in response to biotic and abiotic stresses and at different developmental stages. The devastating fungal crop pathogen Fusarium graminearum is responsible for the head blight disease in cereals. The project aims to understand the molecular ev ....Cell wall structure and dynamics in emerging fungal pathogens of crops. The project aims to understand the role of fungal cell wall biosynthetic enzymes in cell wall stability. The fungal cell wall is a dynamic structure whose composition constantly changes in response to biotic and abiotic stresses and at different developmental stages. The devastating fungal crop pathogen Fusarium graminearum is responsible for the head blight disease in cereals. The project aims to understand the molecular events that govern metabolism and dynamics of the cell wall of F. graminearum. The project also plans to characterise the molecular interactions involved in plant defence against fungal pathogens and fungal responses to plant immune factors called defensins. Expected long-term outcomes include the development of novel strategies for disease control and crop protection.Read moreRead less
Unravelling cell wall polysaccharide biosynthesis in pathogenic zygomycetes. This project aims to define mechanisms that control cell wall composition and stability in Rhizopus oryzae, a zygomycete fungus responsible for life-threatening human infections. The biochemical properties and function of vital enzymes involved in a newly discovered cell wall polysaccharide biosynthetic pathway will be determined using innovative approaches at the interface of biochemistry, microbiology, cell biology an ....Unravelling cell wall polysaccharide biosynthesis in pathogenic zygomycetes. This project aims to define mechanisms that control cell wall composition and stability in Rhizopus oryzae, a zygomycete fungus responsible for life-threatening human infections. The biochemical properties and function of vital enzymes involved in a newly discovered cell wall polysaccharide biosynthetic pathway will be determined using innovative approaches at the interface of biochemistry, microbiology, cell biology and structural biology. Expected outcomes include new knowledge on the enzymes that synthesise major fucose-based carbohydrates, to guide the future development of novel strategies for antifungal therapies. The data will also be applicable to animal protection from related zygomycete pathogens.
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Use of Organic Residues in Edible Mushroom Production. The aims are to develop growth and casing materials for mushroom production based on organic wastes. Casing peat is the most expensive raw ingredient used in mushroom production and there are major concerns over supply due to increasing environmental concerns in supplier countries and quarantine issues such as the recent foot and mouth outbreak in Europe. This project will develop alternatives to imported peats as casing materials and invest ....Use of Organic Residues in Edible Mushroom Production. The aims are to develop growth and casing materials for mushroom production based on organic wastes. Casing peat is the most expensive raw ingredient used in mushroom production and there are major concerns over supply due to increasing environmental concerns in supplier countries and quarantine issues such as the recent foot and mouth outbreak in Europe. This project will develop alternatives to imported peats as casing materials and investigate a range of organic residues which can be used as basic growth media for button and exotic mushrooms. This will increase the viability and sustainability of the mushroom industry in Australia.Read moreRead less
Studying Molecular Dynamics with Electron and Laser Interactions. We plan to use state-of-the-art experimental techniques and methodologies to probe the dynamics of molecular processes stimulated by either laser or electron interactions. These processes are fundamental to our understanding of both natural phenomena and many devices used in the technology of today and of the future. As a result of this study our insight into the mechanisms underpining these phenomena and devices will be enhanced.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0219618
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$215,000.00
Summary
National Facility for Advanced Molecular Orbital Imaging. We will develop a new two-dimensional multiparameter high-resolution electron momentum spectroscopy (EMS) spectrometer that incorporates multiparameter data acquisition and reduction techniques and combine it with a new time of flight (TOF) ion-analyser in order to perform the first high-resolution EMS with oriented target experiments.
In conjunction with theoretical calculations, the results from these experiments will provide the most ....National Facility for Advanced Molecular Orbital Imaging. We will develop a new two-dimensional multiparameter high-resolution electron momentum spectroscopy (EMS) spectrometer that incorporates multiparameter data acquisition and reduction techniques and combine it with a new time of flight (TOF) ion-analyser in order to perform the first high-resolution EMS with oriented target experiments.
In conjunction with theoretical calculations, the results from these experiments will provide the most advanced evaluation for molecular orbital imaging quality for the chemically significant targets we wish to study. This in turn will lead to the determination of more accurate physico-chemical information, including structure and bonding information, for these targets.Read moreRead less
Cross sections for electron scattering from molecules and radicals of technological and environmental relevance. We will use two state of the art crossed beam spectrometers to measure absolute differential and integral cross sections for low energy electron scattering from molecules and their molecular fragments (radicals). The species to be considered are those of significant industrial (e.g. C2F4, C4F8 and CF2) and environmental (e.g. CO2 and H2O) interest, with the cross sections we will mea ....Cross sections for electron scattering from molecules and radicals of technological and environmental relevance. We will use two state of the art crossed beam spectrometers to measure absolute differential and integral cross sections for low energy electron scattering from molecules and their molecular fragments (radicals). The species to be considered are those of significant industrial (e.g. C2F4, C4F8 and CF2) and environmental (e.g. CO2 and H2O) interest, with the cross sections we will measure being crucial to our modelling both the processes involved in plasma enhanced chemical vapour desposition of semiconductor devices and the spectral emission characteristics of planetary atmospheres. The modelling will be conducted self-consistently with our enhanced statistical equilibrium simulation code, which is unique to Australia.Read moreRead less
Collision data for lighting industry and plasma modeling. The project's primary aim is to progress the design of more efficient
and environmentally friendly light sources. Given the number of light
sources in use worldwide even a small improvement in the efficiency
could lead to enormous benefits to society via reduction of energy
consumption. Design of new mercury-free light sources will eliminate a
major neuro-toxin pollution source. Collaboration with research groups
at the OSRAM-SYLVA ....Collision data for lighting industry and plasma modeling. The project's primary aim is to progress the design of more efficient
and environmentally friendly light sources. Given the number of light
sources in use worldwide even a small improvement in the efficiency
could lead to enormous benefits to society via reduction of energy
consumption. Design of new mercury-free light sources will eliminate a
major neuro-toxin pollution source. Collaboration with research groups
at the OSRAM-SYLVANIA Corporation (USA) and Sheffield University (UK)
will herald the beginning of industrial application for our successful
atomic collisions research program. The previous substantial ARC
investment towards this fundamental science program has now enabled
practical application.Read moreRead less
Dissecting The Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome With Complementary Genetic, Proteomic And Biophysical Strategies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$490,352.00
Summary
Pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX) is an eye condition in which flaky material deposits in the eye, greatly increasing the risk of cataract and glaucoma which can lead to blindness. PEX is also associated with heart disease, strokes and aneurysms. Cataract surgery in PEX patients has a higher rate of complications. In this project we will determine the nature of PEX material and why it forms. This knowlege will facilitate better diagnosis and treatment of PEX preventing associated blindness.
Using MiR-200 To Find New Therapeutic Targets For Neuroblastoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$563,152.00
Summary
Neuroblastoma is one of the most common cancers in children. We have found that a genetic regulator, called microRNA, can limit the ability of neuroblastoma cells to invade surrounding tissues and metastasise. We aim use the microRNAs to find new therapeutic targets that may work in combination with existing treatments, reducing the short term toxicity and long term deleterious effects of current treatments.