The role of central carbon metabolism in cell cycle control in bacteria. Bacteria are simple organisms, yet we still do not understand how they coordinate their growth with their reproduction so faithfully, generation after generation, to produce viable newborn cells. The new discovery of a link between the food bacteria eat and the first stage of their cell division now provides the opportunity to elucidate how bacteria 'measure' their energy production to control their proliferation. This proj ....The role of central carbon metabolism in cell cycle control in bacteria. Bacteria are simple organisms, yet we still do not understand how they coordinate their growth with their reproduction so faithfully, generation after generation, to produce viable newborn cells. The new discovery of a link between the food bacteria eat and the first stage of their cell division now provides the opportunity to elucidate how bacteria 'measure' their energy production to control their proliferation. This project combines the latest technology with complementary expertise in bacterial cell division and metabolism. This should identify the mechanism that integrates these fundamental pathways in bacteria, crucial to both their survival and ability to cause infection.Read moreRead less
Identifying how bacterial cells find their middle: a new perspective. This project will reveal new information about how bacterial cells divide with high precision to ensure that each newborn cell contains the correct genetic material. The research uses frontier techniques, provides innovative training to young Australian researchers, and will identify new ways to treat infections caused by bacteria.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE160100127
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$355,000.00
Summary
Superresolution fluorescence imaging in microbiology. Superresolution fluorescence imaging in microbiology:
This project involves the purchase of new, and upgrade of existing, fluorescence imaging tools to facilitate the study of intracellular processes in microbial systems at significantly higher spatial and temporal resolutions than hitherto possible. Visualisation of the structure and dynamics of intracellular molecular assemblies at maximal resolution is required to understand protein funct ....Superresolution fluorescence imaging in microbiology. Superresolution fluorescence imaging in microbiology:
This project involves the purchase of new, and upgrade of existing, fluorescence imaging tools to facilitate the study of intracellular processes in microbial systems at significantly higher spatial and temporal resolutions than hitherto possible. Visualisation of the structure and dynamics of intracellular molecular assemblies at maximal resolution is required to understand protein function inside living cells. The new equipment is designed to provide a fast super-resolution imaging system to study the intracellular dynamics of proteins in vitro and a super-resolution microscope to visualise structures and assemblies inside microbes with a resolution of tens of nanometres, putting in vitro biochemistry into the context of a living cell. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180100911
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$365,058.00
Summary
The mechanisms driving microbial navigation in marine systems. This project aims to apply advanced video-microscopy to characterise microbial motion at the single cell level, interrogating their navigational responses in precisely controlled physical and chemical conditions. Ocean carbon cycling is driven by the concerted action of marine microbes, but the fine-scale interactions between these microbes and their physical and chemical environments remains elusive. The project findings will unrave ....The mechanisms driving microbial navigation in marine systems. This project aims to apply advanced video-microscopy to characterise microbial motion at the single cell level, interrogating their navigational responses in precisely controlled physical and chemical conditions. Ocean carbon cycling is driven by the concerted action of marine microbes, but the fine-scale interactions between these microbes and their physical and chemical environments remains elusive. The project findings will unravel the fundamental processes governing microbial motion in real environments, and develop the mechanistic modelling tools required to make quantitative ecosystem-level predictions of how soil-atmosphere-water-marine systems respond in the face of environmental change.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140100963
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$395,220.00
Summary
Biofilms and quorum sensing in pneumococcal biology. Bacteria survive in their environmental niches by development of complex multicellular communities (biofilms), not by operating as individuals. Communication between bacteria is critical for biofilm formation, and is linked to their capacity to exchange DNA within and between species (competence). This is achieved by secretion and detection of small chemical signalling molecules (quorum sensing). Two such systems operate in the pneumococcus, a ....Biofilms and quorum sensing in pneumococcal biology. Bacteria survive in their environmental niches by development of complex multicellular communities (biofilms), not by operating as individuals. Communication between bacteria is critical for biofilm formation, and is linked to their capacity to exchange DNA within and between species (competence). This is achieved by secretion and detection of small chemical signalling molecules (quorum sensing). Two such systems operate in the pneumococcus, a model Gram-positive organism. This project aims to elucidate the mechanism whereby these quorum sensing systems interact and collaborate to regulate biofilm formation and competence, phenotypes critical for bacterial survival. This knowledge will enable future development of novel antimicrobials. Read moreRead less
A link between antibiotic resistance and bacterial sporulation. This project aims to define the sporulation process in the bacterium Clostridium difficile, and advance our understanding of a link between antibiotic use and sporulation. To survive in hostile environments, some bacteria produce a dormant and resilient cell form called a spore which can survive for many years in unfavourable environments, but our understanding of how this process occurs is limited. This project will provide a deepe ....A link between antibiotic resistance and bacterial sporulation. This project aims to define the sporulation process in the bacterium Clostridium difficile, and advance our understanding of a link between antibiotic use and sporulation. To survive in hostile environments, some bacteria produce a dormant and resilient cell form called a spore which can survive for many years in unfavourable environments, but our understanding of how this process occurs is limited. This project will provide a deeper understanding of the sporulation process and the long-lasting detrimental impact of antibiotic use. The project expects to provide economic benefits, reduce environmental microbial contamination and contribute to better health of animals and humans.Read moreRead less
Molecular insights into bacterial metal ion homeostasis and toxicity. This project aims to measure bacterial cellular metal concentrations, elucidate mechanisms cells use to adapt to changing extracellular metal concentrations, and reveal the molecular targets of metal toxicity. Metal ions are essential to all forms of life, and half of all proteins use metal ions for cellular chemical processes. However, how cells precisely balance sufficient metal ions for essential cellular chemistry without ....Molecular insights into bacterial metal ion homeostasis and toxicity. This project aims to measure bacterial cellular metal concentrations, elucidate mechanisms cells use to adapt to changing extracellular metal concentrations, and reveal the molecular targets of metal toxicity. Metal ions are essential to all forms of life, and half of all proteins use metal ions for cellular chemical processes. However, how cells precisely balance sufficient metal ions for essential cellular chemistry without accumulating a toxic excess (metal homeostasis) is poorly understood. Discovering the roles of metal ions in bacterial cells will be key to defining the chemical biology of living systems and will provide information essential to understanding how microbes adapt to changing environments.Read moreRead less
New molecular tools to study the mechanisms of bacterial metal homeostasis. This project aims to provide new insight into how metal ion uptake is regulated. It will precisely measure the cellular concentrations of metal ions, reveal the roles of metal ions in essential cellular processes, and identify the molecular targets of metal toxicity. Metal ions are essential to all forms of life and are used by up to half of all proteins to facilitate cellular chemical processes. The intended outcome of ....New molecular tools to study the mechanisms of bacterial metal homeostasis. This project aims to provide new insight into how metal ion uptake is regulated. It will precisely measure the cellular concentrations of metal ions, reveal the roles of metal ions in essential cellular processes, and identify the molecular targets of metal toxicity. Metal ions are essential to all forms of life and are used by up to half of all proteins to facilitate cellular chemical processes. The intended outcome of the research is to provide new fundamental knowledge of the roles of metal ions in bacterial cells; knowledge that will be key to defining the chemical biology of living systems and will provide information essential to understanding how microbes adapt to changing environments.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100310
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,533.00
Summary
Atmospheric trace gases: Fuelling the dormant microbial majority. This project aims to determine the physiological roles and ecological significance of hydrogen, methane and carbon monoxide scavenging. Bacteria adapt to adverse environmental conditions such as energy-starvation by entering dormant states. The fuel sources that sustain this dormant majority have yet to be resolved. Aerobic soil bacteria survive by scavenging trace gases from the atmosphere; they literally live on thin air. These ....Atmospheric trace gases: Fuelling the dormant microbial majority. This project aims to determine the physiological roles and ecological significance of hydrogen, methane and carbon monoxide scavenging. Bacteria adapt to adverse environmental conditions such as energy-starvation by entering dormant states. The fuel sources that sustain this dormant majority have yet to be resolved. Aerobic soil bacteria survive by scavenging trace gases from the atmosphere; they literally live on thin air. These trace gas scavengers are the major biological sinks in the global methane and hydrogen cycles. This project aims to study entire ecosystems of trace gas scavengers, which could enhance understanding of soil microbial ecology and biogeochemical cycling. By studying the regulation and distribution of gas scavenging, we can better model how these sinks respond to global change.Read moreRead less
The control of archaeal cell structure by tubulin-family proteins. The objective of this project is to deliver new insights into the evolution and diversity of cell structure and function. Cell theory has been a cornerstone of biology for over 150 years. Yet how early cells developed into modern forms is still a mystery. The primitive and poorly understood third domain of life, Archaea, could hold clues. Recently, proteins were discovered in archaea that are related to the tubulin proteins of al ....The control of archaeal cell structure by tubulin-family proteins. The objective of this project is to deliver new insights into the evolution and diversity of cell structure and function. Cell theory has been a cornerstone of biology for over 150 years. Yet how early cells developed into modern forms is still a mystery. The primitive and poorly understood third domain of life, Archaea, could hold clues. Recently, proteins were discovered in archaea that are related to the tubulin proteins of all higher organisms, which provide the structural framework of cells essential for survival. This project aims to reveal the basis of how the archaeal tubulin proteins control cell shape in response to environmental change, and to develop a new paradigm for archaeal cell biology. This may find application in Australia's biotechnology industries.Read moreRead less