Structure and function of predatory and defensive venoms in cone snails. This project aims to investigate newly-discovered cone snail venoms to accelerate the search for novel bioactive peptides. It was recently discovered that cone snails can rapidly and reversibly switch between distinct venoms in response to predatory or defensive stimuli, implying that defensive and predatory venoms have evolved under separate selection pressures. The project plans to obtain separate predatory and defensive ....Structure and function of predatory and defensive venoms in cone snails. This project aims to investigate newly-discovered cone snail venoms to accelerate the search for novel bioactive peptides. It was recently discovered that cone snails can rapidly and reversibly switch between distinct venoms in response to predatory or defensive stimuli, implying that defensive and predatory venoms have evolved under separate selection pressures. The project plans to obtain separate predatory and defensive venoms and venom duct tissue from individual cone snails to compare and contrast the structure and function of conotoxins evolved for predation versus those evolved for defence, to elucidate the structure and function of these important classes of bioactive peptides.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE110100186
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$550,000.00
Summary
High-throughput, high resolution protein-peptide sequencing and quantification facility. This facility will enhance the research capability of scientists at The University of Queensland who are using mass spectrometry to elucidate the structures of novel toxins which have the potential to be developed as drugs.
Decoding the molecular components of aquatic parasite-host interactions. This project aims to further understand the molecular components that regulate aquatic host-parasite interactions which contributes to many diseases worldwide. Aquatic parasites rely on chemical cues to locate and infect their host. This project will target the aquatic host-parasite interaction to decipher these chemical cues, so that future tools may be developed to suppress this interplay. This project expects to contribu ....Decoding the molecular components of aquatic parasite-host interactions. This project aims to further understand the molecular components that regulate aquatic host-parasite interactions which contributes to many diseases worldwide. Aquatic parasites rely on chemical cues to locate and infect their host. This project will target the aquatic host-parasite interaction to decipher these chemical cues, so that future tools may be developed to suppress this interplay. This project expects to contribute imperative basic knowledge for the future control of the intestinal parasite disease, Schistosomiasis, a devastating tropical disease.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120102857
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Innovative chemical tools for the isolation, biochemical and structural analysis of biological macromolecular assemblies. This project will develop a new approach for determining the three dimensional structures of protein complexes. This project will demonstrate this approach by determining the structure of a protein complex involved in gene regulation and disease.
ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging. The Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging will innovatively integrate physics, chemistry and biology to unravel the complex molecular interactions that define immunity. The Centre will develop new imaging methods to visualize atomic, molecular and cellular details of how immune proteins interact and
effect immune responses. Outcomes: (i) new technological innovations leading to new imaging methods and products; and (ii) fundame ....ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging. The Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging will innovatively integrate physics, chemistry and biology to unravel the complex molecular interactions that define immunity. The Centre will develop new imaging methods to visualize atomic, molecular and cellular details of how immune proteins interact and
effect immune responses. Outcomes: (i) new technological innovations leading to new imaging methods and products; and (ii) fundamental advances in understanding details of immune responses in health and disease. The Centre will enable Australia to be an international leader in biological imaging, to train next
generation interdisciplinary scientists, and to provide new insights for combating common diseases that afflict society.Read moreRead less
Australian Sea Anemone Venoms: Bioprospecting & Evolution. Australian sea anemones are a highly promising and largely unexplored source of peptides and proteins with potential therapeutic and diagnostic applications. This project aims to evaluate this potential by undertaking transcriptomic analyses of a number species of anemones from Australian waters and identifying peptides and proteins in their venoms by mass spectrometry. It will also demonstrate the value of transcriptomics in informing t ....Australian Sea Anemone Venoms: Bioprospecting & Evolution. Australian sea anemones are a highly promising and largely unexplored source of peptides and proteins with potential therapeutic and diagnostic applications. This project aims to evaluate this potential by undertaking transcriptomic analyses of a number species of anemones from Australian waters and identifying peptides and proteins in their venoms by mass spectrometry. It will also demonstrate the value of transcriptomics in informing taxonomic classification of anemones. In addition this project will assess toxin diversity within and between species based on nematocyst function from specific tissue sources and provide a clearer understanding of the evolution of venoms in Australian Actiniaria.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150101481
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$373,000.00
Summary
Aquatic invasion of venomous snakes. Animal venoms target multiple physiological pathways to rapidly disrupt homeostasis and cause paralysis and death of prey animals. Physiological protein-encoding genes are recruited into the envenoming function, which then evolve to be highly effective on their molecular targets. The expansion of venom complexity due to the predator-prey chemical 'arms race' has given rise to a plethora of toxin types. While examples of venoms that have become subsequently st ....Aquatic invasion of venomous snakes. Animal venoms target multiple physiological pathways to rapidly disrupt homeostasis and cause paralysis and death of prey animals. Physiological protein-encoding genes are recruited into the envenoming function, which then evolve to be highly effective on their molecular targets. The expansion of venom complexity due to the predator-prey chemical 'arms race' has given rise to a plethora of toxin types. While examples of venoms that have become subsequently streamlined and/or simplified in response to a change in environment and/or specialisation of diet are plenty, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. This project aims to unravel how animal venoms become streamlined and uncover the underexplored vast pharmacopeia of aquatic venoms.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE120100015
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$630,000.00
Summary
High-resolution and high-throughput Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) facility. This facility will provide researchers at James Cook University and The University of Queensland with a nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscope with a cryogenically cooled probe which will enable the structures of novel biomolecules from spiders, hookworms, plants and synthetic drugs to be revealed. These studies have the potential to lead to new drugs for cancer, pain, inflammatory and tropical diseases.
The mechanism of membrane disruption by antimicrobial peptides. Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is a growing crisis in modern medicine. Antibacterial peptides from Australian frogs represent a new class of potent and selective antibacterial agents. Understanding how these peptides kill bacteria but not vertebrate cells could lead to the design of new drugs for pharmaceutical and/or clinical purposes.
A novel approach for controlling insect vectors of human disease. Insects are responsible for transmitting a wide variety of debilitating human diseases such as malaria, dengue and yellow fever. Unfortunately, there are very few options available for controlling these insect pests. This project will develop a novel, eco-friendly approach for control of mosquitoes and other important disease vectors.