Mid-Career Industry Fellowships - Grant ID: IM230100534
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$874,096.00
Summary
NOVEL MASS-SCALE BIOSYNTHESIS: TAILORING CHEMICAL LOGIC & BIOSYNTHESIS. No new antibiotics against Gram-negative ‘superbugs’ are expected to be available in the near future. We have exhausted the chemical space from the natural product pool and lack a fundamental understanding of antibiotics in nature, this is a major hurdle for antibiotic design targeting bacterial resistance. This proposal aims to engineer unique chemo-enzymatic platforms for the synthesis of new lipopeptide scaffolds which wi ....NOVEL MASS-SCALE BIOSYNTHESIS: TAILORING CHEMICAL LOGIC & BIOSYNTHESIS. No new antibiotics against Gram-negative ‘superbugs’ are expected to be available in the near future. We have exhausted the chemical space from the natural product pool and lack a fundamental understanding of antibiotics in nature, this is a major hurdle for antibiotic design targeting bacterial resistance. This proposal aims to engineer unique chemo-enzymatic platforms for the synthesis of new lipopeptide scaffolds which will significantly expand the chemical space available for novel antibiotic discovery. The development of these unique platforms will greatly expand our inventory of natural product antibiotics and will represent a major technological break-through for Australia's biotechnology and pharmaceutical manufacturing sectors.Read moreRead less
Novel chemoenzymatic synthesis and bioconjugation of peptides and proteins. This project aims to solve the critical difficulty of producing the complex peptide insulin and related insulin-like peptides (INSLs) and their analogues. The project will use unique, recyclable enzymes which ligate smaller peptide segments with extraordinary site and substrate selectivity. The expected outcome of the project is novel, cheaper and scalable, enzyme-mediated engineering of this critical class of peptides a ....Novel chemoenzymatic synthesis and bioconjugation of peptides and proteins. This project aims to solve the critical difficulty of producing the complex peptide insulin and related insulin-like peptides (INSLs) and their analogues. The project will use unique, recyclable enzymes which ligate smaller peptide segments with extraordinary site and substrate selectivity. The expected outcome of the project is novel, cheaper and scalable, enzyme-mediated engineering of this critical class of peptides as biological probes and potential therapeutic agents.Read moreRead less
Novel green scalable chemical peptide synthesis and enzyme immobilization. The Project aims to address the critical issue of developing green processes for the chemical production of peptides including on an industrial scale. It will use unique, biocompatible solid supports that have been invented by our partner SpheriTech Ltd together with other reagents to allow synthesis to be conducted in water rather than toxic organic solvents. Expected outcomes of the Project include an international part ....Novel green scalable chemical peptide synthesis and enzyme immobilization. The Project aims to address the critical issue of developing green processes for the chemical production of peptides including on an industrial scale. It will use unique, biocompatible solid supports that have been invented by our partner SpheriTech Ltd together with other reagents to allow synthesis to be conducted in water rather than toxic organic solvents. Expected outcomes of the Project include an international partnership in highly efficient environmentally-friendly assembly of peptides and of their analogues by both solid phase synthesis and immobilized enzyme-mediated ligation. The clear benefit will be the first novel, water-based, scalable green synthesis of peptides as biological probes and potential therapeutic agents.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Training Centres - Grant ID: IC170100035
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$4,743,710.00
Summary
ARC Training Centre for Innovation in Biomedical Imaging Technology. The ARC Training Centre for Innovation in Biomedical Imaging Technology expects to train 20 industry-ready innovation scientists who will undertake industry-driven research in the development and application of novel diagnostics, therapeutics and theranostics. They will inform changes in regulatory policy that support industry growth. The Centre will build multidisciplinary links between researchers and within industry to devel ....ARC Training Centre for Innovation in Biomedical Imaging Technology. The ARC Training Centre for Innovation in Biomedical Imaging Technology expects to train 20 industry-ready innovation scientists who will undertake industry-driven research in the development and application of novel diagnostics, therapeutics and theranostics. They will inform changes in regulatory policy that support industry growth. The Centre will build multidisciplinary links between researchers and within industry to develop ‘smart’ probes and ‘smart’ scanning, harnessing the digital revolution for better, cost effective diagnostic imaging and improved health outcomes.Read moreRead less
Surface ligation of nanomaterials for biomedical applications . The project aims to explore the synergistic effects co-ligands for target recognition and biofouling protection in nanoparticle surface patterns to enable practical atomic scale precision engineering of efficient and biofouling resistant nanosensors. The project will fundamentally characterise interfacial interactions and dynamics of ligated nano-surfaces and biomolecules via advanced computer modelling. Outcomes should include pra ....Surface ligation of nanomaterials for biomedical applications . The project aims to explore the synergistic effects co-ligands for target recognition and biofouling protection in nanoparticle surface patterns to enable practical atomic scale precision engineering of efficient and biofouling resistant nanosensors. The project will fundamentally characterise interfacial interactions and dynamics of ligated nano-surfaces and biomolecules via advanced computer modelling. Outcomes should include practical molecular design guidelines for functional ligands and predicted optimal patterns for combining functional and antifouling ligands on gold nanomaterials for biosensing technologies. The advanced predictive modelling capabilities will facilitate future practical engineering of efficient biomedical devices.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Training Centres - Grant ID: IC210100040
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$4,997,903.00
Summary
ARC Training Centre for Facilitated Advancement of Australia's Bioactives (FAAB). The Centre for Facilitated Advancement of Australia's Bioactives (FAAB) will transform the rapidly growing bioactive ingredients sector. It will apply advanced analytical methods to molecular characterisation of bioactive products derived from foods, food-waste, and cell-based biotechnologies. FAAB will determine modes of action for bioactives with potential lifestyle and nutritional benefits allowing for evidence- ....ARC Training Centre for Facilitated Advancement of Australia's Bioactives (FAAB). The Centre for Facilitated Advancement of Australia's Bioactives (FAAB) will transform the rapidly growing bioactive ingredients sector. It will apply advanced analytical methods to molecular characterisation of bioactive products derived from foods, food-waste, and cell-based biotechnologies. FAAB will determine modes of action for bioactives with potential lifestyle and nutritional benefits allowing for evidence-informed decision-making, and regulatory framework development. FAAB graduates will lead and deliver future national self-reliance to the Australian bioactives sector, increasing diversification and international competitiveness and development of regulation in a growing market. Read moreRead less
The impact of copper on protein turnover. This project aims to elaborate a novel discovery by the research team, that a conserved copper-binding site in a group of conserved conjugating enzymes promotes ubiquitination of a range of essential proteins leading to their rapid degradation, which might be a means of maintaining copper homeostasis. This project will employ a range of integrated physicochemical, biochemical and cell biology approaches to illuminate the molecular nature of this copper a ....The impact of copper on protein turnover. This project aims to elaborate a novel discovery by the research team, that a conserved copper-binding site in a group of conserved conjugating enzymes promotes ubiquitination of a range of essential proteins leading to their rapid degradation, which might be a means of maintaining copper homeostasis. This project will employ a range of integrated physicochemical, biochemical and cell biology approaches to illuminate the molecular nature of this copper action on the enzyme and its partners. Expected outcomes include an analytical understanding of the molecular mechanisms of this process, and enhanced interdisciplinary collaboration between experts. Potential benefits include new strategies to intervene in copper-related disorders of aging.Read moreRead less
Chemical-biology approaches to pathway selective adenosine receptor ligands. This project aims to develop new chemical-biology tools and approaches for selectively targeting signalling pathways mediated by G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR). GPCRs are an important family of cell surface signalling proteins that are responsible for the regulation of numerous vital physiological functions. The A1 adenosine receptor is an important model and therapeutically relevant GPCR that will be the focus of t ....Chemical-biology approaches to pathway selective adenosine receptor ligands. This project aims to develop new chemical-biology tools and approaches for selectively targeting signalling pathways mediated by G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR). GPCRs are an important family of cell surface signalling proteins that are responsible for the regulation of numerous vital physiological functions. The A1 adenosine receptor is an important model and therapeutically relevant GPCR that will be the focus of this project. Compounds known as bitopic ligands, which can interact with distinct binding sites (termed orthosteric and allosteric sites), will be explored as pathway selective agents capable of activating the signalling pathways mediating the desired effect in preference to those producing adverse effects. Longer-term benefits include the identification of bioactive compounds with more selective modes of action and improved safety profiles.Read moreRead less
Dissecting a major sulfur cycling pathway: sulfoglycolysis. This project will elucidate the molecular details of sulfoglycolysis, a group of metabolic pathways through which the sulfur-containing sugar sulfoquinovose is catabolized. The project will employ an integrated metabolomic, chemical, biochemical and structural approach to dissect how various sulfoglycolytic organisms degrade sulfoquinovose. This project will deliver a deeper understanding of this major biochemical pathway and develop ne ....Dissecting a major sulfur cycling pathway: sulfoglycolysis. This project will elucidate the molecular details of sulfoglycolysis, a group of metabolic pathways through which the sulfur-containing sugar sulfoquinovose is catabolized. The project will employ an integrated metabolomic, chemical, biochemical and structural approach to dissect how various sulfoglycolytic organisms degrade sulfoquinovose. This project will deliver a deeper understanding of this major biochemical pathway and develop new chemical and metabolic approaches to manipulate sulfur cycling in the environment. Benefits will include biotechnology applications of newly discovered proteins, and sustainable approaches to reduce our dependence on agricultural fertilisers.Read moreRead less