Methylation-sensitive T Cell Genes And Childhood Food Allergy.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$461,232.00
Summary
Australia has the highest reported prevalence food allergy in the world. Despite this, little is known about how allergy develops. Mounting evidence implicates environmentally induced disruption of the genetic blueprint via a process known as epigenetics. We are combining the strengths of food challenge proven food allergy with assessment of immune functioning & cutting edge genomics, to extensively characterise the pathways leading to food allergy in children.
Methylation Sensitive Genes And The Transition To Allergic Disease: A Twin Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$493,843.00
Summary
Australia has amongst the highest reported prevalence allergic conditions (including asthma) in the world. Despite this, little is known about how these conditions arise. Mounting evidence implicates environmentally induced disruption of the genetic blueprint via a process known as epigenetics. We are combining the strengths of a unique collection of identical twins where one of a pair is sensitive to house dust mite, with cutting edge genomics, to characterise the pathways leading to allergy in ....Australia has amongst the highest reported prevalence allergic conditions (including asthma) in the world. Despite this, little is known about how these conditions arise. Mounting evidence implicates environmentally induced disruption of the genetic blueprint via a process known as epigenetics. We are combining the strengths of a unique collection of identical twins where one of a pair is sensitive to house dust mite, with cutting edge genomics, to characterise the pathways leading to allergy in children.Read moreRead less
Early Nutrition, Epigenetics And Developmental Outcomes In Children.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$550,093.00
Summary
Increasing evidence demonstrates that early nutrition, including in pregnancy, has long lasting programming effects on later health of children. Evidence implicates epigenetics (literally ‘above DNA’) in mediating these effects. The most convincing data exists for obesity and related disorders such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and heart disease. The focus of this project is on understanding how ‘epigenetic’ mechanisms are influencing the way our genes function to cause these disorders.
The epigenetic blueprint for T cell differentiation: a genomic view. A cardinal feature of adaptive immune cell activation is the initiation of a program of differentiation that results in acquisition and long term maintenance of lineage-speci?c effector function. This proposal aims to map and dissect genome wide molecular changes that occur at different stages of immune cell differentiation and identify key factors that regulating these changes. It is expected that distinct genomic signatures, ....The epigenetic blueprint for T cell differentiation: a genomic view. A cardinal feature of adaptive immune cell activation is the initiation of a program of differentiation that results in acquisition and long term maintenance of lineage-speci?c effector function. This proposal aims to map and dissect genome wide molecular changes that occur at different stages of immune cell differentiation and identify key factors that regulating these changes. It is expected that distinct genomic signatures, and the mechanisms indicative of effective immune cell differentiation will be identified. This proposal will provide insights into key mechanisms that result in reprogramming of immune cell function and memory and have implications for understanding general cellular differentiation.Read moreRead less
How enhancers regulate T cell differentiation and function. This project aims to identify the molecular mechanisms that regulate the activity of transcriptional enhancers needed for effective immune cell differentiation. Adaptive immune cell activation starts a programme of differentiation that acquires and maintains lineage-specific effector function. Using a multidisciplinary approach including cellular and chromatin biology, advanced bioinformatics, targeted genome editing and nanotechnology, ....How enhancers regulate T cell differentiation and function. This project aims to identify the molecular mechanisms that regulate the activity of transcriptional enhancers needed for effective immune cell differentiation. Adaptive immune cell activation starts a programme of differentiation that acquires and maintains lineage-specific effector function. Using a multidisciplinary approach including cellular and chromatin biology, advanced bioinformatics, targeted genome editing and nanotechnology, this project expects to provide insights into non-coding regulatory element reprogramming and control of immune cell function and memory with implications for understanding general cellular differentiation.Read moreRead less
Targeting the genome and epigenome of the exercising skeletal muscle. This project aims is to discover epigenetic and genetic biomarkers that predict fitness changes, following exercise intervention. Individuals are remarkably variable in their responses to exercise interventions, and a large portion of these responses is attributed to genetics, and epigenetics (the effect of the environment on the expression of genes). Using controlled exercise training as a model, this project expects to disco ....Targeting the genome and epigenome of the exercising skeletal muscle. This project aims is to discover epigenetic and genetic biomarkers that predict fitness changes, following exercise intervention. Individuals are remarkably variable in their responses to exercise interventions, and a large portion of these responses is attributed to genetics, and epigenetics (the effect of the environment on the expression of genes). Using controlled exercise training as a model, this project expects to discover epigenetic and genomic markers in skeletal muscle predictive of exercise adaptations. This will contribute to the development and future delivery of targeted and personalised exercise programs for the general population. This has important implications for improving health in the Australian population.Read moreRead less
Can exercise slow down the epigenetic ageing clock? The aged population accounts for a significant amount of Australia’s health budget. This project aims to uncover novel molecular biomarkers that slow the ageing process and maintain good health for longer. This project aims to use innovative epigenetic analysis to study the molecular ‘clocks’ of young and old populations and to test whether exercise can slow the ageing process. This is expected to lead to a better understanding of how humans re ....Can exercise slow down the epigenetic ageing clock? The aged population accounts for a significant amount of Australia’s health budget. This project aims to uncover novel molecular biomarkers that slow the ageing process and maintain good health for longer. This project aims to use innovative epigenetic analysis to study the molecular ‘clocks’ of young and old populations and to test whether exercise can slow the ageing process. This is expected to lead to a better understanding of how humans respond to changing environments during their lifetime, and will underpin the development of evidence-based personalised health interventions to keep Australians healthier for longer.
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DNA methylation in insect social evolution. This project will investigate the evolutionary relationship between DNA methylation and the advanced sociality displayed by bees, ants and wasps. The project will map DNA methylation across the social insects and test whether it has coevolved with sociality. It will also determine how a vital social cue, the queen pheromone, influences the worker methylome. Finally, it will apply quantitative genetic and methylomic methods to wild insects, revealing pa ....DNA methylation in insect social evolution. This project will investigate the evolutionary relationship between DNA methylation and the advanced sociality displayed by bees, ants and wasps. The project will map DNA methylation across the social insects and test whether it has coevolved with sociality. It will also determine how a vital social cue, the queen pheromone, influences the worker methylome. Finally, it will apply quantitative genetic and methylomic methods to wild insects, revealing patterns of selection and inheritance in epigenetic and phenotypic traits. By combining genomic and evolutionary methods, the project will advance the ongoing debate about the importance of methylation to sociality and extreme phenotypic plasticity. It will contribute to a quantum leap in our understanding of DNA methylation and sociobiology and mark the first application of quantitative genetics to wild insects.Read moreRead less
Sex determination in dragons: Genetics, epigenetics and environment. This project aims to discover the master sex-determining gene in a reptile, how that gene is differentially regulated in males and females and by temperature, and to identify evolutionary drivers of transitions between genetic and environmental sex determination. In many reptiles, like mammals, chromosomes determine sex. In others, the temperature at which their eggs are incubated determines sex. This project will study how tem ....Sex determination in dragons: Genetics, epigenetics and environment. This project aims to discover the master sex-determining gene in a reptile, how that gene is differentially regulated in males and females and by temperature, and to identify evolutionary drivers of transitions between genetic and environmental sex determination. In many reptiles, like mammals, chromosomes determine sex. In others, the temperature at which their eggs are incubated determines sex. This project will study how temperature reverses chromosomal sex determination in dragon lizards. This could show how climatic extremes affect the biology of climate sensitive reptiles, and understand their vulnerability to climate change.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE110100068
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$240,000.00
Summary
Mass spectrometry platform for high throughput genotyping, epigenetic analysis and validation of genome wide sequencing studies. This facility will provide a platform for Australian researchers to quantitatively measure genetic information in a rapid, accurate and cost-efficient manner. This technology will enhance Australia's ability to perform basic research into the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of cellular function.