Evolution of diverse symbiotic phenotypes among native soil bacteria following spread of a genomic island from a rhizobial inoculant. The quality of legume protein depends on symbiotic nitrogen fixation by root nodule bacteria (RNB). Sustainable legume production in Australian agriculture depends on legume inoculation with effective strains of these bacteria. Unfortunately inoculant strains transfer DNA to other soil bacteria resulting in soil populations of RNB that compete for nodulation but a ....Evolution of diverse symbiotic phenotypes among native soil bacteria following spread of a genomic island from a rhizobial inoculant. The quality of legume protein depends on symbiotic nitrogen fixation by root nodule bacteria (RNB). Sustainable legume production in Australian agriculture depends on legume inoculation with effective strains of these bacteria. Unfortunately inoculant strains transfer DNA to other soil bacteria resulting in soil populations of RNB that compete for nodulation but are less effective in nitrogen fixation. This transfer of DNA threatens a $2 billion asset in Australian agriculture. We will use molecular microbial ecology to investigate the mechanisms of genetic transfer of symbiotic DNA in RNB, and use this knowledge to prevent it.Read moreRead less
Increased Airway Smooth Muscle Mass As An Independent Determinant Of Asthma Pathogenesis And Severity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$409,966.00
Summary
Asthma is a major health burden to the community. The most common form of the disease is allergic asthma and it is thought that allergic inflammation drives associated airway abnormalities including increased airway smooth muscle (ASM) mass. This study tests a new hypothesis that airway abnormalities and allergy have separate origins but combine to produce allergic asthma, and it’s the individuals with the greatest amount of ASM who develop clinically severe asthma.
Interaction of Cryptosporidium lifecycle stages with aquatic biofilm communities. Cryptosporidium is the most common non-viral cause of diarrhoeal disease in humans worldwide, and of increasing significance as a cause of disease in livestock and wildlife. It is one of the most significant waterborne pathogens and a major challenge to the provision of safe drinking water by water utilities. Biofilms are a poorly studied component of Cryptosporidium's ecosystem, and can act as an environmental res ....Interaction of Cryptosporidium lifecycle stages with aquatic biofilm communities. Cryptosporidium is the most common non-viral cause of diarrhoeal disease in humans worldwide, and of increasing significance as a cause of disease in livestock and wildlife. It is one of the most significant waterborne pathogens and a major challenge to the provision of safe drinking water by water utilities. Biofilms are a poorly studied component of Cryptosporidium's ecosystem, and can act as an environmental reservoir of the parasite in water storages and pipes and an unpredictable source of water contamination. This project will investigate the nature of this reservoir and factors that support the parasite's survival with a view to providing information of value in limiting the public health significance of the biofilm reservoir.Read moreRead less
Mosquito-borne alphaviruses such as Ross River and chikungunya viruses cause widespread epidemics and exert extreme pressure on the public health systems of affected regions. Alphaviruses spreads to joints and triggers a severe disease in those affected. There are no effective treatments or vaccines. The project will investigate virus-host interaction at the bite site. The outcome will be new knowledge to treat infection at the mosquito bite site to prevent joint disease.
Novel Insights Into The Pathobiology Of Alphavirus Infections
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$827,660.00
Summary
Infections with mosquito-borne viruses are increasing at an alarming rate worldwide. Ross River virus is endemic in parts of Australia, PNG and Pacific islands, while chikungunya virus is distributed globally and causes recurrent pandemics that involve millions of people. These viruses cause severe musculoskeletal disease for several months after infection. This project aims to establish how these viruses interact with the human host to cause disease and may provide a basis for new treatments.
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354745
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$20,000.00
Summary
International Network for Genomics of the Root-Soil Interface (INGORSI). INGORSI brings together a new group of leading Australian and International researchers with common interests in the application of bioinformatics and genomics to understanding the root-soil interface, particularly the microbiology of this interface. The Network will communicate via a novel ?virtual? seminar room, with a research focus on molecular signals between organisms and plants of the rhizosphere that promote or pre ....International Network for Genomics of the Root-Soil Interface (INGORSI). INGORSI brings together a new group of leading Australian and International researchers with common interests in the application of bioinformatics and genomics to understanding the root-soil interface, particularly the microbiology of this interface. The Network will communicate via a novel ?virtual? seminar room, with a research focus on molecular signals between organisms and plants of the rhizosphere that promote or prevent plant growth, and also potentially impact human health. The network will facilitate high quality basic science, with linked programs that promote its application, to produce outcomes of benefit to plant crops, human health and sustainable agriculture.Read moreRead less
Transition from phosphate mining to an economically, environmentally and socially viable agricultural industry on Christmas Island. The main industry on Christmas Island is mining of rock phosphate, but supplies will run out between 2025 and 2030. Consequently, there is an urgent and compelling need to develop other economic industries to support the resident island population by the time mining ceases. This project aims to utilise the project team’s extensive knowledge on legumes, nitrogen fixi ....Transition from phosphate mining to an economically, environmentally and socially viable agricultural industry on Christmas Island. The main industry on Christmas Island is mining of rock phosphate, but supplies will run out between 2025 and 2030. Consequently, there is an urgent and compelling need to develop other economic industries to support the resident island population by the time mining ceases. This project aims to utilise the project team’s extensive knowledge on legumes, nitrogen fixing bacteria and plant growth promoting bacteria to establish the basis for a viable agricultural industry on the Island. The project aims to provide: reliable and sustainable food sources for the local population; potential food export opportunities to southeast Asia; environmental benefits from the improvement of soils; and economic development of allied agricultural industries.Read moreRead less
Genomic and molecular characterisation of a novel Australian leishmania pathogen. Leishmaniasis is the second most serious protozoal disease after malaria. This project will help characterise the first Leishmania species identified in Australia providing molecular tools to monitor the pathogen and a detailed assessment of any potential risk to human health. Comparative analysis with more pathogenic species will help identify genes and mechanisms that determine the progression of human disease le ....Genomic and molecular characterisation of a novel Australian leishmania pathogen. Leishmaniasis is the second most serious protozoal disease after malaria. This project will help characterise the first Leishmania species identified in Australia providing molecular tools to monitor the pathogen and a detailed assessment of any potential risk to human health. Comparative analysis with more pathogenic species will help identify genes and mechanisms that determine the progression of human disease leading to the potential identification of new drug and vaccine targets. The methodologies and expertise developed will be used will be available to other research groups working on infectious diseases.Read moreRead less
Maintenance of Australia's soil resource - water, microbial diversity and function. Water availability is the major limitation to biological activity in semi-arid regions of Australia. We aim to quantify the dynamic relationships between organic matter cycling, microbial diversity and function in relation to seasonality, drought and land management. This will lead to a comprehensive understanding of how water mediates the diversity of soil organisms and their associated functions. This is of sp ....Maintenance of Australia's soil resource - water, microbial diversity and function. Water availability is the major limitation to biological activity in semi-arid regions of Australia. We aim to quantify the dynamic relationships between organic matter cycling, microbial diversity and function in relation to seasonality, drought and land management. This will lead to a comprehensive understanding of how water mediates the diversity of soil organisms and their associated functions. This is of specific relevance to maintaining biodiversity within the unique soil ecosystems that have developed under Australian climatic conditions.Read moreRead less
Quantifying the re-establishment of soil processes and the impact of fire management on rehabilitated bauxite mines in Western Australia. A major objective in the rehabilitation of bauxite mines in the jarrah forest of Western Australia is to return a self-sustaining ecosystem. Nutrient cycling and microbial diversity are key components of the functioning of the rehabilitated system; but little is know about the resilience of these processes in jarrah forests. We aim to quantify the dynamic rela ....Quantifying the re-establishment of soil processes and the impact of fire management on rehabilitated bauxite mines in Western Australia. A major objective in the rehabilitation of bauxite mines in the jarrah forest of Western Australia is to return a self-sustaining ecosystem. Nutrient cycling and microbial diversity are key components of the functioning of the rehabilitated system; but little is know about the resilience of these processes in jarrah forests. We aim to quantify the dynamic relationships between soil organic matter cycling, microbial diversity and function in relation to seasonality, rehabilitation age and fire. This is of specific relevance to restoring biodiversity within rehabilitated Jarrah forests and establishing a time frame for their return to state government management.Read moreRead less