Developing a competitive H2 production suystem based on engineered cells of green algae. The depletion of oil reserves and the effects of global warming make the development of new, clean, sustainable fuel production systems critically important. This frontier technology has the ability to drive solar-powered hydrogen production from water. Extending the system to marine algal cells provides the possibility of coupling clean fuel production with water purification as the product of H2 combustion ....Developing a competitive H2 production suystem based on engineered cells of green algae. The depletion of oil reserves and the effects of global warming make the development of new, clean, sustainable fuel production systems critically important. This frontier technology has the ability to drive solar-powered hydrogen production from water. Extending the system to marine algal cells provides the possibility of coupling clean fuel production with water purification as the product of H2 combustion is pure water. We have already engineered green algae that produce H2 from H2O at a rate ~1000% higher than the Wild-type and through this project will incorporate further improvements with the aim of developing a competitive H2 production system.Read moreRead less
An Integrated Biotechnological Process for Production of Lactic Acid from Carbohydrate-Waste Streams by Rhizopus sp. Lactic acid is the most widely occurring multifunctional organic acid. It has enormous applications in food and food-related industries, and great potential use for production of biodegradable and biocompatible polylactate polymers. The aim of this research is to develop an innovative biotechnological process, incorporating simultaneous saccharification and fermentation, which int ....An Integrated Biotechnological Process for Production of Lactic Acid from Carbohydrate-Waste Streams by Rhizopus sp. Lactic acid is the most widely occurring multifunctional organic acid. It has enormous applications in food and food-related industries, and great potential use for production of biodegradable and biocompatible polylactate polymers. The aim of this research is to develop an innovative biotechnological process, incorporating simultaneous saccharification and fermentation, which integrates the production of lactic acid with the treatment of high strength food industry ?effluent? streams - carbohydrate waste streams. The proposed SSF process will cultivate an identified fungal Rhizopus sp strain on the waste streams, as production substrates, leading to an environmentally friendly and economically sustainable new technology for the food industry.Read moreRead less
Ex vivo production of neutrophils. Relentless infections frequently occur in patients receiving intensive chemotherapy treatment. Chemotherapy is toxic to the bone marrow where blood cells are produced. A low white blood cell count and in particular a low neutrophil count is linked with infection in these patients. Unlike red cells and platelets, neutrophils are difficult to collect from blood donors and hence are not routinely available. In this project, we will develop a practical, cost effic ....Ex vivo production of neutrophils. Relentless infections frequently occur in patients receiving intensive chemotherapy treatment. Chemotherapy is toxic to the bone marrow where blood cells are produced. A low white blood cell count and in particular a low neutrophil count is linked with infection in these patients. Unlike red cells and platelets, neutrophils are difficult to collect from blood donors and hence are not routinely available. In this project, we will develop a practical, cost efficient process for the production of neutrophils from cord blood. Transfusion of these neutrophils should reduce the chance of patients suffering serious infection, allow them to recover faster from their chemotherapy, and reduce the need for admission to intensive care.Read moreRead less
EX VIVO PRODUCTION OF MATURE RED BLOOD CELLS FOR TRANSFUSION. This project aims to establish a practical, cost efficient biotechnology platform for the expansion and maturation of blood stem cells to produce blood transfusion products. Red blood cell production will be used as the prototype model. It is envisaged that blood bioreactors will initially supplement and ultimately replace the current blood donor based process, thus overcoming the on-going donor recruitment, retention and safety issue ....EX VIVO PRODUCTION OF MATURE RED BLOOD CELLS FOR TRANSFUSION. This project aims to establish a practical, cost efficient biotechnology platform for the expansion and maturation of blood stem cells to produce blood transfusion products. Red blood cell production will be used as the prototype model. It is envisaged that blood bioreactors will initially supplement and ultimately replace the current blood donor based process, thus overcoming the on-going donor recruitment, retention and safety issues associated with collection of single units of blood. This project is focused on providing solutions to two key technical and economical challenges: (a) achieving full maturation of red blood cells and (b) achieving at least a 100-fold intensification of the expansion and maturation process through perfusion.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354787
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
Research Network for Biotechnological and Environmental Applications of Microalgae (BEAM). The network will facilitate inderdisciplinary and collaborative research into the limitations on microalgal growth leading to the development of new, commercial-scale microalgae culture systems, the production of fine chemicals, bioactive compounds and renewable fuels (hydrogen), as well as environmental applications such as monitoring the physiological state of phytoplankton in the environment, CO2 biorem ....Research Network for Biotechnological and Environmental Applications of Microalgae (BEAM). The network will facilitate inderdisciplinary and collaborative research into the limitations on microalgal growth leading to the development of new, commercial-scale microalgae culture systems, the production of fine chemicals, bioactive compounds and renewable fuels (hydrogen), as well as environmental applications such as monitoring the physiological state of phytoplankton in the environment, CO2 bioremediation and algal/bacterial systems for the bioremediation of contaminated soils. This will be achieved by applying research on photosynthetic light utilisation efficiency and carbon fixation, chlorophyll fluorescence, biochemistry of secondary metabolites, molecular biology and photobioreactor design and engineering, informed by an understanding of the ecology of these algae.Read moreRead less
Enhancing biopharmaceuticals: A disruptive bioseparation resin technology. This project aims to develop an innovative and disruptive platform technology for designing and manufacturing tailor-made high-performance bioseparation resins to enhance biopharmaceuticals manufacturing. Bacterial cell factories will be developed to enable biotechnological production of innovative polyester bead-based bioseparation resins, which will revolutionise manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals. Expected outcomes o ....Enhancing biopharmaceuticals: A disruptive bioseparation resin technology. This project aims to develop an innovative and disruptive platform technology for designing and manufacturing tailor-made high-performance bioseparation resins to enhance biopharmaceuticals manufacturing. Bacterial cell factories will be developed to enable biotechnological production of innovative polyester bead-based bioseparation resins, which will revolutionise manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals. Expected outcomes of this project are cost-effective and strongly enhanced approaches for biopharmaceuticals recovery, thereby providing significant benefits to accelerate research and development in early stage discovery and manufacture of biologics, therapeutic proteins and vaccines.Read moreRead less
Towards the development of a novel live vaccine for the control of Glässer's disease (Haemophilus parasuis), a globally significant respiratory disease of swine. Respiratory diseases are common in intensively housed pigs, costing the Australian industry millions of dollars in lost production annually. Glässer's is a highly contagious and often fatal respiratory disease of pigs. Antibiotic therapy is expensive and often results in the emergence of antibiotic resistant organisms. There is also a t ....Towards the development of a novel live vaccine for the control of Glässer's disease (Haemophilus parasuis), a globally significant respiratory disease of swine. Respiratory diseases are common in intensively housed pigs, costing the Australian industry millions of dollars in lost production annually. Glässer's is a highly contagious and often fatal respiratory disease of pigs. Antibiotic therapy is expensive and often results in the emergence of antibiotic resistant organisms. There is also a trend to move away from the use of antibiotics in food production animals. Current vaccines are based on inactivated preparations and do not offer a high level of immune protection. Therefore, there is a great need worldwide for a live vaccine for the effective control of Glässer's disease.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354630
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$20,000.00
Summary
Fluorescence Applications in Biotechnology and Life Sciences. The Network in Fluorescence applications in biotechnology and life sciences will coordinate a research program relating to applications of fluorescence whose proper resolution requires a high degree of interaction between biology, physics, chemistry, bioengineering and medicine. These would be applied to industrially relevant problems in areas such as public health, biotechnology, safety of foods, chemical biology and environmental mo ....Fluorescence Applications in Biotechnology and Life Sciences. The Network in Fluorescence applications in biotechnology and life sciences will coordinate a research program relating to applications of fluorescence whose proper resolution requires a high degree of interaction between biology, physics, chemistry, bioengineering and medicine. These would be applied to industrially relevant problems in areas such as public health, biotechnology, safety of foods, chemical biology and environmental monitoring. Approaches such as highly selective fluorescent labelling of targets using appropriate immunological and molecular techniques and purpose-engineered fluorochromes accompanied by the development of specialised instrumentation will capitalise on the multi-disciplinary research strengths in Australia and lead towards tangible industrial outcomes.
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ARC/NHMRC Research Network Fluorescence Applications in Biotechnology and Life Sciences. This Network will concentrate Australian research in new applications of fluorescence to biological systems to solve significant problems in health diagnostics, biotechnology and the environment. The scientific goals identified by the Network such as highly selective fluorescent labelling and purpose-engineered fluorochromes will be accompanied by the development of specialised instrumentation. These resear ....ARC/NHMRC Research Network Fluorescence Applications in Biotechnology and Life Sciences. This Network will concentrate Australian research in new applications of fluorescence to biological systems to solve significant problems in health diagnostics, biotechnology and the environment. The scientific goals identified by the Network such as highly selective fluorescent labelling and purpose-engineered fluorochromes will be accompanied by the development of specialised instrumentation. These research directions pursued by strong multi-disciplinary teams spanning biology, chemistry, physics, bioengineering and medicine will benefit from the support of the Network programs. Through its focus on academic - industry collaboration the Network will also facilitate development of basic scientific discoveries into commercial outcomes.Read moreRead less
Synthetic genes as reference standards for biology and biomanufacture. Reference standards are needed to improve the measurement of biology and the reliability of biomanufacturing processes. This project aims to engineer synthetic genes capable of acting as reference standards for DNA, RNA and protein. The synthetic genes can be transcribed into mRNA standards, and translated into protein standards, and be further integrated into living cells to measure internal cellular processes.
The outcomes ....Synthetic genes as reference standards for biology and biomanufacture. Reference standards are needed to improve the measurement of biology and the reliability of biomanufacturing processes. This project aims to engineer synthetic genes capable of acting as reference standards for DNA, RNA and protein. The synthetic genes can be transcribed into mRNA standards, and translated into protein standards, and be further integrated into living cells to measure internal cellular processes.
The outcomes include a unified understanding of gene expression and more accurate next-generation sequencing and mass-spectrophotometry technologies. The synthetic genes also allow standardisation and optimisation of biomanufacturing processes that will produce mRNA and biologics products at a higher purity and lower cost.Read moreRead less