Coupling The Cell Cortex To Membranes: Structural Basis For The Activation And Control Of Ezrin
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$587,548.00
Summary
Cells are dynamic: they change shape, communicate with each other and import/export signalling molecules. These dynamic processes are controlled via the interaction of the cell membrane with the underlying actin cytoskeleton and they are important for health, for example, they are critical for proper immune cell function. The goal of this project in to unravel the control of membrane dynamics by defining the interactions between the cell membrane and the proteins: ezrin and RhoA.
Structural Studies On The Conjugative Apparatus Of The Gram-positive Bacteria, Clostridium Perfringens.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$287,321.00
Summary
Antibiotic resistance is a worldwide health problem. It has severely reduced the effectiveness of many antibiotics driving up the health care costs and death rates associated with bacterial infections. This project aims to investigate how antibiotic resistance determinants are transferred in the pathogenic bacteria, Clostridium perfringens. By understanding the mechanism of antibiotic resistance transfer in bacteria we will be better armed to combat antibiotic resistance.
Structural Biology Of Cytokine Receptor Signalling
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,988,996.00
Summary
This Program will be focused on a group of protein hormones and their receptors, implicated in blood cell cancers and inflammatory diseases and for which current treatments are inadequate. We will determine the mechanism of receptor activation and in particular will seek to link different forms of receptor assembly to different functions. This information will help us develop new drugs with more specificity for certain hormone functions and thus less side-effects.
Structural And Functional Characterisation Of Human Neurotransmitter Inhibitor Producing Enzymes Glutamate Decarboxylase
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$35,085.00
Summary
Glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) produces the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, GABA. GAD dysfunction is associated with mental diseases including epilepsy and schizophrenia. We aim to understand the functional role of structural elements of GAD via x-ray crystallography and kinetic studies. We also aim to produce a high throughput GAD enzyme assay to screen compounds that can modulate GAD activity, which could be potential therapeutic targets for related disease.
Structural And Functional Studies On Leptospiral Antigens Central To Pathogenesis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$287,321.00
Summary
Leptospirosis, also known as Weil's disease and canefield fever, is a potentially fatal disease caused by infection with the bacteria Leptospira. Leptospira is able to infect a broad range of animals including livestock and humans. Human infection typically occurs through contact with water or vegetation that has been exposed to the urine of an infected animal. This project focuses on a key step in the bacterial infection in trying to understand how these bacteria adhere to human cells.