Nucleolus targeting by negative strand RNA viruses. Negative strand viruses (NSVs) include diverse animal pathogens that represent significant threats to Australian livestock industries and access to export markets. The project aims to investigate the interface formed by NSVs with cellular nucleoli in order to determine roles in viral manipulation of cell biology during infection. This project hopes to address a major gap in knowledge in virology regarding the fundamental biology of NSVs, and is ....Nucleolus targeting by negative strand RNA viruses. Negative strand viruses (NSVs) include diverse animal pathogens that represent significant threats to Australian livestock industries and access to export markets. The project aims to investigate the interface formed by NSVs with cellular nucleoli in order to determine roles in viral manipulation of cell biology during infection. This project hopes to address a major gap in knowledge in virology regarding the fundamental biology of NSVs, and is expected to redefine our understanding of the virus-host interactions formed by these important pathogens. By determining the mechanisms of NSV-nucleolus interaction, the project plans to also provide important information for the development of new vaccines/therapeutics for livestock to combat NSVs that target nucleoli.Read moreRead less
REGULATION OF RYANODINE RECEPTOR CALCIUM CHANNELS BY THE CALCIUM BINDING PROTEIN CALSEQUESTRIN. The project is to examine the functional interaction between two proteins in skeletal muscle that are essential for Ca2+ regulation and hence contraction, respiration and movement in all vertebrate species. One protein, the ryanodine receptor, releases calcium from stores inside the muscle cell. The other protein, calsequestrin, binds and sequesters calcium ions. We have recently discovered that th ....REGULATION OF RYANODINE RECEPTOR CALCIUM CHANNELS BY THE CALCIUM BINDING PROTEIN CALSEQUESTRIN. The project is to examine the functional interaction between two proteins in skeletal muscle that are essential for Ca2+ regulation and hence contraction, respiration and movement in all vertebrate species. One protein, the ryanodine receptor, releases calcium from stores inside the muscle cell. The other protein, calsequestrin, binds and sequesters calcium ions. We have recently discovered that the proteins also bind to each other and that calsequestrin regulates Ca2+ release from the stores through the ryanodine receptor ion channel. This regulation is likely to be important in conserving store calcium during stress or fatigue.Read moreRead less
Engineering a nanovaccine for cost-effective influenza poultry vaccination. The project aims to develop a new single-dose, room temperature-stable nanovaccine for cost-effective influenza poultry vaccination. The nanovaccine is based on viral protein assembly modularised to present multiple copies of influenza antigen. Particularly, this project focuses on the engineering of this vaccine manufacturing and formulation for a room temperature-stable vaccine. The resulting engineered vaccine would p ....Engineering a nanovaccine for cost-effective influenza poultry vaccination. The project aims to develop a new single-dose, room temperature-stable nanovaccine for cost-effective influenza poultry vaccination. The nanovaccine is based on viral protein assembly modularised to present multiple copies of influenza antigen. Particularly, this project focuses on the engineering of this vaccine manufacturing and formulation for a room temperature-stable vaccine. The resulting engineered vaccine would play an important role in preventing avian influenza outbreaks, which are currently affecting both developed and developing countries, costing millions of dollars due to the death and culling of infected poultry.Read moreRead less
Reducing flood loss - A data-assimilation framework for improving forecasting capability in sparsely gauged regions. Floods are the biggest and severest natural disaster we face year after year. Furthermore, there has been little improvement in our capability to prevent flood damage over past decades. This research proposes a paradigm shift in the way flood forecasting, warning and evacuation proceeds, using 21st century technologies for collecting and incorporating flood related data into exist ....Reducing flood loss - A data-assimilation framework for improving forecasting capability in sparsely gauged regions. Floods are the biggest and severest natural disaster we face year after year. Furthermore, there has been little improvement in our capability to prevent flood damage over past decades. This research proposes a paradigm shift in the way flood forecasting, warning and evacuation proceeds, using 21st century technologies for collecting and incorporating flood related data into existing modelling platforms. It is argued that assimilating real-time satellite soil moisture data into flood models can increase accuracy manifold, even if the images are uncertain. The understanding gained in course of the proposed project has the potential to significantly reduce the damage caused year after year, especially in the data poor regions of the world.Read moreRead less
Preparation of Photo-Affinity Molecular Probes for the Identification of Gibberellin Receptors. Bioactive gibberellins affect numerous processes during plant growth and development, including seed germination, leaf expansion, stem elongation, flowering and fruit development. However, only very limited information is available regarding their mode of action at the molecular level. The central aim of the project is to prepare a family of photo-affinity molecular probes based on the gibberellin m ....Preparation of Photo-Affinity Molecular Probes for the Identification of Gibberellin Receptors. Bioactive gibberellins affect numerous processes during plant growth and development, including seed germination, leaf expansion, stem elongation, flowering and fruit development. However, only very limited information is available regarding their mode of action at the molecular level. The central aim of the project is to prepare a family of photo-affinity molecular probes based on the gibberellin molecule that will be designed to provide critical information on the location and structure of gibberellin receptors. Screening of the probes for potential effectiveness will be determined initially by the measurement of alpha-amylase produced in a standard barley aleurone assay.Read moreRead less
Biogenesis of secretory organelles and the function of adhesins secreted during the establishment of plant disease. Many agriculturally important crops and Australian native plants are susceptible to diseases caused by species of Phytophthora, a fungus-like organism that lives in the soil. Economic losses due to Phytophthora diseases are estimated to exceed $200 million per annum and the scale of environmental damage in natural ecosystems is huge. Currently, control of Phytophthora diseases la ....Biogenesis of secretory organelles and the function of adhesins secreted during the establishment of plant disease. Many agriculturally important crops and Australian native plants are susceptible to diseases caused by species of Phytophthora, a fungus-like organism that lives in the soil. Economic losses due to Phytophthora diseases are estimated to exceed $200 million per annum and the scale of environmental damage in natural ecosystems is huge. Currently, control of Phytophthora diseases largely depends on a very small number of effective chemicals and there is an imminent risk of the development of pathogen resistance. This research will increase our understanding of how Phytophthora spores infect host plants and will identify suitable targets for the development of novel, environmentally safe chemicals that inhibit disease development.Read moreRead less
Biosynthesis and functions of two phytotoxins in Septoria nodorum blotch. This project aims to investigate how a fungal plant pathogen makes and uses small bioactive molecules to facilitate infection. It will characterise the function of the genes and enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of a light-activated phytotoxic molecule and a potential anti-plant defence molecule found in the pathogenic wheat fungus Parastagonospora nodorum, and investigate their contribution to disease development. Expe ....Biosynthesis and functions of two phytotoxins in Septoria nodorum blotch. This project aims to investigate how a fungal plant pathogen makes and uses small bioactive molecules to facilitate infection. It will characterise the function of the genes and enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of a light-activated phytotoxic molecule and a potential anti-plant defence molecule found in the pathogenic wheat fungus Parastagonospora nodorum, and investigate their contribution to disease development. Expected outcomes include better understanding of plant-microbe interactions, disease management strategies, technologies for identifying biosynthetic pathways in other fungi, and enzyme technology for synthesising molecules. This could lead to new herbicides, biopesticides and drugs.Read moreRead less
Targeting of lipid transfer proteins and other secreted plant defence proteins by pathogen effectors. Australia depends on plant products for much of its export income and plant diseases are a continual threat to these earnings. New insights into plant disease resistance mechanisms will provide new opportunities to find solutions to disease problems. Often this involves transfer of knowledge gained in simple model plant systems to more complicated crop plant systems. Work on the role of lipid tr ....Targeting of lipid transfer proteins and other secreted plant defence proteins by pathogen effectors. Australia depends on plant products for much of its export income and plant diseases are a continual threat to these earnings. New insights into plant disease resistance mechanisms will provide new opportunities to find solutions to disease problems. Often this involves transfer of knowledge gained in simple model plant systems to more complicated crop plant systems. Work on the role of lipid transfer proteins in the tomato model system will advance our knowledge of fundamental disease and disease resistance processes and ultimately enable technological innovations to improve disease resistance, reduce pesticide usage and lower crop production costs.Read moreRead less
The global history of organic farming. The first global history of the organic farming movement explains how organic farming changed land-use, government policy and consumer habits. Understanding how this scientific and cultural movement arose, where it succeeded and where it failed, helps to better formulate policy that promotes sustainable agriculture, human health and climate.
Selective secretion: a novel mechanism of protein trafficking and its role in Phytophthora pathogenicity. Agriculturally important crops and over 3,000 Australian native plants are susceptible to diseases caused by Phytophthora, fungus-like pathogens that live in the soil. Economic losses exceed $200m pa and natural ecosystems are being destroyed on a vast scale. Phytophthora control depends upon a limited number of chemical inhibitors to which resistance has already emerged. New control stra ....Selective secretion: a novel mechanism of protein trafficking and its role in Phytophthora pathogenicity. Agriculturally important crops and over 3,000 Australian native plants are susceptible to diseases caused by Phytophthora, fungus-like pathogens that live in the soil. Economic losses exceed $200m pa and natural ecosystems are being destroyed on a vast scale. Phytophthora control depends upon a limited number of chemical inhibitors to which resistance has already emerged. New control strategies are urgently needed. This research will investigate a novel mechanism for release of infection material recently discovered in Phytophthora cells, and will increase our understanding of how Phytophthora infects host plants, providing vital information required for the development of new, environmentally-safe inhibitors. Read moreRead less