Genetic modification and lyophilisation of microorganisms for the generation of bacteriological internal quality controls. The development of internal quality control micro-organisms in precise numbers is necessary for the evolution of standard methodology in microbiology, which until now, remains obsolete, because it relies on inaccurate methods to produce quantitative and qualitative results. The research described here is largely based on molecular techniques to genetically tag micro-organism ....Genetic modification and lyophilisation of microorganisms for the generation of bacteriological internal quality controls. The development of internal quality control micro-organisms in precise numbers is necessary for the evolution of standard methodology in microbiology, which until now, remains obsolete, because it relies on inaccurate methods to produce quantitative and qualitative results. The research described here is largely based on molecular techniques to genetically tag micro-organisms with fluorescent proteins and pigment producing enzymes, and on the manipulation of growth and storage conditions to maximize the survival of micro-organisms during lyophilisation. Successful completion and application of the proposed project through existing patents owned by BTF, will revolutionise the way microbiological tests are performed worldwide.Read moreRead less
Evolving enzymes to harness the clean energy reserves of nature. We want to improve enzymes that are used by nature to harness huge amounts of energy - the energy present in glucose, one of the most abundant materials in the biosphere. The enzymes will be evolved to efficiently produce biological power in a practically useable form rather than for the growth of the organisms from which they originated. We will use this energy to drive the synthesis of chemicals of practical value, truly green ch ....Evolving enzymes to harness the clean energy reserves of nature. We want to improve enzymes that are used by nature to harness huge amounts of energy - the energy present in glucose, one of the most abundant materials in the biosphere. The enzymes will be evolved to efficiently produce biological power in a practically useable form rather than for the growth of the organisms from which they originated. We will use this energy to drive the synthesis of chemicals of practical value, truly green chemistry. We also seek to answer questions such as: how do proteins evolve, how do enzymes work and how can biochemical pathways be optimised for industrial processes? This information will be of fundamental benefit for the use of enzymes in green chemistry, providing cleaner ways to produce important chemicals. Read moreRead less
Disulfide Bonds and Protein Folding. This work will advance our understanding of protein folding, which has important implications in biotechnology, impacting on commercial production of recombinant proteins (for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications) and on 1000s of research laboratories worldwide that use recombinant technologies. This research could also contribute to medicine (new treatments for diseases of protein misfolding like Alzheimer's), and to membrane protein structural biology ....Disulfide Bonds and Protein Folding. This work will advance our understanding of protein folding, which has important implications in biotechnology, impacting on commercial production of recombinant proteins (for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications) and on 1000s of research laboratories worldwide that use recombinant technologies. This research could also contribute to medicine (new treatments for diseases of protein misfolding like Alzheimer's), and to membrane protein structural biology. This work could yield economic benefits in the long-term through patentable outcomes and will benefit the community by producing high impact research papers, providing training to Australians and forging links with renowned international scientists.Read moreRead less
Bacterial monooxygenases as new biocatalysts. Using enzymes for synthesis of new pharmaceuticals is of increasing importance. Monooxygenases are particularly interesting because of their capacity to perform chemically difficult reactions thus increasing potential to make new pharmaceuticals. We have shown that an enormous pool of diverse and novel monooxygenases exists in naturally occurring bacteria. These enzymes are naturally important in pollutant degradation and regulating the emissions of ....Bacterial monooxygenases as new biocatalysts. Using enzymes for synthesis of new pharmaceuticals is of increasing importance. Monooxygenases are particularly interesting because of their capacity to perform chemically difficult reactions thus increasing potential to make new pharmaceuticals. We have shown that an enormous pool of diverse and novel monooxygenases exists in naturally occurring bacteria. These enzymes are naturally important in pollutant degradation and regulating the emissions of greenhouse gases. We will develop these enzymes for biotechnology by characterizing structural features that influence catalytic properties relevant to challenges in pharmaceutical synthesis. The outcomes will enable their engineering for specific applications in synthesis of new drugs.Read moreRead less
Functionally characterizing mammalian microRNAs and mRNA interactions controlling cell division. This project addresses some of the most burning issues in molecular biology and genetic research, and the results will be widely applicable to a broad range of fields, including biotechnology, animal breeding, agricultural production, genetic engineering, medical science, and computational biology. By understanding the regulatory potential of microRNA molecules, we will understand more about species ....Functionally characterizing mammalian microRNAs and mRNA interactions controlling cell division. This project addresses some of the most burning issues in molecular biology and genetic research, and the results will be widely applicable to a broad range of fields, including biotechnology, animal breeding, agricultural production, genetic engineering, medical science, and computational biology. By understanding the regulatory potential of microRNA molecules, we will understand more about species diversity, regulatory networks, and plant and animal development. The early adoption of multi-gigabase next-generation sequencing technology in Australia provides rare and exciting opportunity to lead the world in genome-scale research, and to ensure that Australia has the necessary skill base to remain internationally competitive in this field.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0347727
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$400,000.00
Summary
Computational infrastructure for high-throughput genome bioinformatics. We propose a high-performance computing and web facility for genome bioinformatics. It will provide a common software development environment in support of molecular biosciences, systems biology and complex systems modelling at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience at University of Queensland, and at Queensland University of Technology. The platform will support Australia's first genome-scale bioinformatics research website ....Computational infrastructure for high-throughput genome bioinformatics. We propose a high-performance computing and web facility for genome bioinformatics. It will provide a common software development environment in support of molecular biosciences, systems biology and complex systems modelling at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience at University of Queensland, and at Queensland University of Technology. The platform will support Australia's first genome-scale bioinformatics research website, with unique software and mirrors of the IBM Biological Pattern Discovery, UC San Diego MEME/MetaMEME/MAST, and NGI comparative genomics websites. Australian/NZ researchers will access the facility at no cost for high-throughput use of unique software, website mirrors and other important tools for genome bioinformatics.Read moreRead less
Manipulation of transcription factors that control plant architecture. This project will provide fundamental knowledge about how plant body plans are constructed and elaborated. In particular this proposal could influence agriculture in two manners. First, we will examine the ability to control infestations of parasitic plants in the field using the expression of small RNA molecules and second, we will determine whether manipulation of expression of specific transcription factors can alter the ....Manipulation of transcription factors that control plant architecture. This project will provide fundamental knowledge about how plant body plans are constructed and elaborated. In particular this proposal could influence agriculture in two manners. First, we will examine the ability to control infestations of parasitic plants in the field using the expression of small RNA molecules and second, we will determine whether manipulation of expression of specific transcription factors can alter the characteristics of secondary growth plants.Read moreRead less
Optimising vascularisation of tissue engineering chambers for construction of robust tissues. We have produced a device that has commercial application in several fields of basic science, biotechnology and bioengineering. When its full potential is achieved, our innovative organ chamber will strengthen Australia's standing in the biotechnology field and enrich specific applications. The knowledge gained from understanding the growth of blood vessels will benefit several fields including chemical ....Optimising vascularisation of tissue engineering chambers for construction of robust tissues. We have produced a device that has commercial application in several fields of basic science, biotechnology and bioengineering. When its full potential is achieved, our innovative organ chamber will strengthen Australia's standing in the biotechnology field and enrich specific applications. The knowledge gained from understanding the growth of blood vessels will benefit several fields including chemical bioengineering, tissue engineering and repair, polymer chemistry, therapeutics in many areas (like cancer, heart disease, diabetes), hormone manufacture for agricultural, veterinary and medical purposes and cosmetics manufacture. The project will train several post-doctoral fellows and PhD students in this cutting edge field of researchRead moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0453608
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$579,230.00
Summary
Multifunctional confocal laser scanning microscope with time resolved and two photon imaging and fluorescence correlation capabilities. We seek to establish an Australian first confocal laser scanning microscope with time resolved imaging and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy capabilities. Its advantages include ultrasensitive detection of weak fluorescent emissions against high autofluorescent background by using fluorescence lifetime signatures, with over three orders of magnitude discrimi ....Multifunctional confocal laser scanning microscope with time resolved and two photon imaging and fluorescence correlation capabilities. We seek to establish an Australian first confocal laser scanning microscope with time resolved imaging and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy capabilities. Its advantages include ultrasensitive detection of weak fluorescent emissions against high autofluorescent background by using fluorescence lifetime signatures, with over three orders of magnitude discrimination improvement. The system will also be able to monitor binding of single molecules. These techniques will open new and exciting avenues for interdisciplinary research at the frontier between biological and physical sciences. The microscope will operate within an existing multi-user Optical Characterisation Facility supporting research of an established network of scientists in the Sydney area.Read moreRead less
Higher cognition and hemispheric specialization in an avian species: referential and intentional communication. We will discover whether alarm calls of Australian magpies, noted for their outstanding range of vocalisations, are referential (signalling predator type and location) and intentional (vocalised in specific contexts). Such complex communication , once thought to be unique to humans, has been found in some mammals and just one avian species, the domestic chick. This project will be the ....Higher cognition and hemispheric specialization in an avian species: referential and intentional communication. We will discover whether alarm calls of Australian magpies, noted for their outstanding range of vocalisations, are referential (signalling predator type and location) and intentional (vocalised in specific contexts). Such complex communication , once thought to be unique to humans, has been found in some mammals and just one avian species, the domestic chick. This project will be the first such investigation of an avian species in its natural habitat. This is important also because bird and mammalian brains are organised differently and birds offer a unique opportunity to discover whether one hemisphere is specialised for this purpose.Read moreRead less