Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE140100075
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$580,000.00
Summary
Next Generation Small Angle X-Ray Scattering Facility. Next generation small angle X-ray scattering facility: The ability to determine the nanostructure of bulk materials is of utmost importance in an array of cutting-edge research fields. A state-of-the-art small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) facility will address this for a wide range of materials covering a diverse range of research topics such as energy storage materials, catalytic species, drug delivery systems, protein structures, biologic ....Next Generation Small Angle X-Ray Scattering Facility. Next generation small angle X-ray scattering facility: The ability to determine the nanostructure of bulk materials is of utmost importance in an array of cutting-edge research fields. A state-of-the-art small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) facility will address this for a wide range of materials covering a diverse range of research topics such as energy storage materials, catalytic species, drug delivery systems, protein structures, biological membranes, medical diagnostics and therapy, magnetic nanosystems, polymers, novel technologies for the clean utilisation of biomass, and minerals processing. The facility will underpin a range of current and planned multidisciplinary research programs leading to vital nanostructural information and innovative research solutions.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE210100042
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$970,000.00
Summary
Cryo-Focused Ion Beam Facility for soft and hard materials. The multipurpose Cryo-Focused Ion beam scanning electron microscope (Cryo-FIB) Facility aims to provide revolutionary insights into beam sensitive materials and biological molecules at high magnification. This instrument will be a unique configuration and the most advanced of its kind in Australia. It will be fitted with a gallium ion source, cryo-stage, cryo-lift out and cryo-transfer suite and capable of imaging and compositional anal ....Cryo-Focused Ion Beam Facility for soft and hard materials. The multipurpose Cryo-Focused Ion beam scanning electron microscope (Cryo-FIB) Facility aims to provide revolutionary insights into beam sensitive materials and biological molecules at high magnification. This instrument will be a unique configuration and the most advanced of its kind in Australia. It will be fitted with a gallium ion source, cryo-stage, cryo-lift out and cryo-transfer suite and capable of imaging and compositional analysis in two- and three-dimensions and preparing samples for atomic-scale analyses with complementary cryo-microscopies. This equipment aims to facilitate innovative research in the fields of energy materials, advanced manufacturing, nanomaterials and in situ cell and structural biology.Read moreRead less
Unravelling the structural complexity of ancient Australian arthropod venoms. Animal venoms contain a complex mix of molecules that have evolved over millions of years to target various biological processes. Their exquisite specificity and potent activity has made them an attractive source for development as therapeutic drugs with fewer side effects or as environmentally friendly insecticides. This project aims to for the first time explore the three-dimensional structure of all known classes of ....Unravelling the structural complexity of ancient Australian arthropod venoms. Animal venoms contain a complex mix of molecules that have evolved over millions of years to target various biological processes. Their exquisite specificity and potent activity has made them an attractive source for development as therapeutic drugs with fewer side effects or as environmentally friendly insecticides. This project aims to for the first time explore the three-dimensional structure of all known classes of toxins in the venom of two ancient Australian arthropods (spiders and centipedes). This will provide a comprehensive overview of these venoms and provide opportunities in engineering new classes of venom based drugs and insecticides. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE210100144
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,225,000.00
Summary
High Performance Single Crystal X-ray Diffraction Facility. This project aims to establish an advanced multidisciplinary facility for the structural characterisation of chemical and biological molecules. Through providing a broad suite of advanced capabilities, including measurement under a range of conditions and rapid crystal screening, the project expects to greatly accelerate research efforts across a wide spectrum of the molecular sciences. Expected outcomes include detailed understandings ....High Performance Single Crystal X-ray Diffraction Facility. This project aims to establish an advanced multidisciplinary facility for the structural characterisation of chemical and biological molecules. Through providing a broad suite of advanced capabilities, including measurement under a range of conditions and rapid crystal screening, the project expects to greatly accelerate research efforts across a wide spectrum of the molecular sciences. Expected outcomes include detailed understandings of the structures and functions of an array of scientifically and technologically important systems, spanning materials, proteins and pharmaceuticals. This should provide significant benefits, both in advancing the understanding of these systems and in spurring commercial development and application.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220101221
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$453,614.00
Summary
Revealing bat antibody recognition mechanism against bat-borne viruses. Bats act as asymptomic reservoir hosts for numerous zoonotic viruses that are lethal in humans, indicating that the bat immune system can control these viruses. However, little is known about bat immunity including how bat antibodies recognise bat-borne viruses. This project aims to study bat anti-viral antibodies by utilising innovative protein engineering, cutting-edge cryo-EM technology and single-cell isolation and seque ....Revealing bat antibody recognition mechanism against bat-borne viruses. Bats act as asymptomic reservoir hosts for numerous zoonotic viruses that are lethal in humans, indicating that the bat immune system can control these viruses. However, little is known about bat immunity including how bat antibodies recognise bat-borne viruses. This project aims to study bat anti-viral antibodies by utilising innovative protein engineering, cutting-edge cryo-EM technology and single-cell isolation and sequencing. The project seeks to uncover bat-borne zoonotic virus glycoprotein architecture and reveal how bat antibodies function to inhibit viral infection. Expected outcomes will be new insight and tools to combat emerging and yet to emerge pathogens, enabling pandemic preparedness and increasing global biosecurity.
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Automated structural analysis of proteins by nuclear magnetic resonance (ASAP-NMR): a leap forward in structural studies of proteins using NMR spectroscopy. Proteins form the machinery that makes life possible, and this research will revolutionise study of their three-dimensional structure by making the process faster and cheaper. This approach will be applied to study proteins isolated from animal venoms in order to identify and develop novel pharmaceuticals and bio-insecticides.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE210100166
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$626,800.00
Summary
High-throughput camera system for biological cryo-electron microscopy. Visualising the structure of biological macromolecules such as proteins and other subcellular components is critical to understand the fundamentals of life. The integration of the Gatan K3 high-throughput camera system with one of the most advanced cryo-electron microscopy facilities in Australia and the Southern Hemisphere will transform the capacity of Australian researchers to study the world around us at the molecular det ....High-throughput camera system for biological cryo-electron microscopy. Visualising the structure of biological macromolecules such as proteins and other subcellular components is critical to understand the fundamentals of life. The integration of the Gatan K3 high-throughput camera system with one of the most advanced cryo-electron microscopy facilities in Australia and the Southern Hemisphere will transform the capacity of Australian researchers to study the world around us at the molecular detail needed to advance innovative research. The addition of this equipment to the University of Wollongong's research facility Molecular Horizons will result in a step change in the areas of bionanotechnology, advanced manufacturing, diagnostics, and many other areas at the interface of biology, chemistry and physics.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE210100163
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$860,365.00
Summary
Structure Determination Pipeline Capabilities for South Australia. This project aims to complete a high-throughput, automated pipeline for biomolecule crystallisation and provide enhanced X-ray structure determination capabilities for all sample types. This is critical because X-ray crystallography remains the primary technique for achieving molecular level insights to help solve cutting-edge problems in life, materials, chemical, earth and agricultural sciences. The diverse researcher community ....Structure Determination Pipeline Capabilities for South Australia. This project aims to complete a high-throughput, automated pipeline for biomolecule crystallisation and provide enhanced X-ray structure determination capabilities for all sample types. This is critical because X-ray crystallography remains the primary technique for achieving molecular level insights to help solve cutting-edge problems in life, materials, chemical, earth and agricultural sciences. The diverse researcher community in South Australia will benefit from a more rapid structure determination pipeline from molecular sample to structure. The infrastructure will drive research findings in energy and resources, food, soil and water security, advanced manufacturing and life sciences and lead to economic and technological impacts.Read moreRead less
Elucidation of structure-function relationships in biological systems utilising advanced electron spin resonance. The human growth hormone receptor and mammalian P450 enzymes are implicated in numerous human disorders and the key to treatment is the rational design and delivery of drugs. This project will require a comprehensive understanding of the biological structure-function relationship which we will acquire using high-resolution electron spin resonance spectroscopy.
A new explanation for the hydrophobic effect. The hydrophobic effect is a fundamental natural phenomenon: why do oil and water spontaneously separate and not mix? The project team proposes a new and novel explanation for this effect, based on known properties of water. The project team's theory explains hydrophobic effects in physics, chemistry and biology.