Transcriptional control of antigenic variation in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Malaria is a major health concern for the Australian Defence Personnel recently deployed in East Timor, Afghanistan and the Solomon Islands and is endemic in our immediate neighbours Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Australia is susceptible to malaria and climate change could extend the mosquitos range to large population centres of Northern Australia causing malaria in Australia. This study would clarif ....Transcriptional control of antigenic variation in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Malaria is a major health concern for the Australian Defence Personnel recently deployed in East Timor, Afghanistan and the Solomon Islands and is endemic in our immediate neighbours Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Australia is susceptible to malaria and climate change could extend the mosquitos range to large population centres of Northern Australia causing malaria in Australia. This study would clarify how malaria parasites evade the host's immune response and help to protect Australia by providing drug targets for the control of this invasive disease.Read moreRead less
Global genetic regulation of carbon metabolism in filamentous fungi. Fungi are of great importance in medicine, agriculture and industry. They are used extensively for food, antibiotic and chemical production and, increasingly, for generating cheap substrates for bioethanol. However many are serious pathogens of plants and humans. Understanding how fungi control their metabolism is of fundamental importance for their more effective use or control. This project takes advantage of a fungus that is ....Global genetic regulation of carbon metabolism in filamentous fungi. Fungi are of great importance in medicine, agriculture and industry. They are used extensively for food, antibiotic and chemical production and, increasingly, for generating cheap substrates for bioethanol. However many are serious pathogens of plants and humans. Understanding how fungi control their metabolism is of fundamental importance for their more effective use or control. This project takes advantage of a fungus that is easily studied in the laboratory by advanced genetic techniques to identify the ways in which genes are turned on and off in response to changes in the nutrients available. By comparing DNA sequences the results are readily applied to fungi of economic importance.Read moreRead less
Identification of the targets of a novel metalloproteinase inhibitor used for the treatment of human head lice. Human head lice are difficult to control. This project examines a new type of ovicidal treatment that prevents louse eggs from hatching. The goal is to understand precisely how this treatment is ovicidal, so that even more effective products might be designed. Beyond the benefits of providing a safe and reliable treatment option for a troublesome pest, the development of this product ....Identification of the targets of a novel metalloproteinase inhibitor used for the treatment of human head lice. Human head lice are difficult to control. This project examines a new type of ovicidal treatment that prevents louse eggs from hatching. The goal is to understand precisely how this treatment is ovicidal, so that even more effective products might be designed. Beyond the benefits of providing a safe and reliable treatment option for a troublesome pest, the development of this product will be a significant step forward for the Australian pharmaceutical industry.Read moreRead less
Comprehensive transcriptional mapping of emergent division-linked cell fate decisions. This project proposal will lead to a better understanding of the molecular mechanics that drive certain cellular behaviors. To do this, we will use a frontier technology, RNA sequencing, which we think has the potential to revolutionise Australian science and make Australia an even more attractive place for young researchers. The community at large benefits from novel technologies as they create new opportunit ....Comprehensive transcriptional mapping of emergent division-linked cell fate decisions. This project proposal will lead to a better understanding of the molecular mechanics that drive certain cellular behaviors. To do this, we will use a frontier technology, RNA sequencing, which we think has the potential to revolutionise Australian science and make Australia an even more attractive place for young researchers. The community at large benefits from novel technologies as they create new opportunities for university research and attract young minds to the challenges of maths and science.Read moreRead less
Biochemical, Genomic and Phenomic Analysis of Gastric Parietal Cells from Wildtype and Mutant Mice. The interface between the cell and its environment is the cell membrane. Signals, nutrients, and ions all have to cross this barrier. In addition, the cells contain many specialized intracellular membranous compartments. We know little about the signals that direct the synthesis of these structures and determine their final composition and shape. This grant will utilize acid secretory cells in the ....Biochemical, Genomic and Phenomic Analysis of Gastric Parietal Cells from Wildtype and Mutant Mice. The interface between the cell and its environment is the cell membrane. Signals, nutrients, and ions all have to cross this barrier. In addition, the cells contain many specialized intracellular membranous compartments. We know little about the signals that direct the synthesis of these structures and determine their final composition and shape. This grant will utilize acid secretory cells in the stomach to examine these questions because they contain a very extensive membrane system. We will use a state-of-the-art genetic and cell biological technologies to manipulate and analyse these cells in a whole animal setting.Read moreRead less