Skeletal endocrine signalling in the regulation of glucose metabolism. This project seeks to explore a highly novel and interesting recent development in bone biology: the fact that the skeleton is a central regulator of glucose metabolism. Currently, the mechanisms involved in this process remain unclear. mTORC1 has been identified as a signalling pathway in bone cells that modulates glucose metabolism. This project plans to selectively delete mTORC1 in the bone cells of mice to examine how ske ....Skeletal endocrine signalling in the regulation of glucose metabolism. This project seeks to explore a highly novel and interesting recent development in bone biology: the fact that the skeleton is a central regulator of glucose metabolism. Currently, the mechanisms involved in this process remain unclear. mTORC1 has been identified as a signalling pathway in bone cells that modulates glucose metabolism. This project plans to selectively delete mTORC1 in the bone cells of mice to examine how skeletal mTORC1 signalling regulates glucose metabolism, and identify novel pathways and circulating factors involved in this process. These studies may provide greater understanding of the basic biology of glucose metabolism, and may have applications in animal husbandry and the future management of diabetes.Read moreRead less
Regulation of autophagy dependent cell and tissue deletion. This project aims to elucidate novel mechanisms that regulate autophagy-depdendent cell death during animal development. It will combine the power of Drosophila genetics with multidisciplinary approaches, such as proteomics, bioinformatics and cell biology. Given the conserved nature of autophagy the oucomes will provide highly topical and exciting new knowledge of broad biological significance. The project will help establishing inter ....Regulation of autophagy dependent cell and tissue deletion. This project aims to elucidate novel mechanisms that regulate autophagy-depdendent cell death during animal development. It will combine the power of Drosophila genetics with multidisciplinary approaches, such as proteomics, bioinformatics and cell biology. Given the conserved nature of autophagy the oucomes will provide highly topical and exciting new knowledge of broad biological significance. The project will help establishing international collaborations, enhancing Australia’s competitiveness and reputation in an important area of research, and provide training of HDR students in skills across a range of areas. In the long-term the research findings may translate into improved agriculture, food production and human health outcomes.Read moreRead less
Immunisation to protect against transmissible cancers in Tasmanian devils. This project aims to identify the immune escape mechanisms that the transmissible cancers, Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) use to avoid being killed by the immune system. Since the discovery of the second transmissible cancer (DFT2) mystery surrounds whether the devils immune system can respond to this cancer, hence this project will investigate the immune response to DFT2. The final aims are to develop a vaccine with ....Immunisation to protect against transmissible cancers in Tasmanian devils. This project aims to identify the immune escape mechanisms that the transmissible cancers, Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) use to avoid being killed by the immune system. Since the discovery of the second transmissible cancer (DFT2) mystery surrounds whether the devils immune system can respond to this cancer, hence this project will investigate the immune response to DFT2. The final aims are to develop a vaccine with the potential to protect healthy devils and cure devils with DFTD.Read moreRead less
Engineered plant receptors as orthogonal neuronal switches. This project aims to develop synthetic biology methods to study brain function by utilising engineered plant receptors. This project will expand our ability to manipulate nerve cell function with high specificity and without side effects in freely behaving animals. Plant receptors will be developed into molecular tools in an iterative process that improves key properties using rational protein design. Expected outcomes include innovativ ....Engineered plant receptors as orthogonal neuronal switches. This project aims to develop synthetic biology methods to study brain function by utilising engineered plant receptors. This project will expand our ability to manipulate nerve cell function with high specificity and without side effects in freely behaving animals. Plant receptors will be developed into molecular tools in an iterative process that improves key properties using rational protein design. Expected outcomes include innovative and broadly-applicable neuroscience methods and an understanding of receptors involved in plant growth and defense. Benefits of this project include an enhanced capacity to generate knowledge, multidisciplinary training opportunities and patentable synthetic biology technologies.Read moreRead less
Evolution and function of mammalian sex chromosomes. Research on iconic Australian mammals has profoundly reshaped our understanding of reproductive biology and sex chromosome evolution. In this project we combine unique expertise, international collaboration and novel genetic information about Australia's unique egg-laying mammals (echidna and platypus) to investigate major aspects of reproduction. This work will address fundamental aspects of sex chromosome biology and advance our understandin ....Evolution and function of mammalian sex chromosomes. Research on iconic Australian mammals has profoundly reshaped our understanding of reproductive biology and sex chromosome evolution. In this project we combine unique expertise, international collaboration and novel genetic information about Australia's unique egg-laying mammals (echidna and platypus) to investigate major aspects of reproduction. This work will address fundamental aspects of sex chromosome biology and advance our understanding of mammalian reproduction. The knowledge gained will have application in captive breeding and conservation of these extraordinary Australian mammals. The project also provides opportunity to train research students in cutting edge molecular biology and informatics.Read moreRead less
Cell death by self-eating: Autophagy-dependent tissue removal. This project aims to study the mechanisms and regulation of autophagy-dependent cell death. Cell death maintains cell and tissue homeostasis. Although most cell death is mediated by apoptosis, other modes of cell deletion have emerged recently. One form of cell death involves autophagy, the catabolic process of cellular self-digestion through lysosomal enzymes. As autophagy is a default mechanism of cell survival under stress, the id ....Cell death by self-eating: Autophagy-dependent tissue removal. This project aims to study the mechanisms and regulation of autophagy-dependent cell death. Cell death maintains cell and tissue homeostasis. Although most cell death is mediated by apoptosis, other modes of cell deletion have emerged recently. One form of cell death involves autophagy, the catabolic process of cellular self-digestion through lysosomal enzymes. As autophagy is a default mechanism of cell survival under stress, the idea of autophagy-dependent cell death has been controversial. This proposal aims to resolve this question and provide highly topical knowledge of broad biological significance.Read moreRead less
Investigating a novel signalling pathway for crop improvement. This project will dissect a newly identified signalling pathway in plants that regulates plant water use and carbon gain. It will deploy multiple techniques, including novel biosensors, to understand the links between the metabolism of plants and their environmental responses. The project will build partnerships with scientists at leading international institutions for enhanced outcomes, including access to specialised equipment and ....Investigating a novel signalling pathway for crop improvement. This project will dissect a newly identified signalling pathway in plants that regulates plant water use and carbon gain. It will deploy multiple techniques, including novel biosensors, to understand the links between the metabolism of plants and their environmental responses. The project will build partnerships with scientists at leading international institutions for enhanced outcomes, including access to specialised equipment and upskilling of our scientists. The generation of barley with the latest gene editing techniques aims to produce a non-GM crop with the potential for enhanced root C sequestration, lower water use and improved yield, three key goals for agricultural sustainability in the face of a drying Australian climate.Read moreRead less
Recombinant probiotics for prevention of enteric infections in piglets. Shigatoxigenic and enterotoxigenic strains of Escherichia coli cause severe diarrhoeal disease and oedema disease in piglets. The resultant morbidity and mortality is a major cause of financial loss to the pig industry both in Australia and overseas. We have conceived a highly novel approach to prevention of these diseases involving molecular mimicry of host receptors for the E. coli toxins and adhesins on the surface of a ....Recombinant probiotics for prevention of enteric infections in piglets. Shigatoxigenic and enterotoxigenic strains of Escherichia coli cause severe diarrhoeal disease and oedema disease in piglets. The resultant morbidity and mortality is a major cause of financial loss to the pig industry both in Australia and overseas. We have conceived a highly novel approach to prevention of these diseases involving molecular mimicry of host receptors for the E. coli toxins and adhesins on the surface of a harmless bacterium. Oral administration of this agent to piglets has the potential to bind free toxins in the gut and prevent colonization of the intestines by the pathogens, thereby preventing disease.Read moreRead less
Whole-genome multivariate reaction norm model for complex traits. This project aims to develop a multivariate whole-genome genotype-covariate correlation and interaction model that can be applied to a wide range of existing genome-wide association study (GWAS) datasets. Genotype-covariate correlation and interaction (GCCI) are fundamental in biology but there is no standard approach to disentangle interaction from correlation in the whole-genome analyses. This project will address the key featur ....Whole-genome multivariate reaction norm model for complex traits. This project aims to develop a multivariate whole-genome genotype-covariate correlation and interaction model that can be applied to a wide range of existing genome-wide association study (GWAS) datasets. Genotype-covariate correlation and interaction (GCCI) are fundamental in biology but there is no standard approach to disentangle interaction from correlation in the whole-genome analyses. This project will address the key feature in biology, which relates to dissecting the complex mechanism of association and interaction. The proposed statistical model implemented in a context of a novel design based on multiple GWAS data sets is a paradigm shifting-tool with applications to multiple industries.Read moreRead less
Engineering the plant mitochondrial electron transport chain for tolerance of environmental stress. Plants often face hostile environments that place them under stress. Reactive oxygen molecules produced under these conditions act as signals to activate defense mechanisms, but also cause cell damage. Mitochondria are subcellular compartments involved in energy production and are essential for plant growth and development, but they have also been implicated in the response of plants to environmen ....Engineering the plant mitochondrial electron transport chain for tolerance of environmental stress. Plants often face hostile environments that place them under stress. Reactive oxygen molecules produced under these conditions act as signals to activate defense mechanisms, but also cause cell damage. Mitochondria are subcellular compartments involved in energy production and are essential for plant growth and development, but they have also been implicated in the response of plants to environmental stress, and in production of reactive oxygen molecules. This project will investigate special features of plant mitochondria that ameliorate oxidative stress. Potential outcomes include crops better able to cope with environmental stress.Read moreRead less