Roles for quorum sensing and biofilm formation by Vibrio cholerae in resistance to protozoan grazing. This research will benefit Australia through an increased fundamental understanding of how our model bacterium, Vibrio cholerae, survives in the environment. This could lead to the development of strategies that control bacterial biofilms, a significant medical and industrial concern. This project will also be of benefit through the training of postgraduate students in environmental microbiology ....Roles for quorum sensing and biofilm formation by Vibrio cholerae in resistance to protozoan grazing. This research will benefit Australia through an increased fundamental understanding of how our model bacterium, Vibrio cholerae, survives in the environment. This could lead to the development of strategies that control bacterial biofilms, a significant medical and industrial concern. This project will also be of benefit through the training of postgraduate students in environmental microbiology and is expected to result in the publication and presentation of data in quality journals and conferences, which increases the profile of Australian science.Read moreRead less
Anthocyanin Inhibitors to the Influenza Virus. The increasing resistance of circulating influenza strains to current anti-viral inhibitors has prompted an investigation to screen, design, synthesize and evaluate a new class of natural product based inhibitors to the virus employing novel and innovative mass spectrometry, computational and structural approaches. Preliminary studies reveal they offer benefits in terms of a different mode of binding to influenza neuraminidase, remote from many know ....Anthocyanin Inhibitors to the Influenza Virus. The increasing resistance of circulating influenza strains to current anti-viral inhibitors has prompted an investigation to screen, design, synthesize and evaluate a new class of natural product based inhibitors to the virus employing novel and innovative mass spectrometry, computational and structural approaches. Preliminary studies reveal they offer benefits in terms of a different mode of binding to influenza neuraminidase, remote from many known resistance mutations, and may have specific practicality against N1 neuraminidase in H1N1 and H5N1 viruses responsible for all pandemics of the 20th and 21st centuries. The research will enable the potential of these inhibitors to be fully assessed at the molecular level for the first time.Read moreRead less
Importance of Wzx flippase specificity for O-antigen diversity. The Wzx protein flips subunits of the polysaccharide O antigen (O-units) across the cell membrane on their way to the cell wall. The aim of this project is to determine the specificity that different Wzx flippases have for O unit structure. Previous research has shown that there is much more specificity than previously thought, making Wzx a very interesting protein. Wzx flippases vary enormously in sequence, presumably reflecting th ....Importance of Wzx flippase specificity for O-antigen diversity. The Wzx protein flips subunits of the polysaccharide O antigen (O-units) across the cell membrane on their way to the cell wall. The aim of this project is to determine the specificity that different Wzx flippases have for O unit structure. Previous research has shown that there is much more specificity than previously thought, making Wzx a very interesting protein. Wzx flippases vary enormously in sequence, presumably reflecting the diversity of sugars and linkages in O units. The significance lies in the role of these polysaccharides in interactions with the environment, including host-pathogen interactions and immune responses. The outcome will be a new understanding of the export specificity of O-antigens and also capsules, both of which make very good vaccines. Read moreRead less
Chemical inhibition: a new approach to investigate the role of a key protease, CtHtrA, from Chlamydia trachomatis. Infertility in women frequently results from infection with Chlamydia trachomatis. This project will develop an inhibitor compound against a important protein from this bacteria. This will establish a new scientific approach to study Chlamydia trachomatis. This project will also contribute to the development of new treatments for infertility.
An interdisciplinary approach to host-pathogen interactions in infection. This project aims to understand the molecular and cellular interactions between host and parasite, as well as providing a quantitative framework for analysing infection dynamics in other systems. Infection involves a complex interaction between the host and the parasite, which is very dynamic and therefore difficult to study by traditional sampling and analysis approaches. This project has combined mathematical modelling w ....An interdisciplinary approach to host-pathogen interactions in infection. This project aims to understand the molecular and cellular interactions between host and parasite, as well as providing a quantitative framework for analysing infection dynamics in other systems. Infection involves a complex interaction between the host and the parasite, which is very dynamic and therefore difficult to study by traditional sampling and analysis approaches. This project has combined mathematical modelling with a novel experimental protocol to allow the study of kinetics of parasite replication in vivo. Expected outcomes will provide significant benefits, such as new avenues for vaccination and immune intervention.Read moreRead less
Understanding the dynamics of malaria infection. Malaria infection kills around one million patients each year and this project involves an interdisciplinary team who will directly measure how the parasite grows and is killed by the immune system. A better understanding of parasite growth and control will help develop better drugs therapy and vaccination for this important infection.
Novel Babesia proteins and their roles in the pathogenesis of tick fever. This project aims at gaining a deep understanding of the biology of Babesia parasites and how they cause tick fever in cattle. The project expects to discover novel parasite proteins involved in the development and persistence of tick fever and identify their functional role in infection. The main expected outcome is the discovery of parasite proteins that are critical for infection and pathogenesis of cattle tick fever. T ....Novel Babesia proteins and their roles in the pathogenesis of tick fever. This project aims at gaining a deep understanding of the biology of Babesia parasites and how they cause tick fever in cattle. The project expects to discover novel parasite proteins involved in the development and persistence of tick fever and identify their functional role in infection. The main expected outcome is the discovery of parasite proteins that are critical for infection and pathogenesis of cattle tick fever. The findings will contribute to the development of future novel vaccines to control tick fever, with significant economic benefits for the beef and dairy industries worldwide.Read moreRead less
Unlocking bacterial shapeshifting and its role in antimicrobial resistance. This project aims to combine advanced imaging with innovative microfluidics to identify how microbial shapeshifting can be exploited as a target for new antimicrobials. Infections that are hard to treat due to increasing antimicrobial resistance not only have an enormous, global impact on mammalian health, including livestock and humans, but also carry a growing economic burden. Advanced understanding of microbial life c ....Unlocking bacterial shapeshifting and its role in antimicrobial resistance. This project aims to combine advanced imaging with innovative microfluidics to identify how microbial shapeshifting can be exploited as a target for new antimicrobials. Infections that are hard to treat due to increasing antimicrobial resistance not only have an enormous, global impact on mammalian health, including livestock and humans, but also carry a growing economic burden. Advanced understanding of microbial life can propel urgently needed progress this area. Specifically, the project outcomes are expected to aid the development of next generation antibiotics. The new fundamental knowledge should also benefit translational prevention, identification and management efforts of a rising national and global health threat.Read moreRead less
Breaching the defences: the role of hydrophobin protein monolayers in rice blast fungal infections. Rice blast is the most important disease of rice, causing significant reduction of rice yields worldwide. This project aims to understand how hydrophobin proteins from the rice blast fungus facilitate rice plant infections and to devise new methods that will safeguard Australian rice fields from this fungus.
Detection and viability of waterborne pathogens using a gut-on-chip. This project aims to resolve a significant problem for water utilities. Microbial pathogens Cryptosporidium, norovirus and adenovirus are the main public health concern for drinking water in developed nations. Water monitoring is limited by the lack of fast, reliable detection methods and viability assays for these pathogens. This project will use a novel gut-on-a-chip to develop for the first time rapid infectivity assays for ....Detection and viability of waterborne pathogens using a gut-on-chip. This project aims to resolve a significant problem for water utilities. Microbial pathogens Cryptosporidium, norovirus and adenovirus are the main public health concern for drinking water in developed nations. Water monitoring is limited by the lack of fast, reliable detection methods and viability assays for these pathogens. This project will use a novel gut-on-a-chip to develop for the first time rapid infectivity assays for Cryptosporidium, norovirus and adenovirus. Significant benefits include improved diagnostics and water disinfection assays, improved water treatment and reduced costs with global impact.Read moreRead less