Discovery of pathways to embryogenesis in pathogenic flatworm parasites using microdissection and transcriptomic technologies. The cost to Australia of flatworm parasites to animal production and human health is substantial (hundreds of millions of dollars per year). This research will give new insights into how flatworms reproduce and equip their progeny for survival, providing impetus for new vaccine or drug therapies to be developed. As these pathogens are more significant in Australia's ne ....Discovery of pathways to embryogenesis in pathogenic flatworm parasites using microdissection and transcriptomic technologies. The cost to Australia of flatworm parasites to animal production and human health is substantial (hundreds of millions of dollars per year). This research will give new insights into how flatworms reproduce and equip their progeny for survival, providing impetus for new vaccine or drug therapies to be developed. As these pathogens are more significant in Australia's near neighbours, this project will strengthen Australia's international leadership in this field. Our study will provide, for the first time for any helminth parasite, a freely available genetic database that profiles the gene expression repertoire of individual parasite tissues, a development likely to enhance the international effort in controlling these harmful diseases.Read moreRead less
Insect age: an ecological genomics approach to understanding host-parasite interactions. The importance of insect age (or the age structure of a population of insects) in understanding relationships between insects and their abiotic and biotic environment has been stressed in many theoretical studies but seldom directly tested. This is because few tools exist that can accurately measure the age of a wild-caught insect with any accuracy. In this proposal we plan to use a genomics approach to deve ....Insect age: an ecological genomics approach to understanding host-parasite interactions. The importance of insect age (or the age structure of a population of insects) in understanding relationships between insects and their abiotic and biotic environment has been stressed in many theoretical studies but seldom directly tested. This is because few tools exist that can accurately measure the age of a wild-caught insect with any accuracy. In this proposal we plan to use a genomics approach to develop tools that can be used to efficiently determine the age of an insect and then apply these tools to better understand the relationship between insect age and the ability of an insect to transmit pathogens to humans, livestock or plants. These tools will also have future applicability in developing new approaches to control insect transmitted disease as well as provide methodology to determine the effectiveness of current control programs that seek to kill pest insect populations of agricultural or public health significance.Read moreRead less
Novel control strategies for mosquitoes threatening Australia. Increased global transport and human mobility have led to the spread and establishment of potential disease vectors and pathogens of public health importance in many parts of the world from which these were absent or had been eradicated. Aversion of this risk can be more effective when applying area-wide rather than focal (e.g. insecticide) control efforts. We will further the development of genetic and biological control tactics. We ....Novel control strategies for mosquitoes threatening Australia. Increased global transport and human mobility have led to the spread and establishment of potential disease vectors and pathogens of public health importance in many parts of the world from which these were absent or had been eradicated. Aversion of this risk can be more effective when applying area-wide rather than focal (e.g. insecticide) control efforts. We will further the development of genetic and biological control tactics. We aim to reduce the risks posed by two important dengue-vectoring mosquitoes: the yellow fever and the Asian tiger mosquito. This will lead to environmentally friendly and sustainable mosquito control and protect the Australian population and its regional neighbours against the threats of mosquito-borne disease.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0567493
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$99,146.00
Summary
E-Services for Comparative Studies in Molecular Biology. The central challenge of post-genomic biology is to exploit the range of sequence and microarray data to yield greater understanding of biological processes. Large comparative studies are hamstrung by the inaccessibility of specialist comparative tools and the problem of managing large-scale disparate data. This project will provide portal and web services facilities to remove these obstacles, relying on robust and scalable business techno ....E-Services for Comparative Studies in Molecular Biology. The central challenge of post-genomic biology is to exploit the range of sequence and microarray data to yield greater understanding of biological processes. Large comparative studies are hamstrung by the inaccessibility of specialist comparative tools and the problem of managing large-scale disparate data. This project will provide portal and web services facilities to remove these obstacles, relying on robust and scalable business technologies to be made freely available. Our work will be driven by specific applications in bacterial genomics and cancer research, and will support research into prostate cancer and the pathogens Chlamydia and Bacillus anthracis.Read moreRead less
Structural analysis of membrane proteins using template-mediated crystallization. A new frontier technology will be developed in the form of a systematic crystallization pipeline for membrane proteins. This high throughput monolayer template technology is particularly suited for the structure determination of proteins that are otherwise difficult to crystallize and has clear commercial potential. Membrane protein structures are themselves of value to the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry ....Structural analysis of membrane proteins using template-mediated crystallization. A new frontier technology will be developed in the form of a systematic crystallization pipeline for membrane proteins. This high throughput monolayer template technology is particularly suited for the structure determination of proteins that are otherwise difficult to crystallize and has clear commercial potential. Membrane protein structures are themselves of value to the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry for targeted drug design, which could realise benefits in the form of novel medical treatments and reduced side effects. The monolayer template technology will also extend the capabilities of the National Cryo-EM facility, the infrastructure of which, is open for all Australian researchers. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100150
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$500,000.00
Summary
Beyond Proteomics: structure and function of protein modifications. The world's leading cancer therapeutics have come from the protein phosphorylation field, and glycomics has led to drugs that combat the flu and that stimulate red blood cell production in cancer patients. Thus there is a bright future for discovery of new medicines based on new knowledge in this area. Protein modifications are key to the understanding of disease mechanisms and for searching for new disease markers and new the ....Beyond Proteomics: structure and function of protein modifications. The world's leading cancer therapeutics have come from the protein phosphorylation field, and glycomics has led to drugs that combat the flu and that stimulate red blood cell production in cancer patients. Thus there is a bright future for discovery of new medicines based on new knowledge in this area. Protein modifications are key to the understanding of disease mechanisms and for searching for new disease markers and new therapeutics. In the hands of local experts the instruments will enable identification of these modifications and provide improved understanding of biology, increase the national competitiveness of Australia's scientists, and provide advanced technology training to the next generation of scientists.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100226
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$424,000.00
Summary
Advanced molecular discovery and characterisation facility. Natural product drug discovery in Australia requires access to high throughput functional assays to guide the separation and of novel bioactives with therapeutic potential. By establishing the advanced molecular discovery and characterisation facility in an academic environment across two institutions, research programs in early drug lead discovery and characterisation will be accelerated. It will provide unique capabilities not curren ....Advanced molecular discovery and characterisation facility. Natural product drug discovery in Australia requires access to high throughput functional assays to guide the separation and of novel bioactives with therapeutic potential. By establishing the advanced molecular discovery and characterisation facility in an academic environment across two institutions, research programs in early drug lead discovery and characterisation will be accelerated. It will provide unique capabilities not currently available in Australia, and help Australian researchers remain internationally competitive in breakthrough science and frontier technologies. The research enabled by this facility will lead to development of new drug candidates by the emerging Australian biotechnology industry.Read moreRead less