Re-purposing shelved 'antibiotics' in the search for new herbicides. This project aims to identify target-specific herbicidal compounds that inhibit amino acid biosynthesis pathways to tackle herbicide resistance. This project expects to validate a novel herbicide discovery strategy by exploiting the similarity between bacterial and plant enzymes in these pathways to re-purpose failed 'antibiotics'. Expected outcomes include advances in our knowledge of the structure, function and inhibition of ....Re-purposing shelved 'antibiotics' in the search for new herbicides. This project aims to identify target-specific herbicidal compounds that inhibit amino acid biosynthesis pathways to tackle herbicide resistance. This project expects to validate a novel herbicide discovery strategy by exploiting the similarity between bacterial and plant enzymes in these pathways to re-purpose failed 'antibiotics'. Expected outcomes include advances in our knowledge of the structure, function and inhibition of novel herbicide targets, and the identification of compounds with herbicidal activity. This should lay the foundations for long-term benefits related to improving the quantity and quality of Australia’s crops to ensure our food security.Read moreRead less
Viral allies: shedding light on beneficial insect viruses. Baculoviruses are rare examples of viruses recognised for their positive impact on human activities. These viruses infect a broad range of insects and have been widely used in biological research, biotechnology and agricultural pest control. This Project aims to elucidate the structure and assembly of these beneficial viruses using advanced structural, biochemical and imaging approaches. The Project is expected to generate high-resolutio ....Viral allies: shedding light on beneficial insect viruses. Baculoviruses are rare examples of viruses recognised for their positive impact on human activities. These viruses infect a broad range of insects and have been widely used in biological research, biotechnology and agricultural pest control. This Project aims to elucidate the structure and assembly of these beneficial viruses using advanced structural, biochemical and imaging approaches. The Project is expected to generate high-resolution models that define hallmarks of a new viral lineage, a significant breakthrough in our understanding of the virosphere, and underpin the future development of innovative baculovirus-based technologies such as selective bioinsecticides for the sustainable control of invasive insects.Read moreRead less
Elucidating the molecular basis of plant potyvirus resistance . Plant viruses are responsible for a large proportion of crop losses, and genetic resistance is currently the most effective means to control viral spread. This project investigates, on a molecular and structural level, host factors that plant viruses hijack during infection, and in particular, the mutations in these factors that confer resistance. We further aim to elucidate the mechanisms by which plant viruses overcome resistance ....Elucidating the molecular basis of plant potyvirus resistance . Plant viruses are responsible for a large proportion of crop losses, and genetic resistance is currently the most effective means to control viral spread. This project investigates, on a molecular and structural level, host factors that plant viruses hijack during infection, and in particular, the mutations in these factors that confer resistance. We further aim to elucidate the mechanisms by which plant viruses overcome resistance mediated by these host factors. A detailed understanding of the molecular interactions between plant viruses and their host will enable new, robust and more effective forms of resistance to be engineered. This work therefore has economic and environmental implications for agricultural productivity in Australia. Read moreRead less
Understanding the molecular basis of fungal rust diseases in plants. This project aims to utilise structural biology, biochemistry and molecular biology approaches to substantially deepen our understanding of rust fungi-plant interactions. Fungal rust pathogens cause disease and significant yield losses in our most important food crops. During colonisation, rust fungi utilise secreted effector proteins to cause plant disease. Effectors can also be recognised by plant immunity receptors, leading ....Understanding the molecular basis of fungal rust diseases in plants. This project aims to utilise structural biology, biochemistry and molecular biology approaches to substantially deepen our understanding of rust fungi-plant interactions. Fungal rust pathogens cause disease and significant yield losses in our most important food crops. During colonisation, rust fungi utilise secreted effector proteins to cause plant disease. Effectors can also be recognised by plant immunity receptors, leading to resistance. The intended outcome of this work is to generate knowledge that can be used for the development of disease management and engineering strategies to protect plants from rust fungi. This should provide significant benefits to agricultural productivity and global food security.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210100323
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$431,000.00
Summary
Synthetic biology to engineer novel disease resistance in cereal crops. This project aims to engineer disease resistance in crops to dangerous fungal pathogens. The strategy is to exploit our knowledge of the plant immune system using structural biology and directed evolution of natural resistance genes, improving their ability to recognise and respond to fungal attack. Fungal pathogens cause some of the most harmful crop diseases in Australia and worldwide. The rapid evolution of fungi overcome ....Synthetic biology to engineer novel disease resistance in cereal crops. This project aims to engineer disease resistance in crops to dangerous fungal pathogens. The strategy is to exploit our knowledge of the plant immune system using structural biology and directed evolution of natural resistance genes, improving their ability to recognise and respond to fungal attack. Fungal pathogens cause some of the most harmful crop diseases in Australia and worldwide. The rapid evolution of fungi overcomes natural plant resistance and management of these diseases is a major challenge to agriculture. Expected outcomes of the project include engineered wheat plants with more effective disease resistance, reducing fungicide usage. This project intends to accelerate crop breeding and contribute to world food security.Read moreRead less
How do MACPF/CDC proteins punch giant holes in lipid membranes? This project aims to study the Membrane Attack Complex (MAC)/Perforin-like/Cholesterol Dependent Cytolysins (MACPF/CDC) family which form unusually large holes in membranes. This project aims to define the exact molecular shape of a monomer in comparison with the exact molecular shape of the pore of the MACPF/CDC family. This project will also provide new information about the intermediate steps in pore formation. This will have maj ....How do MACPF/CDC proteins punch giant holes in lipid membranes? This project aims to study the Membrane Attack Complex (MAC)/Perforin-like/Cholesterol Dependent Cytolysins (MACPF/CDC) family which form unusually large holes in membranes. This project aims to define the exact molecular shape of a monomer in comparison with the exact molecular shape of the pore of the MACPF/CDC family. This project will also provide new information about the intermediate steps in pore formation. This will have major benefits to agribusiness and nanotechnology applications.Read moreRead less
The mechanistic basis of tropism in an insecticidal pore-forming toxin . This project aims to answer a fundamental question regarding the mechanism of a recently discovered family of insecticidal protein complexes - how do these pore-forming proteins recognise and target specific hosts? The project will use an innovative, cross-disciplinary approach to determine the mechanisms of cellular recognition and uptake on a molecular scale. These outcomes have the potential to influence the use of ABC t ....The mechanistic basis of tropism in an insecticidal pore-forming toxin . This project aims to answer a fundamental question regarding the mechanism of a recently discovered family of insecticidal protein complexes - how do these pore-forming proteins recognise and target specific hosts? The project will use an innovative, cross-disciplinary approach to determine the mechanisms of cellular recognition and uptake on a molecular scale. These outcomes have the potential to influence the use of ABC toxins in many areas of biotechnology, delivering benefits including the development of new bioinsecticides for pest control and crop protection as well as in the development of bespoke protein delivery devices which may find use in biotechnological and therapeutic applications.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL180100109
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,762,247.00
Summary
Unifying mechanisms of innate immunity signaling in animals and plants. This project aims to improve our understanding of innate immunity, the first line of defense against pathogens in diverse organisms. Innate immune pathways are key to a range of pathological states in animals, and provide plants with resistance to the diseases that account for 15% of crop losses. This project will generate knowledge, through characterising mechanisms of cell signalling for mammalian and plant innate immunity ....Unifying mechanisms of innate immunity signaling in animals and plants. This project aims to improve our understanding of innate immunity, the first line of defense against pathogens in diverse organisms. Innate immune pathways are key to a range of pathological states in animals, and provide plants with resistance to the diseases that account for 15% of crop losses. This project will generate knowledge, through characterising mechanisms of cell signalling for mammalian and plant innate immunity. The outcomes will include a unified signalling model, and form the foundation for a range of applications in human biology and agriculture, such as the development of durable and effective resistance in crops.Read moreRead less
Molecular mechanisms of signalling by plant immune receptors. This project aims to understand how resistance proteins function and to find new sources of these proteins. Plant diseases account for 15% loss of global crop production, representing a threat to food security. Fungicides, one key form of protection, represent environmental concerns. The other key form of protection corresponds to resistance gene breeding, which is limited by lengthy breeding processes, restricted choice of genes from ....Molecular mechanisms of signalling by plant immune receptors. This project aims to understand how resistance proteins function and to find new sources of these proteins. Plant diseases account for 15% loss of global crop production, representing a threat to food security. Fungicides, one key form of protection, represent environmental concerns. The other key form of protection corresponds to resistance gene breeding, which is limited by lengthy breeding processes, restricted choice of genes from sexually compatible species and short effective time spans in the field. Building on previous research, this project aims to characterise the molecular basis of the Toll/interleukin-1 receptor domain-mediated nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) cleavage and the structural architecture of plant NLR complexes. This knowledge will support the long-term objective of protecting crops from pathogens.Read moreRead less
Structural basis of plant immune receptor signaling. Plants detect invading pathogens and trigger immune responses in a process called “effector-triggered immunity”, in which pathogen effector (avirulence) proteins are recognized by plant resistance proteins, typically so-called “plant NLRs”. Ongoing work in the applicants’ laboratories has shown that oligomerization into “resistosomes” and NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) cleavage play central roles in the process. Building on these dat ....Structural basis of plant immune receptor signaling. Plants detect invading pathogens and trigger immune responses in a process called “effector-triggered immunity”, in which pathogen effector (avirulence) proteins are recognized by plant resistance proteins, typically so-called “plant NLRs”. Ongoing work in the applicants’ laboratories has shown that oligomerization into “resistosomes” and NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) cleavage play central roles in the process. Building on these data, the project aims to characterize the structures of the signaling molecules resulting from TIR (Toll/interleukin-1 receptor) domain-mediated NAD+ cleavage and the structural architecture of plant NLR resistosomes. This knowledge will support the long-term objective of protecting crops from pathogens.Read moreRead less