Why do only some exotics become invasive? Combining ecological and genomic approaches to address alternative hypotheses in a recent Australian weed. This project will specifically test alternative hypotheses about how weeds become invasive. As invasive weeds affect both agricultural and native ecosystems equally, research on understanding the mechanisms of weed invasion is critical. Outcomes will benefit Australia by allowing better prioritisation of management against exotic plants already i ....Why do only some exotics become invasive? Combining ecological and genomic approaches to address alternative hypotheses in a recent Australian weed. This project will specifically test alternative hypotheses about how weeds become invasive. As invasive weeds affect both agricultural and native ecosystems equally, research on understanding the mechanisms of weed invasion is critical. Outcomes will benefit Australia by allowing better prioritisation of management against exotic plants already in the country by providing predictive tools to estimate likelihood of spread. For formal Pest Risk Analysis by regulators (eg Biosecurity Australia), our project will provide genomic tools by which the potential weediness of a regulated plant can be assessed through genetic screening, and forms part of an international effort to identify 'weedy genes'. Read moreRead less
Drosophila Quantitative Genomics. This research proposal will be a key element in the emerging program in evolutionary and ecological functional genomics at the University of Queensland. Our studies utilize modern genomics approaches to address diverse national priorities from conservation of biological resources in the face of climate change, to understanding how genetic history contributes to drug susceptibility. The research will contribute to the intellectual foundation upon which rigorous ....Drosophila Quantitative Genomics. This research proposal will be a key element in the emerging program in evolutionary and ecological functional genomics at the University of Queensland. Our studies utilize modern genomics approaches to address diverse national priorities from conservation of biological resources in the face of climate change, to understanding how genetic history contributes to drug susceptibility. The research will contribute to the intellectual foundation upon which rigorous environmental and biomedical research is built. Social impact will be seen in the training of a new generation of integrative genome biologists, and the shaping of attitudes toward the role of genetics in human biology.Read moreRead less
Genetic analysis of cohesin function and regulation in Drosophila. In yeast, a multiprotein complex, called cohesin, holds newly replicated chromatids together until the cell is ready to partition each chromatid into its daughter cells. We and others have shown that cohesins are regulated differently in animal cells. We propose to combine classical genetic analyses with two new and innovative techniques, time-lapse confocal microscopy of fluorescent proteins in living cells and gene-specific kno ....Genetic analysis of cohesin function and regulation in Drosophila. In yeast, a multiprotein complex, called cohesin, holds newly replicated chromatids together until the cell is ready to partition each chromatid into its daughter cells. We and others have shown that cohesins are regulated differently in animal cells. We propose to combine classical genetic analyses with two new and innovative techniques, time-lapse confocal microscopy of fluorescent proteins in living cells and gene-specific knockout techniques to study key cohesin regulators in Drosophila. These studies will provide us with novel insights into how multicellular organisms regulate the structure and stability of their chromosomes.Read moreRead less
Preventing genetic damage with BIX - a novel player in the DNA damage response pathway. Defects in the DNA damage-response pathway underpin many human genetic disorders and diseases, including cancer. A detailed understanding of this process has enormous implications for future medicine. Our characterization of a novel protein involved in DNA damage signalling will help in screening inhibitors of this pathway that could be applied in chemo-and/or radiotherapy. This proposal will place Australia ....Preventing genetic damage with BIX - a novel player in the DNA damage response pathway. Defects in the DNA damage-response pathway underpin many human genetic disorders and diseases, including cancer. A detailed understanding of this process has enormous implications for future medicine. Our characterization of a novel protein involved in DNA damage signalling will help in screening inhibitors of this pathway that could be applied in chemo-and/or radiotherapy. This proposal will place Australia among the leaders in this internationally significant and highly competitive area of research leading to the creation of new compounds. Capture of this technology will create the opportunity for IP income, novel exports and new enterprises for Australia.Read moreRead less
Molecular, genetic and cellular analysis of melanisation in human pigmentation. This investigation examines variations in the genes that determine human skin pigmentation and are likely to be associated with skin cancer risk. Our research program will form the basis of future diagnostics based on major genes that determine a persons skin type. Current skin cancer prevention strategies rely predominantly on broad spectrum campaigns that are aimed at increasing the general community awareness of ....Molecular, genetic and cellular analysis of melanisation in human pigmentation. This investigation examines variations in the genes that determine human skin pigmentation and are likely to be associated with skin cancer risk. Our research program will form the basis of future diagnostics based on major genes that determine a persons skin type. Current skin cancer prevention strategies rely predominantly on broad spectrum campaigns that are aimed at increasing the general community awareness of the damaging effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. A better understanding of the genetic basis of UV-sensitive skin types will greatly enhance the targeting of such skin cancer-prevention campaigns, provide an understanding of changes that occur in skin pathology, and the mechanisms of sun induced tanning.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0347607
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$306,000.00
Summary
FishWorks - collaborative infrastructure for zebrafish research. Zebrafish have emerged as a powerful and cost-effective animal model for studying development, biology, and disease. FishWorks represents a large-scale co-operative initiative to develop state-of-the-art zebrafish housing, manipulation, genomics and screening infrastructure in Australia. This will both support and further enhance a core group of high quality researchers to engage in cutting-edge research in areas of acknowledged ex ....FishWorks - collaborative infrastructure for zebrafish research. Zebrafish have emerged as a powerful and cost-effective animal model for studying development, biology, and disease. FishWorks represents a large-scale co-operative initiative to develop state-of-the-art zebrafish housing, manipulation, genomics and screening infrastructure in Australia. This will both support and further enhance a core group of high quality researchers to engage in cutting-edge research in areas of acknowledged expertise as well as priority within their respective institutions. In addition, it will facilitate wide-ranging collaborative arrangements to further develop and exploit this research area.Read moreRead less
Function and regulation of the Schlafen gene family: novel regulators of blood cell proliferation and function. The immediate outcomes of the proposed research will be in fundamental knowledge and understanding of important cellular and biological processes in which the Schlafen genes are involved. In particular, Schlafen genes are likely to play a role in inflammatory responses and in blood cell growth. These process clearly have relevance to a range of major human (and animal) diseases includ ....Function and regulation of the Schlafen gene family: novel regulators of blood cell proliferation and function. The immediate outcomes of the proposed research will be in fundamental knowledge and understanding of important cellular and biological processes in which the Schlafen genes are involved. In particular, Schlafen genes are likely to play a role in inflammatory responses and in blood cell growth. These process clearly have relevance to a range of major human (and animal) diseases including infectious disease, auto-immune disease and leukaemia, and thus a long-term outcome may be improved treatments for such disease. Read moreRead less
Progenitor cells within the peritoneal cavity. Implantation of a foreign object into the peritoneal cavity of animals recruits undifferentiated cells of bone marrow origin that encapsulate the free-floating object, then differentiate into myofibroblasts. When large pieces of myofibroblast capsule tissue are subsequently grafted into autologous artery, bladder or vas deferens, they develop the structure and morphology of that organ. We hypothesise that multipotent progenitor cells sequestered t ....Progenitor cells within the peritoneal cavity. Implantation of a foreign object into the peritoneal cavity of animals recruits undifferentiated cells of bone marrow origin that encapsulate the free-floating object, then differentiate into myofibroblasts. When large pieces of myofibroblast capsule tissue are subsequently grafted into autologous artery, bladder or vas deferens, they develop the structure and morphology of that organ. We hypothesise that multipotent progenitor cells sequestered to the peritoneal cavity can be manipulated to differentiate along smooth muscle and other pathways. The proposed project aims to identify the origin of these cells and characterise the transcriptional program that regulates their differentiation.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0237729
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$735,000.00
Summary
A proteomics facility for Queensland researchers. The successful completion of sequencing of the genomes of many organisms, including man, has thrown emphasis back on the identification of proteins involved in the complex events that sustain cellular life. Our aim is to set up a world-class facility for proteomics research which will allow a large cohort of scientists at several institutions to identify individual proteins in vanishingly small samples of very complex mixtures. This facility wi ....A proteomics facility for Queensland researchers. The successful completion of sequencing of the genomes of many organisms, including man, has thrown emphasis back on the identification of proteins involved in the complex events that sustain cellular life. Our aim is to set up a world-class facility for proteomics research which will allow a large cohort of scientists at several institutions to identify individual proteins in vanishingly small samples of very complex mixtures. This facility will enable investigation of the control of gene expression, the intricate organisation of proteins within cells, and proteins which are potential drug targets. This equipment is an essential resource for Queensland research groups.Read moreRead less
Variation in larval gene expression in a marine invertebrate: implications for population divergence via differential settlement response. Evolutionary and ecological functional genomics is an emerging field that integrates gene profiling technologies with experimental and field approaches of ecology and evolution. I take this approach to address a key problem in marine invertebrate biology: how do larvae respond to their environment and how does variation in this response influence the distribu ....Variation in larval gene expression in a marine invertebrate: implications for population divergence via differential settlement response. Evolutionary and ecological functional genomics is an emerging field that integrates gene profiling technologies with experimental and field approaches of ecology and evolution. I take this approach to address a key problem in marine invertebrate biology: how do larvae respond to their environment and how does variation in this response influence the distribution and evolution of a species? I will use a marine gastropod (abalone) model, for which there exists substantial development and population genetic data, and established aquaculture methodologies. Outcomes of this study will enhance knowledge of the stock structure of this and other commercial fisheries, as well as aquaculture efficiency.Read moreRead less