Discovery And Mechanisms Of Host Cell Factors In HIV Uncoating
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$635,098.00
Summary
HIV entry into the host cell involves release of its capsid, a protein shell protecting the viral genome. The capsid hijacks host proteins to cloak itself from cellular defenses while the cell has evolved sensors that can block viral infection. This proposal aims to discover proteins involved in this arms race between host and virus and decipher how they control capsid disassembly. This insight will help design new drugs against HIV infection and new ways to deliver genes for gene therapies.
Mechanism Of Anoxic Iron Acquisition In Pathogenic Bacteria
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$536,280.00
Summary
All organisms require iron for their survival, including all bacterial species. Bacterial pathogens growing in anaerobic environments, such as in our gut, gum, or tissue, sequester iron through the divalent iron transporter FeoB. We aim to divulge the mechanism of iron transport through FeoB by structural and functional studies, and thus provide a scaffold for a non-conventional antimicrobial target.
Characterising The Beta-catenin Nuclear Targeting Pathway In Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$485,081.00
Summary
Bowel cancer is caused by inherited gene mutations that cause build-up of beta-catenin protein in the cell nucleus. Bowel cancer is the second largest cause of cancer deaths in Australia. We aim to study the mechanisms controlling beta-catenin accumulation in the nucleus. We will characterise new signalling pathways that control movement and activity of beta-catenin in the nucleus. This will yield insights into the role of beta-catenin in cancer and possible targets for therapy.
GABA(B) Receptor Modulation Of Gastrointestinal Function In Health And Disease By Alpha-Conotoxins
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$689,050.00
Summary
Chronic visceral pain is a common and debilitating condition arising from numerous diseases that affect our internal organs. There is a desperate need for more information about the mechanisms responsible for signalling chronic visceral pain to provide therapies and potentially find a cure for it. Our research focuses on ?-conotoxins (small peptides from marine cone snail venom) as novel potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of chronic visceral pain.
Structural And Functional Studies On RNA Nuclear Retention Mediated By Paraspeckles: A Novel Gene Regulation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$290,978.00
Summary
Dynamic interactions between proteins and nucleic acids are essential process in gene regulation, where aberrant regulation leads to various diseases including cancers. The project aims to examine the interactions between paraspeckle proteins and nucleic acid molecules via determination of the structures of protein-nucleic acid complexes at the atomic level. The results will provide a better understanding of a recently discovered gene regulation mechanism and a basis for new gene therapy.
Inhibition Of Cellcell Actin-based Motility During Poxvirus Infection By The Kinase Inhibitor Glivec
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$92,950.00
Summary
Although smallpox, one of the deadliest human pathogens, was eradicated in 1980, the current global climate has resulted in fears that smallpox may be used as a biological weapon. Unfortunately the smallpox vaccine poses a serious health hazard to certain people. We have shown that Glivec, a drug used to treat cancer, has potent anti-viral affects on poxvirus replication. This project will test the effectiveness of Glivec in treating smallpox in an animal model and study how it acts.
Scalable Visual Analytics for Uncertain Dynamic Networks. Technological advances have provided a data deluge over the past few years, and have led to many large uncertain and dynamic network models. This includes terrorist networks, marketing networks, facebook networks, various biological networks, and software engineering structures. Human understanding of such networks is difficult. This project aims to provide new methods for visual analysis of large uncertain dynamic networks such as these. ....Scalable Visual Analytics for Uncertain Dynamic Networks. Technological advances have provided a data deluge over the past few years, and have led to many large uncertain and dynamic network models. This includes terrorist networks, marketing networks, facebook networks, various biological networks, and software engineering structures. Human understanding of such networks is difficult. This project aims to provide new methods for visual analysis of large uncertain dynamic networks such as these. The algorithms developed in the project will help security analysts to monitor illegal behaviour such as money laundering and terrorist activities, help biologists understand key biological systems, and help engineers to understand large software systems.Read moreRead less
New Generation of High-Performance Radio Frequency Devices . The strong demand for faster internet speed pushes high-speed technology to evolve faster. Designing and developing devices are now facing changes that are far more complex. We aim to tackle them, proposing to develop phase-change materials-based electronic systems. The outcomes will be reconfigurable devices with unprecedentedly increased operational frequency, reduced critical system-level metrics, and elimination of control circuits ....New Generation of High-Performance Radio Frequency Devices . The strong demand for faster internet speed pushes high-speed technology to evolve faster. Designing and developing devices are now facing changes that are far more complex. We aim to tackle them, proposing to develop phase-change materials-based electronic systems. The outcomes will be reconfigurable devices with unprecedentedly increased operational frequency, reduced critical system-level metrics, and elimination of control circuits. The successful results will address the Science and Research Priority of Modern Manufacturing and bring substantial socio-economic benefits to Australia by executing advancements of new technologies for modern wireless communications, leading to new high-tech opportunities, jobs, and economic growth.Read moreRead less
Prion-like Behaviour In Immunity: Super-sized Signalling Platforms?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$611,995.00
Summary
Prions have been mostly associated with pathologies but recent discoveries show that prion-like behaviour may be beneficial, enhancing our immune response for example. To test this, we want to systematically explore all human proteins involved in the defence against pathogens, find new prion-like trends and probe their role in the innate immune response.