Sculpting a masterpiece: synthesis and evolution of minimal yeast genomes. This project aims to better understand genome complexity by engineering minimal yeast genomes that have fewer genes, and are therefore easier to characterise and engineer. Yeast is a model organism and industrial food, fuel, and chemical producer. This project expects to increase our basic understanding of yeast genomes, and develop new tools for engineering whole genomes. Expected outcomes of this project include the eng ....Sculpting a masterpiece: synthesis and evolution of minimal yeast genomes. This project aims to better understand genome complexity by engineering minimal yeast genomes that have fewer genes, and are therefore easier to characterise and engineer. Yeast is a model organism and industrial food, fuel, and chemical producer. This project expects to increase our basic understanding of yeast genomes, and develop new tools for engineering whole genomes. Expected outcomes of this project include the engineering and characterisation of the world's first minimal yeast genome, and the development of novel industrial yeast strains. This will provide significant benefits for both fundamental genetics and biochemistry research, and the industrial use of yeast for bio-manufacturing of sustainable foods, fuels, and chemicals.Read moreRead less
Molecular archaeology: new knowledge from molecular weight distributions of synthetic and natural polymers. This project will lead to new understanding of how natural and synthetic polymers are formed. Examples are the enzymatic processes that produce the subtle architecture of rice grains, and the processes that pose problems for developing new techniques for making novel polymer-based materials. The fundamental scientific knowledge from this project will provide a platform for the future devel ....Molecular archaeology: new knowledge from molecular weight distributions of synthetic and natural polymers. This project will lead to new understanding of how natural and synthetic polymers are formed. Examples are the enzymatic processes that produce the subtle architecture of rice grains, and the processes that pose problems for developing new techniques for making novel polymer-based materials. The fundamental scientific knowledge from this project will provide a platform for the future development of improved materials, and for superior grain varieties for food and industrial use. These advances will be of significant benefit to Australian industry and consumers.Read moreRead less
Synthetic biology tools for integration into bacterial chromosomes. The aim of the project is to develop a set of versatile chromosomal integration tools for bacteria, enabling rapid development of novel biological outputs. A major goal in the emerging discipline of synthetic biology is to apply engineering principles to the design and construction of new biological entities such as proteins, genetic circuits and cells. Custom-designed genetic circuits, integrated in an appropriate host genome, ....Synthetic biology tools for integration into bacterial chromosomes. The aim of the project is to develop a set of versatile chromosomal integration tools for bacteria, enabling rapid development of novel biological outputs. A major goal in the emerging discipline of synthetic biology is to apply engineering principles to the design and construction of new biological entities such as proteins, genetic circuits and cells. Custom-designed genetic circuits, integrated in an appropriate host genome, hold enormous economic potential for applications ranging from biomedicine to biofuel production. This project aims to help synthetic biologists to embed made-to-order circuits in appropriate host cells to act as living factories, potentially replacing industrial processes which are currently environmentally and economically costly.Read moreRead less
Developing orthogonal synthetic signaling cascades. This project proposes a generic approach for the construction of molecular switches based on artificially autoinhibited proteases. The bottom-up design of protein-based signaling networks is a key goal of synthetic biology. Yet, this remains elusive due to our inability to tailor-make signal transducers and receptors that can be readily compiled into defined signaling networks. Using structure-guided design and directed protein evolution, a set ....Developing orthogonal synthetic signaling cascades. This project proposes a generic approach for the construction of molecular switches based on artificially autoinhibited proteases. The bottom-up design of protein-based signaling networks is a key goal of synthetic biology. Yet, this remains elusive due to our inability to tailor-make signal transducers and receptors that can be readily compiled into defined signaling networks. Using structure-guided design and directed protein evolution, a set of protease-based signal transducers and ligand activated allosteric receptors will be created. The developed components are intended to be used to construct artificial signaling networks in mammalian cells that are orthogonal to the endogenous signaling cascades.Read moreRead less
Fibrous fabrics with differential transplanar transport properties for moisture and water. The project develops a framework for the development of fibrous fabrics with desired differential transplanar transport properties for moisture and water, integrating various transport mechanisms with hierarchical microstructures of the fabrics. The results will lead to the development of new fabrics for the local and overseas apparel industry.
Microstructure effect on energy harvesting ability of electrospun fibres. This project aims to provide new knowledge about how to manipulate the energy harvesting ability of electrospun fibrous mats by changing the fibre structure, components and mat configuration. Expected outcomes of the project are new fibrous materials capable of efficiently converting small mechanical forces and sounds into electricity. These high performance energy harvesting fibres will be useful for developing new power ....Microstructure effect on energy harvesting ability of electrospun fibres. This project aims to provide new knowledge about how to manipulate the energy harvesting ability of electrospun fibrous mats by changing the fibre structure, components and mat configuration. Expected outcomes of the project are new fibrous materials capable of efficiently converting small mechanical forces and sounds into electricity. These high performance energy harvesting fibres will be useful for developing new power supplies, self-powered electronics, self-sustainable sensor networks and electronic textiles.Read moreRead less
High Temperature, Piezoelectric Polymer Membranes. This project aims to acquire new knowledge about the preparation of flexible polymer membranes that can convert mechanical energy into electricity (“piezoelectric” conversion) stably at high temperature (e.g. 200-500 °C). This will solve the current problem where only inorganic ceramic materials can be used for high-temperature piezoelectric conversion. The expected outcomes include a new approach to prepare polymer membranes capable of high-tem ....High Temperature, Piezoelectric Polymer Membranes. This project aims to acquire new knowledge about the preparation of flexible polymer membranes that can convert mechanical energy into electricity (“piezoelectric” conversion) stably at high temperature (e.g. 200-500 °C). This will solve the current problem where only inorganic ceramic materials can be used for high-temperature piezoelectric conversion. The expected outcomes include a new approach to prepare polymer membranes capable of high-temperature piezoelectric conversion using an electrostatic spinning technology. The new breakthrough materials will not only enhance performance and reliability at high temperature, but also offer novel applications in diverse fields such as “smart” protective clothing for firefighters. Read moreRead less
Investigating Wnt signaling during human nephron commitment and patterning. Aims: To use gene edited stem cell lines that display cell location, identity and cell state to map human kidney tissue formation in the laboratory. By monitoring how each cell responds to those around it across time and space, we will for the first time map the formation of kidney tissue in the dish.
Significance: Understanding how stem cells form a tissue will help us to improve and control the process. This is key to ....Investigating Wnt signaling during human nephron commitment and patterning. Aims: To use gene edited stem cell lines that display cell location, identity and cell state to map human kidney tissue formation in the laboratory. By monitoring how each cell responds to those around it across time and space, we will for the first time map the formation of kidney tissue in the dish.
Significance: Understanding how stem cells form a tissue will help us to improve and control the process. This is key to advancing tissue engineering.
Expected outcomes: The proposal will pioneer state-of-the-art imaging, gene editing and machine learning approaches, generating models of human development that are currently unavailable.
Benefits: This understanding will guide the development of novel approaches to tissue engineering.
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Investigating the dynamic nature of antibody stability. The aim of the project is to provide insights into the molecular mechanisms of antibody stability. Monoclonal antibodies have transformed the study of biological processes and represent blockbuster therapeutics for cancer and inflammation. Unfortunately, antibodies often display limited stability, which greatly hinders development. Mutations have recently been identified that render human antibodies resistant to aggregation, and high-resolu ....Investigating the dynamic nature of antibody stability. The aim of the project is to provide insights into the molecular mechanisms of antibody stability. Monoclonal antibodies have transformed the study of biological processes and represent blockbuster therapeutics for cancer and inflammation. Unfortunately, antibodies often display limited stability, which greatly hinders development. Mutations have recently been identified that render human antibodies resistant to aggregation, and high-resolution crystal structures are being used to identify function. Intriguingly, preliminary data indicates that the mutations do not affect the native antibody structure, but rather influence dynamic states. The project plans to use a combination of mutagenesis, molecular dynamics simulation and deuterium exchange to study antibody dynamics.Read moreRead less
Polymerization Mechanism and Kinetics of 1,1-Disubstituted Monomers. This project focuses on two exciting research areas: (I) we have found that an oxygen atom b to the double bond activates radical polymerization, making a whole new family of polymeric structures accessible, and (II) we have strong preliminary data that demonstrates a very large solvent effect on propagation and termination reactions for acrylic monomers with an a-CH2OH functionality, suggesting that significant control can be ....Polymerization Mechanism and Kinetics of 1,1-Disubstituted Monomers. This project focuses on two exciting research areas: (I) we have found that an oxygen atom b to the double bond activates radical polymerization, making a whole new family of polymeric structures accessible, and (II) we have strong preliminary data that demonstrates a very large solvent effect on propagation and termination reactions for acrylic monomers with an a-CH2OH functionality, suggesting that significant control can be exerted over the polymerization process using additives. Additionally, we demonstrate that polymers containing repeat units with an a-CH2OH functionality can undergo reversible cyclization, enabling a whole range of novel functional materials.Read moreRead less