Flipping the mattress: infinite polyurethane recycling by synthetic biology. Australia is covered in billions of tonnes of plastic and yet <10% is recycled today. Polyurethane (PU) is ubiquitous in our everyday lives, from lacquer coatings to elastane clothing to durable foam padding in car seats, cushions and mattresses. Currently, there are few avenues for PU recycling and much ends up in landfill e.g., a single mattress produces 15-20kg of PU foam waste. Luckily, biodegradation of PU can occu ....Flipping the mattress: infinite polyurethane recycling by synthetic biology. Australia is covered in billions of tonnes of plastic and yet <10% is recycled today. Polyurethane (PU) is ubiquitous in our everyday lives, from lacquer coatings to elastane clothing to durable foam padding in car seats, cushions and mattresses. Currently, there are few avenues for PU recycling and much ends up in landfill e.g., a single mattress produces 15-20kg of PU foam waste. Luckily, biodegradation of PU can occur naturally via various microbial means and from insects, like Galleria mellonella larvae. The overall aim of this research project is to understand plastic biodegradation and translate nature’s solutions into flexible and efficient synthetic enzyme technologies that can sustainably recycle commonly used PU foams. Read moreRead less
Design and Fabrication of Molecular Machines: the Nanomachines of the Future. Nanotechnology that incorporates the use of nanomachines and molecular machines is an exciting new area of translational research, with broad potential in biomedical technology and industrial applications. We are developing new molecular machines and optimising their assembly. Recent innovation in the world of nanotechnology concerns the design and manufacture of synthetic and hybrid machines, based on existing biologi ....Design and Fabrication of Molecular Machines: the Nanomachines of the Future. Nanotechnology that incorporates the use of nanomachines and molecular machines is an exciting new area of translational research, with broad potential in biomedical technology and industrial applications. We are developing new molecular machines and optimising their assembly. Recent innovation in the world of nanotechnology concerns the design and manufacture of synthetic and hybrid machines, based on existing biological molecular machines but incorporating synthetic parts. Australia has an opportunity to be at the forefront of these new developments in nanotechnology, with a new generation of Australian scientists being trained across the foundation disciplines of chemistry, physics and molecular biology.Read moreRead less
Remodelling encapsulin nanocages to help enhance plant carbon fixation. Nature has evolved mechanisms in microbial systems to improve photosynthetic efficiency by saturating the enzyme Rubisco with carbon dioxide. These carbon concentrating mechanisms are genetically complex, precluding successful introduction into crops. Our simpler approach is to use encapsulins, a new source of robust bacterial pore-containing nanocages made from a single gene. This project will optimise the development of sy ....Remodelling encapsulin nanocages to help enhance plant carbon fixation. Nature has evolved mechanisms in microbial systems to improve photosynthetic efficiency by saturating the enzyme Rubisco with carbon dioxide. These carbon concentrating mechanisms are genetically complex, precluding successful introduction into crops. Our simpler approach is to use encapsulins, a new source of robust bacterial pore-containing nanocages made from a single gene. This project will optimise the development of synthetic encapsulin-Rubisco carbon-fixing nanoreactors and transform them into leaf chloroplasts to test their impact on plant photosynthesis and growth. Our genetically simpler solution will aid ongoing global efforts to deliver overdue step change improvements in agricultural productivity.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100195
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,000,000.00
Summary
Field-emission gun transmission electron microscope for the research in nanomaterials, metal alloys and biological sciences. The proposed facility is required by a large range of world-leading research programs in light metals, nanomaterials, fibres and biomaterials. These research programs are strongly supported by automobile, textile, mineral and advanced materials industries that have important roles in the current national economy and local communities. The facility will improve significan ....Field-emission gun transmission electron microscope for the research in nanomaterials, metal alloys and biological sciences. The proposed facility is required by a large range of world-leading research programs in light metals, nanomaterials, fibres and biomaterials. These research programs are strongly supported by automobile, textile, mineral and advanced materials industries that have important roles in the current national economy and local communities. The facility will improve significantly our current research ability and help the creation of new research areas in nanotechnology and energy materials beneficial to clean energy, environmental protections and health care. It is also important equipment for new research student training.Read moreRead less
Biosynthesis and functions of two phytotoxins in Septoria nodorum blotch. This project aims to investigate how a fungal plant pathogen makes and uses small bioactive molecules to facilitate infection. It will characterise the function of the genes and enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of a light-activated phytotoxic molecule and a potential anti-plant defence molecule found in the pathogenic wheat fungus Parastagonospora nodorum, and investigate their contribution to disease development. Expe ....Biosynthesis and functions of two phytotoxins in Septoria nodorum blotch. This project aims to investigate how a fungal plant pathogen makes and uses small bioactive molecules to facilitate infection. It will characterise the function of the genes and enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of a light-activated phytotoxic molecule and a potential anti-plant defence molecule found in the pathogenic wheat fungus Parastagonospora nodorum, and investigate their contribution to disease development. Expected outcomes include better understanding of plant-microbe interactions, disease management strategies, technologies for identifying biosynthetic pathways in other fungi, and enzyme technology for synthesising molecules. This could lead to new herbicides, biopesticides and drugs.Read moreRead less
Fungal Ribosomally Synthesised and Post-translationally Modified Peptides. Fungi produce an array of molecules called secondary metabolites (SMs) that impact on everyday life (e.g. penicillin). This project aims to investigate a new class of fungal peptide SMs called RiPPs which are structurally unique from existing molecules and offer the exciting prospect of harbouring new and novel biological activities. This project expects to discover the mechanisms of RiPP synthesis and their biological ro ....Fungal Ribosomally Synthesised and Post-translationally Modified Peptides. Fungi produce an array of molecules called secondary metabolites (SMs) that impact on everyday life (e.g. penicillin). This project aims to investigate a new class of fungal peptide SMs called RiPPs which are structurally unique from existing molecules and offer the exciting prospect of harbouring new and novel biological activities. This project expects to discover the mechanisms of RiPP synthesis and their biological roles in plant pathogenic fungi, and uncover and engineer novel RiPPs with desired bioactivities. The expected outcome from this project will be a seminal advance in fungal SM biology which should provide significant benefits through the generation of exciting new lead molecules for the agricultural and medical industries.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130101350
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$373,038.00
Summary
A synthetic biology approach for mining the secondary metabolomes of fungal phytopathogens. Synthetic biology approaches will be employed to identify the secondary metabolites produced by the two important wheat pathogens, Stagonospora nodorum and Mycosphaerella graminicola. This will lead to the discovery of novel chemicals and facilitate our understanding of the roles of secondary metabolites in wheat diseases.
Development of Optimised Processes for Manufacturing Melamine-Urea-Formaldehyde Type Resins, and Improved Resins and Reconstituted Wood Products Derived from Resins. Melamine-urea-formaldehyde resins are used to manufacture water-resistant particleboards, papers and laminates. This project is expected to provide more efficient processes for the industrial preparation of these resins, and improved resins and reconstituted wood products derived from the resins. Methods will be developed to assess ....Development of Optimised Processes for Manufacturing Melamine-Urea-Formaldehyde Type Resins, and Improved Resins and Reconstituted Wood Products Derived from Resins. Melamine-urea-formaldehyde resins are used to manufacture water-resistant particleboards, papers and laminates. This project is expected to provide more efficient processes for the industrial preparation of these resins, and improved resins and reconstituted wood products derived from the resins. Methods will be developed to assess the structure of the resins, in order to relate resin synthesis with structure and function, and therefore optimise performance as well as simplify the manufacturing process. Potential replacements for melamine will be prepared and evaluated. It is anticipated that these will confer particular properties on the resins and the wood products, such as strength and durability.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE160100070
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$241,500.00
Summary
Automated Fibre Braiding Facility for Multifunctional Structural Materials. Automated fibre braiding facility for multifunctional structural materials:
This project seeks to establish an Australian automated braiding facility to create innovative fibrous materials with multiple functionalities. This facility aims to provide Australian researchers with the capabilities of high-speed, precision and versatility to radially braid single or multiple filament types including carbon, metal, optical, n ....Automated Fibre Braiding Facility for Multifunctional Structural Materials. Automated fibre braiding facility for multifunctional structural materials:
This project seeks to establish an Australian automated braiding facility to create innovative fibrous materials with multiple functionalities. This facility aims to provide Australian researchers with the capabilities of high-speed, precision and versatility to radially braid single or multiple filament types including carbon, metal, optical, natural, bio-inspired and bio-compatible fibres and filaments to create new materials with unique functional properties. The facility would be able to braid over multiple length scales spanning nanofibres to millimetre-sized filaments to create novel materials and shapes not possible using other processing techniques. Expected applications include new materials for building, self-healing, human protection and biomedicine. Read moreRead less
Engineering a technology platform for organoids. Protein delivery technologies hold great potential to improve organoids (miniature organs used as in vitro models), allowing a deep understanding of development. However, current limitations must be overcome - particularly cost, precision, and efficacy. This project will engineer delivery materials to improve the efficacy of organoids, allowing control over the location and timing of protein delivery. Outcomes will include a technology platform o ....Engineering a technology platform for organoids. Protein delivery technologies hold great potential to improve organoids (miniature organs used as in vitro models), allowing a deep understanding of development. However, current limitations must be overcome - particularly cost, precision, and efficacy. This project will engineer delivery materials to improve the efficacy of organoids, allowing control over the location and timing of protein delivery. Outcomes will include a technology platform of immediate use in the agriculture sector and for animal model alternatives. The benefit will be widespread, ensuring the growth and sustainability of our health and agriculture sector. The project will increase public understanding of protein delivery technologies, aiding in technology adoption.Read moreRead less