Dynamic signaling pathways of dispersal in bacterial biofilms. This Breakthrough Science project will result in an increased understanding of the molecular processes that govern biofilm development and dispersal. While the outcomes will be directly applicable where P. aeruginosa infections continue to cause health-threatening conditions, such as in Cystic Fibrosis chronic infections, it will also be instrumental for the rational design of novel products and strategies to control biofilms of othe ....Dynamic signaling pathways of dispersal in bacterial biofilms. This Breakthrough Science project will result in an increased understanding of the molecular processes that govern biofilm development and dispersal. While the outcomes will be directly applicable where P. aeruginosa infections continue to cause health-threatening conditions, such as in Cystic Fibrosis chronic infections, it will also be instrumental for the rational design of novel products and strategies to control biofilms of other single species or of mixed species populations in many other settings. Countless environmental, industrial and clinical applications will benefit from improved antimicrobial strategies and reduced usage of antibiotics.Read moreRead less
An interdisciplinary approach to host-pathogen interactions in infection. This project aims to understand the molecular and cellular interactions between host and parasite, as well as providing a quantitative framework for analysing infection dynamics in other systems. Infection involves a complex interaction between the host and the parasite, which is very dynamic and therefore difficult to study by traditional sampling and analysis approaches. This project has combined mathematical modelling w ....An interdisciplinary approach to host-pathogen interactions in infection. This project aims to understand the molecular and cellular interactions between host and parasite, as well as providing a quantitative framework for analysing infection dynamics in other systems. Infection involves a complex interaction between the host and the parasite, which is very dynamic and therefore difficult to study by traditional sampling and analysis approaches. This project has combined mathematical modelling with a novel experimental protocol to allow the study of kinetics of parasite replication in vivo. Expected outcomes will provide significant benefits, such as new avenues for vaccination and immune intervention.Read moreRead less
What do Microorganisms do Season by Season, Year after Year in the Frigid Antarctic Wilderness? Antarctica is arguably the world’s most important continent for influencing the Earth’s climate and global ocean ecosystem. Like most natural aquatic environments on Earth, in Antarctica microorganisms dominate the genetic pool and biomass and play the key roles in maintaining proper ecosystem function. The project aims to determine how microbial communities change throughout a complete annual cycle i ....What do Microorganisms do Season by Season, Year after Year in the Frigid Antarctic Wilderness? Antarctica is arguably the world’s most important continent for influencing the Earth’s climate and global ocean ecosystem. Like most natural aquatic environments on Earth, in Antarctica microorganisms dominate the genetic pool and biomass and play the key roles in maintaining proper ecosystem function. The project aims to determine how microbial communities change throughout a complete annual cycle in three climate sensitive, Antarctic lakes. By establishing what the microorganisms do in different seasons the study will learn which microbial processes change and how environmental perturbation will impact on normal ecological cycles. This will form the basis for evaluating the effects of climate change on sensitive ecosystems in the Antarctic.Read moreRead less