Metalloproteomics: A new piece of the systems biology puzzle. Systems biology uses advanced analytical technology to study the complex chemistry of the living cell. Many cellular functions are the result of chemical reactions involving metalloproteins, which are notoriously difficult to study due to the weak bonds between metal and protein that is not normally amenable to traditional proteomic approaches. In partnership with the leading analytical manufacturer Agilent Technologies, this project ....Metalloproteomics: A new piece of the systems biology puzzle. Systems biology uses advanced analytical technology to study the complex chemistry of the living cell. Many cellular functions are the result of chemical reactions involving metalloproteins, which are notoriously difficult to study due to the weak bonds between metal and protein that is not normally amenable to traditional proteomic approaches. In partnership with the leading analytical manufacturer Agilent Technologies, this project aims to adapt and apply advanced mass spectrometry to the study of metalloproteins, developing new methods for studying hundreds of molecules in single experiments. Using the C. elegans model organism the project aims to showcase the importance of metals in biology and develop new solutions for the $2.9 billion proteomics industry.Read moreRead less
Developing next-generation mass spectrometry imaging with isomer resolution. Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is a rapidly emerging technology for mapping molecular distributions within biological samples. This project will bring together market-leading MSI instrumentation from the industry partner Waters Corporation with unique technologies developed at QUT and UOW to develop an integrated MSI-platform capable of achieving high mass- and spatial-resolution, as well as discrimination of lipid iso ....Developing next-generation mass spectrometry imaging with isomer resolution. Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is a rapidly emerging technology for mapping molecular distributions within biological samples. This project will bring together market-leading MSI instrumentation from the industry partner Waters Corporation with unique technologies developed at QUT and UOW to develop an integrated MSI-platform capable of achieving high mass- and spatial-resolution, as well as discrimination of lipid isomers. Resolution of lipid isomers using this instrumentation will afford researchers a first glimpse of isomer-resolved images that will be used to visualise tissue-specific changes resulting from underlying chemical, physical or metabolic processes; changes that are currently invisible to contemporary imaging technologies.Read moreRead less
Development of ozone-induced dissociation for lipidomics workflows. An Australian invention (ozone induced dissociation) will be developed in collaboration with a major instrument manufacturer. This project will provide Australian researchers with unique capabilities to investigate the role of lipids (fats) in human disease and will place them at the forefront of lipid research internationally.
Enantioselective nitrilases from filamentous fungi. The optical characteristics (chirality) of chemical precursors are important for many fine chemicals. Chiral intermediates are in high demand by the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries for the preparation of bulk drug intermediates and agricultural products. Nitriles are attractive starting points but their conversion to corresponding amides and carboxylic acids generates significant wastes. Their hydrolysis can be performed under mil ....Enantioselective nitrilases from filamentous fungi. The optical characteristics (chirality) of chemical precursors are important for many fine chemicals. Chiral intermediates are in high demand by the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries for the preparation of bulk drug intermediates and agricultural products. Nitriles are attractive starting points but their conversion to corresponding amides and carboxylic acids generates significant wastes. Their hydrolysis can be performed under mild conditions by enzymes termed nitrilases. We will work on fungal nitrilases as they present a globally attractive, yet untapped commercial target. The outcome for Applimex will be a suite of biocatalysts specific for the production of key intermediates for drug and agrochemical syntheses.Read moreRead less
Pilot-scale production of therapeutically-active cannabinoids . The Isolation of minor therapeutically-active cannabinoids from cannabis at pilot scale would establish a commercially competitive Australian industry and lead to a superior position in the global marketplace. This project aims to select elite clones from genetically diverse cannabis strains for yield of minor, but therapeutically-active, cannabinoids, and develop a pilot-scale extraction and separation procedure that can be scaled- ....Pilot-scale production of therapeutically-active cannabinoids . The Isolation of minor therapeutically-active cannabinoids from cannabis at pilot scale would establish a commercially competitive Australian industry and lead to a superior position in the global marketplace. This project aims to select elite clones from genetically diverse cannabis strains for yield of minor, but therapeutically-active, cannabinoids, and develop a pilot-scale extraction and separation procedure that can be scaled-up for commercial production. This would contribute to the growth of the agri-biotechnology sector and a skilled multidisciplinary workforce in rural Australia, thus providing significant economic benefit. The novel scale-up procedure has potential for industry adoption to add value to Australian manufacturing.
Read moreRead less
Identification of novel biomarkers in tears for prostate cancer diagnosis and prognosis. The purpose of this study is to identify novel biomarkers in the tears of patients with CaP. The use of the several techniques will increase the chance of success and enable us to find more diagnostic markers. If successful, the identified proteins may be used to diagnose and determine the stage of cancer. This will help guide clinicians in choosing the best treatment methods for an individual patient. The m ....Identification of novel biomarkers in tears for prostate cancer diagnosis and prognosis. The purpose of this study is to identify novel biomarkers in the tears of patients with CaP. The use of the several techniques will increase the chance of success and enable us to find more diagnostic markers. If successful, the identified proteins may be used to diagnose and determine the stage of cancer. This will help guide clinicians in choosing the best treatment methods for an individual patient. The markers may also be used to monitor the disease progress and the effects of treatment. The results from this study may improve the prognosis of CaP patients.Read moreRead less
Development of an ultrasensitive assay for human prion proteins. The aim of this work is to enable the detection of prion proteins in human blood and other tissues. The assay system to be developed will detect much lower levels of these disease-causing proteins than is possible at present; it will be more rapid and will measure prion protein levels more accurately than existing assays. The outcome of the work is expected to facilitate the production and certification of prion-free blood and bl ....Development of an ultrasensitive assay for human prion proteins. The aim of this work is to enable the detection of prion proteins in human blood and other tissues. The assay system to be developed will detect much lower levels of these disease-causing proteins than is possible at present; it will be more rapid and will measure prion protein levels more accurately than existing assays. The outcome of the work is expected to facilitate the production and certification of prion-free blood and blood products. Prions cause Bovine Spongiform Encaphalopathy and Creutzfeld Jacob Disease and attempts to control of these diseases would be greatly abetted by an optimal test for the disease-causing agent.Read moreRead less
Novel antimicrobial target discovery by an integrated approach. The project aims to uncover the molecular targets of BDM-I, a novel antimicrobial candidate discovered by the start-up Australian company BioDiem Ltd. BDM-I is active against many drug resistant bacterial and fungal microorganisms and it is currently in pre-clinical development. However, the lack of resistant phenotypes makes it difficult to identify BDM-I’s mechanism of action. The project plans to use an integrated approach that c ....Novel antimicrobial target discovery by an integrated approach. The project aims to uncover the molecular targets of BDM-I, a novel antimicrobial candidate discovered by the start-up Australian company BioDiem Ltd. BDM-I is active against many drug resistant bacterial and fungal microorganisms and it is currently in pre-clinical development. However, the lack of resistant phenotypes makes it difficult to identify BDM-I’s mechanism of action. The project plans to use an integrated approach that combines a novel technique of in silico screening with experimental validation. Project outcomes are anticipated to include the first computational method to integrate target and ligand similarity for proteome-scale target and off-target discovery, which will advance the global fight against drug-resistant microorganisms.Read moreRead less
Visualising below the tip of the proteome iceberg. Proteomics attempts to understand human biology by examining the protein components of cells and tissues. Unfortunately, currently available technology only allows approximately 10% of the complexity of these cells and tissues to be concurrently investigated. This project will the physical, chemical and functional properties of protein classes for enrichment, as well as improve technologies for protein visualization, identification and character ....Visualising below the tip of the proteome iceberg. Proteomics attempts to understand human biology by examining the protein components of cells and tissues. Unfortunately, currently available technology only allows approximately 10% of the complexity of these cells and tissues to be concurrently investigated. This project will the physical, chemical and functional properties of protein classes for enrichment, as well as improve technologies for protein visualization, identification and characterization. These approaches will allow the scientific community to further mine beneath the surface of the proteomics 'iceberg'.Read moreRead less
Imaging Mass Spectrometry (IMS), a peptide biomarker discovery tool using tissue. Cancer is the second most common cause of death in Australia. The newly developed technology of Imaging Mass Spectrometry for peptides in tissue has the potential to discover biomarkers for early diagnosis of cancer. This new technology could avoid a number of cancer deaths and reduce suffering of patients through earlier and better diagnosis.