Breaching membrane barriers. This project will endeavour to develop novel molecular transporters to deliver macromolecules inside cells or microorganisms. Cell membranes are barriers to macromolecules. The ability to cross these barriers and deliver biological macromolecules into cells represents a major achievement with endless opportunities to modulate pathways and to introduce biomarkers, therapeutics and research tools. The project’s novel platform technology would be based on stable cyclic ....Breaching membrane barriers. This project will endeavour to develop novel molecular transporters to deliver macromolecules inside cells or microorganisms. Cell membranes are barriers to macromolecules. The ability to cross these barriers and deliver biological macromolecules into cells represents a major achievement with endless opportunities to modulate pathways and to introduce biomarkers, therapeutics and research tools. The project’s novel platform technology would be based on stable cyclic peptides to deliver genes, proteins, probes or biomarkers into distinct cell types that can monitor or modulate specific pathways and be translated into new knowledge and specific industrial applications.Read moreRead less
Plant peptides as modulators of invertebrate neurohormone receptors. Naturally-occurring peptides are widely distributed in many plants, but their biological role is often unclear. Circular plant peptides (called cyclotides) that share similarities with the neuropeptide oxytocin, and acts on its receptor, have been previously isolated. This signalling system is important for reproduction, development, and behaviour as well as water homeostasis. To elucidate the natural function of cyclotides. Th ....Plant peptides as modulators of invertebrate neurohormone receptors. Naturally-occurring peptides are widely distributed in many plants, but their biological role is often unclear. Circular plant peptides (called cyclotides) that share similarities with the neuropeptide oxytocin, and acts on its receptor, have been previously isolated. This signalling system is important for reproduction, development, and behaviour as well as water homeostasis. To elucidate the natural function of cyclotides. This project aims to characterise the pharmacological properties and biological effects of invertebrate receptors and their modulation by cyclotides. The notion that plants produce molecules to target invertebrate receptors is extremely appealing and will enhance knowledge about fundamental biological processes of plant-animal ecology.Read moreRead less
Development of disulphide-rich peptides for drug design. Peptides are an outstanding source of potential drug leads. This project seeks to build on earlier breakthroughs by developing stable, peptide-based drugs to combat cancer and autoimmune diseases. The peptides, derived from natural sources, are anticipated to provide drug leads that can ultimately lead to treatments for these diseases.
Development of small molecule primary sulfonamides as new drugs for malaria. Malaria is a major global health threat, causing approximately 800,000 deaths annually. Lives can be saved if patients are treated. The use of current antimalarial drugs is limited by drug resistance, low activity and poor safety. This project investigates the effectiveness of a new class of molecule as a safe drug treatment option to kill malaria parasites.
The potential of membranes – peptide engineering to modulate ion channels. This project aims to develop a platform technology to identify new and selective sodium channel inhibitors based on ultra-stable venom peptides that can interact with and cross membranes. Sodium channels are involved in almost all aspects of human physiology. The ability to selectively inhibit individual sodium channel subtypes and to understand what drives peptides' ability to cross membranes would be a major achievement ....The potential of membranes – peptide engineering to modulate ion channels. This project aims to develop a platform technology to identify new and selective sodium channel inhibitors based on ultra-stable venom peptides that can interact with and cross membranes. Sodium channels are involved in almost all aspects of human physiology. The ability to selectively inhibit individual sodium channel subtypes and to understand what drives peptides' ability to cross membranes would be a major achievement and lead to new neuroscience research tools and technologies. This project’s proposed technology could be translated into new knowledge relevant to the biotechnology industry.Read moreRead less
Carbohydrate language changes in vertebrate-pathogen co-evolution. This project aims to understand protein glycosylation’s role in host-pathogen relationships and cross-species transmission. Species specific sugars extensively modify cell surface and body fluid proteins. These glycans build a universal language that cells use and pathogens abuse. This project will use glycomics and glycoproteomics to uncover how pathogens learned to speak and interpret glyco-languages between different species. ....Carbohydrate language changes in vertebrate-pathogen co-evolution. This project aims to understand protein glycosylation’s role in host-pathogen relationships and cross-species transmission. Species specific sugars extensively modify cell surface and body fluid proteins. These glycans build a universal language that cells use and pathogens abuse. This project will use glycomics and glycoproteomics to uncover how pathogens learned to speak and interpret glyco-languages between different species. This project is expected to develop a glycan dictionary which could reveal host-pathogen co-evolution and glycosylation evolution in the Chordata phylum and counteract zoonoses threats.Read moreRead less
Overcoming antibiotic resistance: rapid discovery of new antibacterial drug targets using chemical proteomics. The prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacteria in the community is a critical public health issue and there is an urgent and compelling need for new antibiotics with novel modes of action to combat these deadly superbugs. While antibiotics from nature have long been a mainstay of the pharmaceutical industry, their development as drugs can be challenging as their cellular targets and mod ....Overcoming antibiotic resistance: rapid discovery of new antibacterial drug targets using chemical proteomics. The prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacteria in the community is a critical public health issue and there is an urgent and compelling need for new antibiotics with novel modes of action to combat these deadly superbugs. While antibiotics from nature have long been a mainstay of the pharmaceutical industry, their development as drugs can be challenging as their cellular targets and modes of action are frequently unknown. In this project, innovative chemical proteomics approaches will be used to rapidly identify and characterise the cellular targets and modes of action of both newly discovered and historic antibiotic natural products, thereby overcoming this bottleneck and accelerating the development of next-generation antibiotics.Read moreRead less
Molecular probe development for high specificity and spatiotemporal control. This project aims at developing next-generation molecular probes with enhanced specificity and spatiotemporal control for the study of proteins and neuropeptide signalling. It addresses recognised knowledge gaps and technical bottlenecks in neuropeptide and memory research. Expected outcomes include a deeper molecular understanding of long-term memory formation and the role of neuropeptides in this process, as well as i ....Molecular probe development for high specificity and spatiotemporal control. This project aims at developing next-generation molecular probes with enhanced specificity and spatiotemporal control for the study of proteins and neuropeptide signalling. It addresses recognised knowledge gaps and technical bottlenecks in neuropeptide and memory research. Expected outcomes include a deeper molecular understanding of long-term memory formation and the role of neuropeptides in this process, as well as innovative chemistry strategies and novel molecular probes to advance fundamental research across the chemical and biological sciences. Anticipated benefits include technological innovations of relevance to Australia’s biotechnology sector and enhanced capacity for cross-disciplinary collaboration.Read moreRead less
Development of effective peptide-based drugs. There is huge interest in the development of bioactive peptides and proteins for the treatment of a wide range of diseases. The aim of this research project is to develop potent and effective peptide-based drugs that are able to resist the body's natural degradation pathways so that they can reach their biological target and act as effective drugs.
Developing a paradigm shift in new pharmaceutical and agrochemical design. This project will provide a paradigm shift in the design of new medicines and farming chemicals. The outcome of this research will be the efficient generation of diverse chemicals having real possibilities to improve global health and food security in the future.