Gastrointestinal hormones: linking insulin dysregulation and laminitis. This project aims to identify the earliest pathogenic factors of disease by investigating two key hormones, ghrelin and GLP-2, and whether a specific genetic mutation underlies insulin dysregulation. Using innovative approaches the project will enable the identification of at-risk animals and pinpoint novel treatment strategies. In the long term improved disease treatment and prevention will reduce the suffering associated w ....Gastrointestinal hormones: linking insulin dysregulation and laminitis. This project aims to identify the earliest pathogenic factors of disease by investigating two key hormones, ghrelin and GLP-2, and whether a specific genetic mutation underlies insulin dysregulation. Using innovative approaches the project will enable the identification of at-risk animals and pinpoint novel treatment strategies. In the long term improved disease treatment and prevention will reduce the suffering associated with painful and often lethal co-morbidities.Read moreRead less
Saving your skin: physiology of immune regulation in mammalian lymph nodes. The overall aim of this proposal is to understand the mechanisms through which a rare population of regulatory cells maintains skin integrity. Despite their importance, little is known about the regulatory pathways these cells utilise. Previous work from the team has described an innovative technique to enrich these cells for in-depth study and demonstrated their potent regulatory capacity in vivo. This project will enha ....Saving your skin: physiology of immune regulation in mammalian lymph nodes. The overall aim of this proposal is to understand the mechanisms through which a rare population of regulatory cells maintains skin integrity. Despite their importance, little is known about the regulatory pathways these cells utilise. Previous work from the team has described an innovative technique to enrich these cells for in-depth study and demonstrated their potent regulatory capacity in vivo. This project will enhance our understanding of these cells and uncover their mechanisms of action. The outcomes of this work will therefore provide fundamental new knowledge of skin physiology, and lead to novel insights regarding how healthy skin, which is essential for the very survival and function of a living organism, may be maintained.Read moreRead less
Regulation of salt gland activity in the estuarine crocodile: phenotypic plasticity and control mechanisms. The estuarine crocodile excretes excess sodium and chloride ions through salt glands located on the tongue, enabling the crocodile to live in seawater. This study will investigate the regulation of salt gland secretory capacity and activity, by examining both the phenotypic plasticity of the gland to changes in environmental salinity and diet, and by determining the neural/humoral mech ....Regulation of salt gland activity in the estuarine crocodile: phenotypic plasticity and control mechanisms. The estuarine crocodile excretes excess sodium and chloride ions through salt glands located on the tongue, enabling the crocodile to live in seawater. This study will investigate the regulation of salt gland secretory capacity and activity, by examining both the phenotypic plasticity of the gland to changes in environmental salinity and diet, and by determining the neural/humoral mechanisms controlling secretory rate. In vivo measurements of blood flow and salt gland secretory rate, together with perfused gland preparations will reveal extrinsic and intrinsic factors controlling salt gland activity and the degree of coupling between blood flow and secretory rate.Read moreRead less
The recirculation of myeloid dendritic cells. This project aims to understand dendritic cell recirculation. It will use virological tools to track dendritic cell migration, and identify key decision points. Expected outcomes include enhanced capacity in basic research and greater interdisciplinary collaboration between virology and immunology research groups. Significant benefits will include a new understanding of how G protein coupled receptor signalling and other tissue cues guide dendritic c ....The recirculation of myeloid dendritic cells. This project aims to understand dendritic cell recirculation. It will use virological tools to track dendritic cell migration, and identify key decision points. Expected outcomes include enhanced capacity in basic research and greater interdisciplinary collaboration between virology and immunology research groups. Significant benefits will include a new understanding of how G protein coupled receptor signalling and other tissue cues guide dendritic cell recirculation, and what consequences the recirculation has for immune cell function. This understanding will significantly advance our basic understanding of the immune system.Read moreRead less
Regulated muscle-based thermogenesis for body temperature regulation. Mammals maintain a constant core body temperature by generating heat in resting muscles in response to changes in the environmental temperatures. This project aims to show how the skeletal muscles that are closer to the body core contribute the majority of heat, how the muscles of the limbs have their heat generation curtailed as necessary, and how this is coordinated by the body in response to ambient temperature. Project out ....Regulated muscle-based thermogenesis for body temperature regulation. Mammals maintain a constant core body temperature by generating heat in resting muscles in response to changes in the environmental temperatures. This project aims to show how the skeletal muscles that are closer to the body core contribute the majority of heat, how the muscles of the limbs have their heat generation curtailed as necessary, and how this is coordinated by the body in response to ambient temperature. Project outcomes include defining, for the first time, how heat generation in the muscles of the body is regulated. This should provide critical knowledge of mammalian evolution and ways to manipulate metabolism, which may provide ways to assist the production of meat by managing hypothermia and hyperthermia risk in agriculture.Read moreRead less
The evolution of energy metabolism in ectotherms. Metabolic rate is the rate at which organisms take up, transform, and expend energy and materials. The primary outcome of this initiative is a comprehensive understanding of the effect of climate on the metabolic rate of ectothermic vertebrates, including goannas, fish and toads. Our research will encompass aquatic and terrestrial environments; temperate and tropical habitats; and include both iconic native species and alien invasive ones. We se ....The evolution of energy metabolism in ectotherms. Metabolic rate is the rate at which organisms take up, transform, and expend energy and materials. The primary outcome of this initiative is a comprehensive understanding of the effect of climate on the metabolic rate of ectothermic vertebrates, including goannas, fish and toads. Our research will encompass aquatic and terrestrial environments; temperate and tropical habitats; and include both iconic native species and alien invasive ones. We seek to understand not only how and why species in these environments vary in their metabolic rate, but also the consequences of this variation. Such knowledge will be important in understanding how climate change does and will affect animals and in predicting its consequences.Read moreRead less
Testing the adaptive benefit of physiological acclimation. For over a century, physiologists have observed that organisms can modify their physiological function in response to changes in the environment, a process known as acclimation. However, until recently, the adaptive benefit of these acclimation responses has been assumed rather than tested. In this study, I will utilize the effects of temperature on the ability of male mosquito fish (Gambusia holbrooki) to obtain matings and subsequently ....Testing the adaptive benefit of physiological acclimation. For over a century, physiologists have observed that organisms can modify their physiological function in response to changes in the environment, a process known as acclimation. However, until recently, the adaptive benefit of these acclimation responses has been assumed rather than tested. In this study, I will utilize the effects of temperature on the ability of male mosquito fish (Gambusia holbrooki) to obtain matings and subsequently sire offspring to test the benefit of both thermal acclimation and developmental plasticity. This will allow the most comprehensive test of two important hypotheses in comparative physiology: the Beneficial Acclimation Hypothesis and the Beneficial Developmental Plasticity Hypothesis.Read moreRead less
Single vesicle dynamics and the control of secretion. This project investigates secretion and tests a new model for secretory control. Its outcomes will further our knowledge in this important area and may be significant in the longer term for the treatment of secretory diseases.
Muscle fibre excitability and calcium regulation in skeletal muscle of amphibians and mammals. The fundamental role of skeletal muscle is posture and movement. Essential for this is a specialised cell structure and a complex regulation of function. This project will define key aspects of muscle structure and functional regulation crucial to developing targets for improving function under stressed states such as fatigue, disease and age.
Does physiological plasticity of individuals render populations resilient to climate change? Abrupt environmental changes can put natural populations at risk of extinction. The project will show to what extent individuals can compensate for temperature changes and thereby render populations resilient to climate change. This research will make theoretical advances and improve the power to predict impacts of future climate change.