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Identifying novel insecticides and their targets: probing Australian arachnid venoms. Insect pests destroy an estimated 2-3 billion dollars of crops in Australia. Insect pests also are responsible for the transmission of many new and re-emerging human, animal and plant diseases threatening health, wellbeing and prosperity. Current insecticides are severely limited by toxicity and/or insect resistance, and some are undergoing use cancellation overseas. Thus there is an urgent need to develop safe ....Identifying novel insecticides and their targets: probing Australian arachnid venoms. Insect pests destroy an estimated 2-3 billion dollars of crops in Australia. Insect pests also are responsible for the transmission of many new and re-emerging human, animal and plant diseases threatening health, wellbeing and prosperity. Current insecticides are severely limited by toxicity and/or insect resistance, and some are undergoing use cancellation overseas. Thus there is an urgent need to develop safer and more specific insecticides that are effective against disease vectors and agricultural pest insects, as well as to identify new insecticide targets. This research has a multi-million dollar potential benefit to agricultural, health and pest control sectorsRead moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354474
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$30,000.00
Summary
Metals in Medicine. Metal-based drugs account for several billion dollars of pharmaceutical sales worldwide, but proportionally much less research and development has focussed on this area than organic drugs. Australia has played a pivotal role in the early development of metal-based pharmaceuticals, which remains a research strength. The dual aims of the initiative are to provide a network for a vibrant industry based around metals in medicine and to improve the health of Australians. The ini ....Metals in Medicine. Metal-based drugs account for several billion dollars of pharmaceutical sales worldwide, but proportionally much less research and development has focussed on this area than organic drugs. Australia has played a pivotal role in the early development of metal-based pharmaceuticals, which remains a research strength. The dual aims of the initiative are to provide a network for a vibrant industry based around metals in medicine and to improve the health of Australians. The initiative will foster national and international cross-disciplinary collaborations to address the impediments holding back Australia's potential to take full advantage of our research strength in metals in medicine.Read moreRead less
Using a battery of tests to evaluate the potential toxicity of remediated and unremediated soils and dusts contaminated with metals. An in vitro model simulating the intact and immature infant intestinal epithelium will be used to determine the changes in solubility and uptake of metals following in situ remediation processes. The earthworm and bacterial luminescence toxicity tests indicate the ecotoxicity of contaminated soils.
Many garden soils, household dusts, and industrial sites are conta ....Using a battery of tests to evaluate the potential toxicity of remediated and unremediated soils and dusts contaminated with metals. An in vitro model simulating the intact and immature infant intestinal epithelium will be used to determine the changes in solubility and uptake of metals following in situ remediation processes. The earthworm and bacterial luminescence toxicity tests indicate the ecotoxicity of contaminated soils.
Many garden soils, household dusts, and industrial sites are contaminated with lead, cadmium, and other metals. These pose a risk to human health, especially of children, and ecosystem health
These tests will be applied to prioritise sites where metal contamination exists and to evaluate the effectiveness of remediation techniques in reducing metal uptake and toxicity.Read moreRead less
Molecular toxinology of Australia's lesser known venomous snakes. This proposal represents a tremendous opportunity for biodiscovery from venomous snakes. This will be achieved through the researchers' unique approach of investigating previously unmapped venom systems for divergent, bioactive proteins. An understanding of venomous animal protein evolution great potential in drug discovery and other commercial applications. This project will provide Australian graduate and post-graduate stude ....Molecular toxinology of Australia's lesser known venomous snakes. This proposal represents a tremendous opportunity for biodiscovery from venomous snakes. This will be achieved through the researchers' unique approach of investigating previously unmapped venom systems for divergent, bioactive proteins. An understanding of venomous animal protein evolution great potential in drug discovery and other commercial applications. This project will provide Australian graduate and post-graduate students with finely tuned skills in cutting edge methodological techniques and a fluent understanding of molecular evolution, preparing them to be internationally competitive scientists.Read moreRead less
The effect of dissolved organic matter on the toxicity and bioavailability of metals in tropical freshwater ecosystems. Mine waste materials in tropical Australia, including historical, current and future operations, represent one of the threats to the quality and biodiversity of tropical freshwater ecosystems. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is thought to influence metal toxicity. In order to adequately understand the risks of priority metals and metalloids from mining and other activities (eg. ....The effect of dissolved organic matter on the toxicity and bioavailability of metals in tropical freshwater ecosystems. Mine waste materials in tropical Australia, including historical, current and future operations, represent one of the threats to the quality and biodiversity of tropical freshwater ecosystems. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is thought to influence metal toxicity. In order to adequately understand the risks of priority metals and metalloids from mining and other activities (eg. urban development) to tropical freshwater ecosystems, it is essential that the role of DOC is quantified. The outcomes of this project will provide improved metal risk assessment methodologies; quantitative understanding of the relationship between DOC and the bioavailability and toxicity of key metals such arsenic, aluminium, cadmium, copper, uranium and zinc.Read moreRead less
Pharmacological and biochemical characterisation of Australian mygalomorph spider venoms. This project will increase our limited knowledge of Australian mygalomorph venoms by isolation, identification and characterisation of novel toxins in theraphosid and Northern mouse-spider venoms. Thereby, the scientific basis for the treatment of mygalomorph spider bites might be improved. Secondly, new insights into pharmacology and the potential development of novel therapeutics and molecular probes of t ....Pharmacological and biochemical characterisation of Australian mygalomorph spider venoms. This project will increase our limited knowledge of Australian mygalomorph venoms by isolation, identification and characterisation of novel toxins in theraphosid and Northern mouse-spider venoms. Thereby, the scientific basis for the treatment of mygalomorph spider bites might be improved. Secondly, new insights into pharmacology and the potential development of novel therapeutics and molecular probes of target molecules might be expected.Read moreRead less
Natural Therapeutic Products from Shark Bile. Scymnol and its sulfate are natural therapeutic products from shark bile with highly potent anti-oxidant and liver-protective activities. The Industry Partner and Macrides have co-patented the synthesis of scymnol to avoid using scarce natural resources. However, unresolved problems in scale-up of production have prevented them from supplying the growing demands of cosmetic and health food companies. Our research group has recently developed a potent ....Natural Therapeutic Products from Shark Bile. Scymnol and its sulfate are natural therapeutic products from shark bile with highly potent anti-oxidant and liver-protective activities. The Industry Partner and Macrides have co-patented the synthesis of scymnol to avoid using scarce natural resources. However, unresolved problems in scale-up of production have prevented them from supplying the growing demands of cosmetic and health food companies. Our research group has recently developed a potential synthetic route for scymnol sulfate. The present project aims to develop a commercially-viable scale-up of this synthesis for manufacturing scymnol and scymnol sulfate to solve current supply problems; and to provide essential safety information for their appropriate use; and evaluate potential new therapeutic uses.Read moreRead less
Development of a risk assessment tool to minimise mixed metals toxicities from mine tailings. Research based on animal uptake from mine tailings is required to quantify comparative bioavailability of mixtures of metals to provide data for mine rehabilitation design during the planning stage. Such data also provides risk assessment in humans. The optimum balance is minimum environmental effects from the rehabilitated mine structure versus minimised cost through planning prior to project commencem ....Development of a risk assessment tool to minimise mixed metals toxicities from mine tailings. Research based on animal uptake from mine tailings is required to quantify comparative bioavailability of mixtures of metals to provide data for mine rehabilitation design during the planning stage. Such data also provides risk assessment in humans. The optimum balance is minimum environmental effects from the rehabilitated mine structure versus minimised cost through planning prior to project commencement. The significant cost of mining ore bodies, particularly by modern open cut methods, is the removal of rock and soil. The research on animal toxicity testings will provide a tool to more accurately detail mine rehabilitation and give quantitative indicators for closure.Read moreRead less
Micro- and nano-particulate delivery systems for chemical and biological weapons: physical characterisation and risk assessment. Inert solid powder has been used as a carrier for chemical and biologically-active agents to increase their effectiveness in a range of applications such as chemical weapons, pesticides and insecticides. The aim of this research is to determine the influence of the physical characteristics of particulate delivery systems on their ability to deliver potentially toxic s ....Micro- and nano-particulate delivery systems for chemical and biological weapons: physical characterisation and risk assessment. Inert solid powder has been used as a carrier for chemical and biologically-active agents to increase their effectiveness in a range of applications such as chemical weapons, pesticides and insecticides. The aim of this research is to determine the influence of the physical characteristics of particulate delivery systems on their ability to deliver potentially toxic substances to exposed skin and through protective clothing. This data will provide the first step in the design and development of effective protective clothing/products and safety protocols to safeguard the health of Australians involved in the defence of Australia.Read moreRead less
Metal-Based Anti-inflammatory Drugs with High Efficacy and Low Side-Effects. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have widespread human and veterinary applications for the treatment of arthritis and other inflammatory diseases, but their utility is limited by often severe gastrointestinal, renal and cardiac side-effects. The recently heralded COX-2 inhibitors have not lived up to their expectations in terms of efficacy and side-effects, therefore, there is a need to develop new potent ....Metal-Based Anti-inflammatory Drugs with High Efficacy and Low Side-Effects. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have widespread human and veterinary applications for the treatment of arthritis and other inflammatory diseases, but their utility is limited by often severe gastrointestinal, renal and cardiac side-effects. The recently heralded COX-2 inhibitors have not lived up to their expectations in terms of efficacy and side-effects, therefore, there is a need to develop new potent, but safer, NSAIDs. This project is aimed at using the results from new lead compounds to design NSAIDs with much greater efficacy and much less side effects than those currently available.Read moreRead less