The effects of alpha-2-macroglobulin on amyloid formation and toxicity. The expected outcomes will provide major advances in understanding how the abundant human blood protein alpha-2-macroglobulin influences the formation of protein aggregates that underpin a number of serious diseases (e.g. Alzheimer's disease). The linkages involved are of the highest calibre and will give the Fellowship holder a unique opportunity for training in environments that are truly internationally leading-edge. Fur ....The effects of alpha-2-macroglobulin on amyloid formation and toxicity. The expected outcomes will provide major advances in understanding how the abundant human blood protein alpha-2-macroglobulin influences the formation of protein aggregates that underpin a number of serious diseases (e.g. Alzheimer's disease). The linkages involved are of the highest calibre and will give the Fellowship holder a unique opportunity for training in environments that are truly internationally leading-edge. Furthermore, the very high novelty and broad significance of this work indicate that it will produce high-impact publications which will tangibly assist Australia being recognized as a major contributor to international research outcomes of the highest quality.Read moreRead less
Calcium compartmentation in leaves: testing an integrated model of water and calcium transport with cell specific functional genomics. Calcium is a vital nutrient to animals and humans and its storage in vegetation is important for its accessibility. We believe this storage is linked to water flow in the leaf by a novel mechanism. This project will provide fundamental understanding of the cell type-specific processes involved in calcium storage and water flow in plants. High calibre PhD and Hono ....Calcium compartmentation in leaves: testing an integrated model of water and calcium transport with cell specific functional genomics. Calcium is a vital nutrient to animals and humans and its storage in vegetation is important for its accessibility. We believe this storage is linked to water flow in the leaf by a novel mechanism. This project will provide fundamental understanding of the cell type-specific processes involved in calcium storage and water flow in plants. High calibre PhD and Honours students will be educated to maintain the momentum of international excellence within Australia in the field of plant nutrient relations. The increase in understanding will allow future work to improve calcium availability and water use by plants to the benefit of agricultural productivity and quality of life.Read moreRead less
Molecular control of embryonic patterning: The function of Rhou gene in mediating response to WNT signalling. The scientific knowledge gained from this investigation of the early development of embryos will inform us of how the essential building blocks of the body are assembled, and provide insights into the genetic and developmental causes of birth defects. This will benefit the health professionals, the research community, the education sector and the general public, by underpinning the form ....Molecular control of embryonic patterning: The function of Rhou gene in mediating response to WNT signalling. The scientific knowledge gained from this investigation of the early development of embryos will inform us of how the essential building blocks of the body are assembled, and provide insights into the genetic and developmental causes of birth defects. This will benefit the health professionals, the research community, the education sector and the general public, by underpinning the formulation of new research hypotheses, enriching the curriculum and the provision of informed counselling. The embryological expertise developed for this project will enhance the nation's research capability through the sharing of skills and knowledge with a national network of academic and industrial research teams. Read moreRead less
Re-uniting marsupials and eutherians by embryonic micromanipulation. The unique responsibility for transmitting life from generation to generation normally depends on the gametes. This project will use new reproductive technologies to investigate the properties of the oocyte in reprogramming somatic cell nuclei, and will use the nuclei of both marsupial and eutherian somatic cells to test this. We will also use both marsupial and eutherian genes to insert into the oocyte to create the first tra ....Re-uniting marsupials and eutherians by embryonic micromanipulation. The unique responsibility for transmitting life from generation to generation normally depends on the gametes. This project will use new reproductive technologies to investigate the properties of the oocyte in reprogramming somatic cell nuclei, and will use the nuclei of both marsupial and eutherian somatic cells to test this. We will also use both marsupial and eutherian genes to insert into the oocyte to create the first transgenic marsupials. We will also investigate the ability of spermatozoa from species of increasing genetic distance to ferttilise marsupial eggs using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).Read moreRead less
Using integrated frontier and smart technologies to identify new drug targets for parasites causing major diseases in humans and animals. The national/community benefits are (1) enhanced focus on animal and human health biotechnology through the development of anti-parasite compounds and/or vaccines; (2) improved and sustainable control of important parasites with decreased risk of induction of drug resistance; (3) increased profitability of agricultural animal production; (4) consolidation of a ....Using integrated frontier and smart technologies to identify new drug targets for parasites causing major diseases in humans and animals. The national/community benefits are (1) enhanced focus on animal and human health biotechnology through the development of anti-parasite compounds and/or vaccines; (2) improved and sustainable control of important parasites with decreased risk of induction of drug resistance; (3) increased profitability of agricultural animal production; (4) consolidation of a technology platform for further applications in genomics and post-genomics of pathogens of global significance and construction of a pipeline for the validation of drug targets; (5) capturing the benefits from fundamental research and strengthening links between fundamental and applied research; (6) increasing the quality and quantity of scientifically skilled people in biotechnology.Read moreRead less
Automated, smart genomic data integration for the exploration of developmentally regulated molecules in parasites of major socioeconomic importance. The national/community benefits are (1) enhanced focus on animal and human health biotechnology through the development of safe anti-parasite compounds/vaccines; (2) improved and sustainable control of key parasites with decreased risk of induction of drug resistance; (3) increased profitability of agricultural animal production; (4) consolidation o ....Automated, smart genomic data integration for the exploration of developmentally regulated molecules in parasites of major socioeconomic importance. The national/community benefits are (1) enhanced focus on animal and human health biotechnology through the development of safe anti-parasite compounds/vaccines; (2) improved and sustainable control of key parasites with decreased risk of induction of drug resistance; (3) increased profitability of agricultural animal production; (4) consolidation of a technology platform for further applications in genomics and post-genomics of pathogens of global significance and construction of a pipeline for the validation of drug targets; (5) capturing the benefits from fundamental research and strengthening links between fundamental and applied research; (6) increasing the quality and quantity of scientifically skilled people in biotechnology.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0668450
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$150,000.00
Summary
Upgrade of comparative phenotypical and functional cell analysis at James Cook University. North Queensland is a fast growing region with significant need for the development of a world-class research facility. James Cook University has recently established the Comparative Genomics Centre at the School of Pharmacy and Molecular Sciences, which will contribute to education and basic research in the region. The research outcomes from the projects of the Comparative Genomics Centre and affiliated l ....Upgrade of comparative phenotypical and functional cell analysis at James Cook University. North Queensland is a fast growing region with significant need for the development of a world-class research facility. James Cook University has recently established the Comparative Genomics Centre at the School of Pharmacy and Molecular Sciences, which will contribute to education and basic research in the region. The research outcomes from the projects of the Comparative Genomics Centre and affiliated laboratories facilitated by the analytical flow cytometer will support the definition and identification of the interactions between genetic and environmental factors in disease and will help to attract researchers. Results from this work will aid the search for therapies for specific health problems.Read moreRead less
A New Window into Transgene Silencing in Plants: mechanisms of copy-number independent, 5' sequence dependent, post-transcriptional silencing in a complex polyploid. Silencing of introduced genes is a major problem limiting plant molecular improvement. Sugarcane, a complex polyploid, shows the most efficient transgene silencing ever observed in plants. Silencing operates on the RNA, depends on the upstream sequence of the gene, and is independent of copy number. Other plant species develop endop ....A New Window into Transgene Silencing in Plants: mechanisms of copy-number independent, 5' sequence dependent, post-transcriptional silencing in a complex polyploid. Silencing of introduced genes is a major problem limiting plant molecular improvement. Sugarcane, a complex polyploid, shows the most efficient transgene silencing ever observed in plants. Silencing operates on the RNA, depends on the upstream sequence of the gene, and is independent of copy number. Other plant species develop endopolyploidy with age, and show unpredictable or patchy silencing. We speculate that differential silencing is a natural control mechanism in the exploitation of polyploidy in plants. The sugarcane system provides an exceptional opportunity to identify the sequences that trigger and protect from silencing, and to develop approaches to avoid the problem.Read moreRead less
Investigating the activator function of the Bim protein. Apoptosis is a research area where Australia has had long standing success. The first observations of this important process were made by Prof John Kerr in the 60's and 70's. A molecular renaissance developed in the late 80's and has led to the current explosion in this area of research. Many of these recent studies have been conducted at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute. Our scientific endeavour is aimed at broadening the understanding ....Investigating the activator function of the Bim protein. Apoptosis is a research area where Australia has had long standing success. The first observations of this important process were made by Prof John Kerr in the 60's and 70's. A molecular renaissance developed in the late 80's and has led to the current explosion in this area of research. Many of these recent studies have been conducted at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute. Our scientific endeavour is aimed at broadening the understanding of the mechanisms of cell death using genetically modified mouse models. Insights gained through this project will have far reaching implications for the design of new drugs to combat cancer and degenerative diseases.Read moreRead less