Biofilm responses to cold atmospheric plasma . This project is focused on understanding the interaction of cold atmospheric plasmas with biofilms, with the aim of biofilm eradication and ultimately offering an environmentally friendly alternative to current detergents and antibiotics. The research expects to elucidate the fundamental mechanisms of action for breakthrough plasma intervention technologies, which are sufficiently active to cope with the resistant nature of biofilms, yet are of low ....Biofilm responses to cold atmospheric plasma . This project is focused on understanding the interaction of cold atmospheric plasmas with biofilms, with the aim of biofilm eradication and ultimately offering an environmentally friendly alternative to current detergents and antibiotics. The research expects to elucidate the fundamental mechanisms of action for breakthrough plasma intervention technologies, which are sufficiently active to cope with the resistant nature of biofilms, yet are of low energy, do not adversely affect surface properties and critically leave no residual chemistry. This should provide significant benefits by delivering a new method to tackle the ubiquitous problem of biofilm contamination in food, water and medical areas.Read moreRead less
Molecular and immunological approaches to managing Australia's seafood allergy epidemic. Seafood is an increasingly important cause of food allergy. Novel insight into the functions of why and how proteins from seafood develop to potent allergens will lead to the development of better diagnostics and therapeutics. This will assist patients to better manage their serious food allergy.
Portable biosensor for rapid detection of viral contamination in food . The objective of this project is to create a miniaturised and cost-effective electrochemical biosensor device that can detect multiple pathogens, simultaneously, even at very low level of concentrations. This device will be crucial for rapidly detect pathogen contamination in food and water to monitor their safety and quality, particularly beneficial in an outbreak or natural disaster for testing these resources. In additio ....Portable biosensor for rapid detection of viral contamination in food . The objective of this project is to create a miniaturised and cost-effective electrochemical biosensor device that can detect multiple pathogens, simultaneously, even at very low level of concentrations. This device will be crucial for rapidly detect pathogen contamination in food and water to monitor their safety and quality, particularly beneficial in an outbreak or natural disaster for testing these resources. In addition to food and water, the successful development of this versatile cost-effective sensor will benefit a wide range of companies such as pharmaceuticals, medical device manufacturing and farms for controlling product quality where detection of life threatening pathogens is pivotal to prevent risk for consumers.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE170100093
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$510,000.00
Summary
High-throughput technology targeting antimicrobial resistance in animals. This project aims to establish reference laboratories as biobanks for resistant isolate collections from veterinary diagnostic laboratories / surveillance programmes and a national research network to mitigate antimicrobial resistance in animals. Antimicrobial resistance in zoonotic/foodborne pathogens and livestock commensals is a global issue. This project will use mass-spectroscopy biotypers, information management soft ....High-throughput technology targeting antimicrobial resistance in animals. This project aims to establish reference laboratories as biobanks for resistant isolate collections from veterinary diagnostic laboratories / surveillance programmes and a national research network to mitigate antimicrobial resistance in animals. Antimicrobial resistance in zoonotic/foodborne pathogens and livestock commensals is a global issue. This project will use mass-spectroscopy biotypers, information management software, robotic liquid handling and a research dairy to develop high-throughput screening technologies to rapidly determine major animal species’ resistance status, and research anti-infectives and vaccines for livestock diseases. This will improve the health and production of Australian livestock, leading to greater market access for high quality products.Read moreRead less
Real-time phylogenetics for food-borne outbreak surveillance. The project aims to introduce, for the first time, real-time evolutionary analysis of agricultural pathogens so that outbreaks affecting crops and the food supply can be managed precisely and rapidly. An expert team will implement a large-scale data analytics framework in user-friendly software that integrates Australian infectious disease genomics data with global data. Underpinning this work are new theory and algorithms that apply ....Real-time phylogenetics for food-borne outbreak surveillance. The project aims to introduce, for the first time, real-time evolutionary analysis of agricultural pathogens so that outbreaks affecting crops and the food supply can be managed precisely and rapidly. An expert team will implement a large-scale data analytics framework in user-friendly software that integrates Australian infectious disease genomics data with global data. Underpinning this work are new theory and algorithms that apply Sequential Monte Carlo to update phylogenetic analyses continuously as new data arrives. Expected outcomes include new knowledge of statistical algorithms for evolutionary analysis, relevant to biological disciplines beyond infectious disease; and enhanced capacity for infectious disease analysis. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100068
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$390,000.00
Summary
Bioinspired liposome-based smart sensors. This project aims to develop a liposome-based biosensor technology that mimics cell sensory systems. Selective detection of compounds is increasingly important for food, health and environmental monitoring. Biosensor development faces long-standing challenges such as response time, sensitivity, specificity, and multiplexing. On the other hand, cells can sense and discriminate multiple biomolecules in seconds with high sensitivity and specificity. This pr ....Bioinspired liposome-based smart sensors. This project aims to develop a liposome-based biosensor technology that mimics cell sensory systems. Selective detection of compounds is increasingly important for food, health and environmental monitoring. Biosensor development faces long-standing challenges such as response time, sensitivity, specificity, and multiplexing. On the other hand, cells can sense and discriminate multiple biomolecules in seconds with high sensitivity and specificity. This project aims to harness cells’ exquisite biological properties to improve current detection techniques. It will integrate liposome-based sensors with microfluidics to perform analytical tasks ranging from food safety to diagnostics.Read moreRead less
Quantum Generative Diffusion Models for Molecular Research. This project will devise quantum generative diffusion models to equip classical counterparts with the ability to harness quantum data that naturally arise in molecular research. Theoretical foundations for analysing fast sampling methods with the help of inductive bias regarding the input data and employed circuits will validate efficient quantum generative diffusion models that have training and sampling advantages over classical count ....Quantum Generative Diffusion Models for Molecular Research. This project will devise quantum generative diffusion models to equip classical counterparts with the ability to harness quantum data that naturally arise in molecular research. Theoretical foundations for analysing fast sampling methods with the help of inductive bias regarding the input data and employed circuits will validate efficient quantum generative diffusion models that have training and sampling advantages over classical counterparts. Outcomes include applications in molecular conformation generation, compound screening, and drug design. The innovative research will significantly benefit Australia’s science, industry and health, and will maintain Australia’s global leading role in quantum machine learning and molecular research.Read moreRead less
Biosynthetic Hooks for an Enigmatic Marine Toxin. This project aims to characterise the genetic basis for the production of tetrodotoxin; a potent neurotoxin of ecological and biomedical significance. We hypothesise that tetrodotoxin is produced by microorganisms and transferred via the food web to fish, molluscs and other marine animals. Our integrated genomic and synthetic biology approach, targeting key biosynthesis genes, will reveal pathways for the production of tetrodotoxin and other pote ....Biosynthetic Hooks for an Enigmatic Marine Toxin. This project aims to characterise the genetic basis for the production of tetrodotoxin; a potent neurotoxin of ecological and biomedical significance. We hypothesise that tetrodotoxin is produced by microorganisms and transferred via the food web to fish, molluscs and other marine animals. Our integrated genomic and synthetic biology approach, targeting key biosynthesis genes, will reveal pathways for the production of tetrodotoxin and other potentially valuable compounds. In addition to providing unprecedented insight into the ecology and biosynthesis of this enigmatic toxin, the data generated will enable improved management of seafood safety and provide a foundation for the future development of novel neuroactive compounds.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE160100191
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$175,000.00
Summary
PRAXIS: beating the infrared night sky with multicore fibre Bragg gratings. PRAXIS: beating the infrared night sky with multicore fibre Bragg gratings:
The PRAXIS project aims to deliver a new era in ground-based infrared observations. The infrared night sky is a hundred times brighter than the optical night sky, which has severely limited the sensitivity at these wavelengths. But 99 per cent of the infrared sky arises from hundreds of extremely bright, narrow emission lines due to hydroxyl in ....PRAXIS: beating the infrared night sky with multicore fibre Bragg gratings. PRAXIS: beating the infrared night sky with multicore fibre Bragg gratings:
The PRAXIS project aims to deliver a new era in ground-based infrared observations. The infrared night sky is a hundred times brighter than the optical night sky, which has severely limited the sensitivity at these wavelengths. But 99 per cent of the infrared sky arises from hundreds of extremely bright, narrow emission lines due to hydroxyl in the Earth's atmosphere. PRAXIS, at the Anglo-Australian Telescope, is designed to cancel these lines using new multicore fibre Bragg gratings developed in Australia. The new fibres would render the night sky very dark and allow Australian astronomers to obtain unique observations. The sky-suppressing fibres would also allow us to develop new instrument concepts for Australia's extremely large telescope.Read moreRead less
Improved biosecurity through the engineering of microbial ecosystems. This project aims to provide data and understanding that will help develop predictive models for changes in the distribution of drug-resistant bacteria, and surveillance and response programs for key biosecurity threats. Microorganisms, including commensals and pathogens, can live in complex communities in a range of environments including animal hosts. It is now known that these communities (known as microbiomes) can exert a ....Improved biosecurity through the engineering of microbial ecosystems. This project aims to provide data and understanding that will help develop predictive models for changes in the distribution of drug-resistant bacteria, and surveillance and response programs for key biosecurity threats. Microorganisms, including commensals and pathogens, can live in complex communities in a range of environments including animal hosts. It is now known that these communities (known as microbiomes) can exert a profound effect on animal health. This project seeks to understand where antimicrobial resistance genes reside in pig gut microbiotia and how they move between members of this complex microbial community, and to provide information on how probiotics may be used to reduce dependence on antibiotics.Read moreRead less