Towards An Understanding Of Dynamic Genetic Regulation At A Global Scale In Bacteria: A Systems Biology Approach
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$486,000.00
Summary
To achieve major breakthroughs in the understanding of the regulation of gene transcription in bacteria at a global scale. High throughput technologies (living cell arrays, tiling DNA microarrays, multidimensional liquid chromatography proteomics and quantitative metabolomics) will be developed in conjunction with new computational modelling concepts to facilitate the understanding of biological complexity. The iterative process of simulations and model driven targeted experiments will generate ....To achieve major breakthroughs in the understanding of the regulation of gene transcription in bacteria at a global scale. High throughput technologies (living cell arrays, tiling DNA microarrays, multidimensional liquid chromatography proteomics and quantitative metabolomics) will be developed in conjunction with new computational modelling concepts to facilitate the understanding of biological complexity. The iterative process of simulations and model driven targeted experiments will generate novel hypotheses about the mechanistic nature of dynamic cellular responses, unravel emerging systems properties, and ultimately provide an efficient roadmap to tackle novel, pathogenic organisms.The role of my laboratory in this project is to perform subcellular localisation of transcription factors, establish standard operating procedures (with other groups) for growth, imaging and image analysis, precisely quantify 6 transcription factors under 3 standardised growth conditions for incorporation into metabolic models, and perform some analysis of transcription complexes.Read moreRead less
The Role Of Interferon-regulatory Factors In The Host Defense Against Bacterial Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$355,711.00
Summary
Type I interferons are used in the treatment of viral infection. However, the therapeutic potential of type I interferons for the treatment of bacterial infection is not known because we do not fully understand their functional roles and regulation in hosts infected with bacteria. My proposal aims to investigate the role of one family of regulatory proteins, known as interferon-regulatory factors, in the host defense against foodborne bacteria.
Black Death Genomics And The Evolution Of Pathogen Virulence
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$525,412.00
Summary
The Black Death was one of the most lethal plagues of antiquity and changed the course of human history. We will reconstruct and analyse the evolution of its causative agent – the bacterium Yersinia pestis – sampled from human skeletal remains dating back to the Black Death and beyond. We will determine the mutations that changed the virulence of plague epidemics through time, enabling a unique insight into the most dramatic example of pathogen emergence that has ever been available for study.
Once treatable infections are becoming deadly because bacteria are developing broad antibiotic resistance. New medicines are urgently needed. Microbes themselves are the richest known source of new antibiotics but finding the 'good bugs' is like finding a needle in a microbial haystack. This project will use state-of-the art science to screen a previously overlooked source of rich microbial biodiversity and find new antibiotics.
A Multi-protein Vaccine Targeting The Oral Pathogens Associated With Chronic Periodontitis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$717,692.00
Summary
Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with specific bacteria leading to the destruction of the toothÍs supporting tissues and ultimately tooth loss and is a major public health problem in all societies. Our research is focused on designing a vaccine that targets the major bacteria associated with periodontitis. We aim to produce a triple antigen vaccine and investigate the applicability of a vaccine administered under the tongue as an alternative to needle injections.
Understanding The Disease Burden And Antibiotic Resistance In Patients With Bloodstream Infections Caused By Enterobacteriaceae In Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$135,285.00
Summary
This study aims to establish the epidemiology of bloodstream infections caused by Enterobacteriaceae (enteric or gut bacteria) in Australia, by examining infection rates, types of antibiotic resistance present, and which treatments optimise clinical outcomes.