How enhancers regulate T cell differentiation and function. This project aims to identify the molecular mechanisms that regulate the activity of transcriptional enhancers needed for effective immune cell differentiation. Adaptive immune cell activation starts a programme of differentiation that acquires and maintains lineage-specific effector function. Using a multidisciplinary approach including cellular and chromatin biology, advanced bioinformatics, targeted genome editing and nanotechnology, ....How enhancers regulate T cell differentiation and function. This project aims to identify the molecular mechanisms that regulate the activity of transcriptional enhancers needed for effective immune cell differentiation. Adaptive immune cell activation starts a programme of differentiation that acquires and maintains lineage-specific effector function. Using a multidisciplinary approach including cellular and chromatin biology, advanced bioinformatics, targeted genome editing and nanotechnology, this project expects to provide insights into non-coding regulatory element reprogramming and control of immune cell function and memory with implications for understanding general cellular differentiation.Read moreRead less
Variation in the arginine vasopressin 1a receptor (AVPR1a) gene, the social environment, general health and wellbeing. The project aims to investigate how the arginine vasopressin 1a gene affects gene expression and influences social behaviour and ultimately health and wellbeing. This research will contribute to understanding the importance of individual differences in social policy and interventions aimed at improving health and wellbeing.
Prognosis based network-type feature extraction for complex biological data. This project aims to develop statistical tools that integrate high-throughput molecular data with biological knowledge to make discoveries in complex diseases. This project uses machine learning methods, statistical models and proteomic platforms to identify relationships among clinico-pathologic and molecular measurements. It will produce tools and insights that are intended to accelerate the process of biologically an ....Prognosis based network-type feature extraction for complex biological data. This project aims to develop statistical tools that integrate high-throughput molecular data with biological knowledge to make discoveries in complex diseases. This project uses machine learning methods, statistical models and proteomic platforms to identify relationships among clinico-pathologic and molecular measurements. It will produce tools and insights that are intended to accelerate the process of biologically and clinically significant discoveries in biomedical research. This project will help Australian researchers in statistics and users of statistics (from fields as diverse as biology, ecology, medicine, finance, agriculture and the social sciences) to make better predictions that are easier to understand.Read moreRead less
Three-dimensional structure determination of biomolecular assemblies from sparse data of different length scales. New computer algorithms will be combined with sparse experimental structure restraints, obtained with novel protein chemistry technologies, to generate accurate three-dimensional (3D) models of proteins and protein assemblies in solution and in the solid state. The new strategies will greatly increase the number of protein targets amenable to rational drug design.
Evolutionary analyses of short-read sequences from pooled samples. This project aims to provide biologists with a means of making sound, statistical inferences about evolution by using next-generation data from mixed samples. When biologists make statements about history, they use evolutionary trees, frequently reconstructed from the genetic data of many individuals. Next-generation sequencing provides large amounts of genetic data at low cost, but biologists have difficulty using these data for ....Evolutionary analyses of short-read sequences from pooled samples. This project aims to provide biologists with a means of making sound, statistical inferences about evolution by using next-generation data from mixed samples. When biologists make statements about history, they use evolutionary trees, frequently reconstructed from the genetic data of many individuals. Next-generation sequencing provides large amounts of genetic data at low cost, but biologists have difficulty using these data for evolutionary research, particularly when they sample mixtures of DNA from many individuals. The anticipated value of this project is that it allows evolutionary biologists to capitalise on the benefits of next-generation sequencing, without sacrificing their ability to make reliable inferences about history.Read moreRead less
Genome-wide discovery of translation control mechanisms. This project aims to reveal currently unknown molecular details of protein synthesis, a step of gene expression that is central to all of life. To achieve this, innovative methods based on next-generation sequencing will be deployed in the yeast model organism. Yeasts are of importance as pathogens as well as in the food and biotechnology industry sector. Thus, new knowledge generated in this project will help solve problems of invasive pa ....Genome-wide discovery of translation control mechanisms. This project aims to reveal currently unknown molecular details of protein synthesis, a step of gene expression that is central to all of life. To achieve this, innovative methods based on next-generation sequencing will be deployed in the yeast model organism. Yeasts are of importance as pathogens as well as in the food and biotechnology industry sector. Thus, new knowledge generated in this project will help solve problems of invasive pathogenic behaviour and biomass production.Read moreRead less
The hunt for Ribonucleic Acid riboswitches and genetic sensors of metabolic flux in plants. Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) contains both structural and sequence information that coordinates feedback of metabolic processes in response to environmental change, thereby promoting cellular adaptation and survival. This project will discover ancient RNA modules and structural switches in plants that sense chemical reactions and regulate pathway flux.
Protein trafficking pathways in fungal rust pathogens of plants. This project aims to investigate protein trafficking pathways in fungal rusts of plants. These are devastating diseases that cause major losses in agricultural crops including wheat. Little is known of how these fungi form long and intimate relationships with plants to extract their nutrients. Using both model and agriculturally important fungi, the project will try to identify proteins that are transferred within the fungus and to ....Protein trafficking pathways in fungal rust pathogens of plants. This project aims to investigate protein trafficking pathways in fungal rusts of plants. These are devastating diseases that cause major losses in agricultural crops including wheat. Little is known of how these fungi form long and intimate relationships with plants to extract their nutrients. Using both model and agriculturally important fungi, the project will try to identify proteins that are transferred within the fungus and to the plant host to modify the infection. It will also identify fungal proteins needed to deliver trafficked proteins to plants. These discoveries ultimately may be translated into control strategies for these costly diseases.Read moreRead less