Surveillance of the mechanisms controlling proteome foldedness. This project aims to measure how cells keep the proteome folded. Cells have extensive quality control networks to govern synthesis, folding and transport of every protein but the buffering capacity of this system is not definable. This capacity is needed to understand how problems arise in managing proteome foldedness, a central feature of human diseases and biotechnology and synthetic biology applications that need cell-based produ ....Surveillance of the mechanisms controlling proteome foldedness. This project aims to measure how cells keep the proteome folded. Cells have extensive quality control networks to govern synthesis, folding and transport of every protein but the buffering capacity of this system is not definable. This capacity is needed to understand how problems arise in managing proteome foldedness, a central feature of human diseases and biotechnology and synthetic biology applications that need cell-based production of engineered proteins such as hormones and antibodies. The outcomes are expected to provide basic knowledge of this fundamental process and provide biosensors and screening methods for use in health and biotechnology industries.Read moreRead less
Biophysics-informed deep learning framework for magnetic resonance imaging. This project aims to bring about a paradigm shift from the conventional non-quantitative magnetic resonance imaging to ultra-fast, quantitative, and artefact free imaging. This project integrates biophysics and artificial intelligence, and it is expected to bring new knowledge in both fields. The expected outcomes of this project include next generation magnetic resonance imaging methods with a fundamental shift in the ....Biophysics-informed deep learning framework for magnetic resonance imaging. This project aims to bring about a paradigm shift from the conventional non-quantitative magnetic resonance imaging to ultra-fast, quantitative, and artefact free imaging. This project integrates biophysics and artificial intelligence, and it is expected to bring new knowledge in both fields. The expected outcomes of this project include next generation magnetic resonance imaging methods with a fundamental shift in the approach to image artefacts and image quantification. This project is expected to advance both single subject and population level biomedical imaging with greater accuracy and cost-effectiveness. This project also promotes explainable and generalisable artificial intelligence in medical imaging.Read moreRead less
Understanding surface acoustic wave atomisation for pulmonary delivery of drug aerosols in personalised medicine. Delivering drugs via the lung is hampered by development costs and inadequate technology. This project will provide an understanding of atomisation in our unique respire system, enabling not only the delivery of new vaccines and drugs but also the rapid and cost effective development of new disease treatments personalised to the patient.
Probing microbial emulsions to break barriers to green oil production. This project aims to understand ultrasonic processing of concentrated slurries of oil-bearing yeast and algae. Humans must reduce their dependency on petroleum. While microorganisms can produce oils as replacement fuels and base chemicals, the processes for extracting these oils are inefficient. Ultrasound could improve oil recovery by replacing toxic solvents. Understanding the effects of ultrasound on microbial emulsions is ....Probing microbial emulsions to break barriers to green oil production. This project aims to understand ultrasonic processing of concentrated slurries of oil-bearing yeast and algae. Humans must reduce their dependency on petroleum. While microorganisms can produce oils as replacement fuels and base chemicals, the processes for extracting these oils are inefficient. Ultrasound could improve oil recovery by replacing toxic solvents. Understanding the effects of ultrasound on microbial emulsions is expected to develop solvent-free oil recovery processes that improve the economic and environmental benefits of microbial oil production. Such processes would greatly increase the efficiency and reduce the cost of producing microbial oils that can be used as green alternatives to petroleum fuels and chemicals.Read moreRead less
New peptides to probe protein kinase functions. We are building on our expertise in biochemistry, molecular biology and biotechnology, to develop and exploit new technologies that enable the discovery and characterisation of new peptides that probe protein kinase functions. An important application of work will be in the development of new leads for drug design, as highlighted by the success of some protein kinase inhibitors as drugs. The immediate benefits of our research will come with enhance ....New peptides to probe protein kinase functions. We are building on our expertise in biochemistry, molecular biology and biotechnology, to develop and exploit new technologies that enable the discovery and characterisation of new peptides that probe protein kinase functions. An important application of work will be in the development of new leads for drug design, as highlighted by the success of some protein kinase inhibitors as drugs. The immediate benefits of our research will come with enhanced interactions in the international academic and biotechnology arenas and with the training of post-graduate and post-doctoral staff. This research training will greatly enrich Australian biotechnology expertise.Read moreRead less
Engineer enzyme nanoparticles as antibiotic alternatives for agriculture. Antibiotic usage in agriculture contributes to spread of resistant bacteria. Existing antibiotic alternatives to minimize such usage are focused on growth promotion of animals and infection prevention, but lack efficient treatment. This project aims to engineer enzyme nanoparticles, with synergy from multiple enzymes, to confer better antibacterial abilities against livestock pathogens. It will combine protein engineering, ....Engineer enzyme nanoparticles as antibiotic alternatives for agriculture. Antibiotic usage in agriculture contributes to spread of resistant bacteria. Existing antibiotic alternatives to minimize such usage are focused on growth promotion of animals and infection prevention, but lack efficient treatment. This project aims to engineer enzyme nanoparticles, with synergy from multiple enzymes, to confer better antibacterial abilities against livestock pathogens. It will combine protein engineering, nanotechnology and biophysics to develop new enzyme nanoparticles that can be manufactured at low-cost through self-assembly process. The intended outcome is knowledge on molecular engineering of enzyme nanoparticles and innovative agriculture biotechnology for treatment of bacterial infectious diseases in livestock.Read moreRead less
Developing the basis for an quality control platform for human pluripotent stem cells and their differentiated derivatives. Biophotonic techniques based on spectroscopy have the potential to provide low-cost, automatable measurements for the quality control of stem and differentiated cells produced for use in industry and regenerative medicine. This project is aimed at acquiring the fundamental scientific knowledge base required to bring this about.
Biosynthesis of multiple-nonmetal codoped titania nanoparticles for visible light photocatalysis. Nano-photocatalysts' are particles of very small size that can degrade organic wastes and harmful microorganisms, when exposed to light. Titania is the most commonly used photocatalyst, but the limitation with existing titania is that it is mainly active in ultraviolet (UV) light. UV-light cannot be used for indoor applications because UV is mutagenic and causes cancer. This project will use an eco- ....Biosynthesis of multiple-nonmetal codoped titania nanoparticles for visible light photocatalysis. Nano-photocatalysts' are particles of very small size that can degrade organic wastes and harmful microorganisms, when exposed to light. Titania is the most commonly used photocatalyst, but the limitation with existing titania is that it is mainly active in ultraviolet (UV) light. UV-light cannot be used for indoor applications because UV is mutagenic and causes cancer. This project will use an eco-friendly approach to develop novel titania nanoparticles, which will be active in visible light. Success will lead to new options in the management of our organic wastes and wastewaters (global problems), plant disease control, clean clinical surroundings, and add value to our day-to-day products like self-cleaning windows, and textiles.Read moreRead less
Functional and regulatory analysis of n-acetylcholine receptors, key targets of insecticides. Agriculture is one of Australia's mainstay industries and a major user of insecticides. However, current insecticides suffer a number of significant deficiencies, including collateral damage in the environment and insect resistance. One of the major targets for insecticides are a class of neuronal receptors, found in organisms ranging from worms to man. Our work will provide a detailed biological unders ....Functional and regulatory analysis of n-acetylcholine receptors, key targets of insecticides. Agriculture is one of Australia's mainstay industries and a major user of insecticides. However, current insecticides suffer a number of significant deficiencies, including collateral damage in the environment and insect resistance. One of the major targets for insecticides are a class of neuronal receptors, found in organisms ranging from worms to man. Our work will provide a detailed biological understanding of these receptors leading to better ways of developing new insecticides. Similar receptors in humans are the target for nicotine and associated with neurological disorders such as schizophrenia and autism. Thus our work will also increase our understanding of important human receptors associated with disease.Read moreRead less
Transduction of neuronal signals by brain macroglial cells: implications for neuronal function. Study of mechanisms regulating brain cell (neuron and glial) communication is essential for understanding of normal brain function and transformations that occur in neurodegenerative states and age-related disorders. Mechanisms underlying neuron-glia communication are not well understood. By combining cell physiology, digital imaging technologies, and genetically designed and delivered molecules we w ....Transduction of neuronal signals by brain macroglial cells: implications for neuronal function. Study of mechanisms regulating brain cell (neuron and glial) communication is essential for understanding of normal brain function and transformations that occur in neurodegenerative states and age-related disorders. Mechanisms underlying neuron-glia communication are not well understood. By combining cell physiology, digital imaging technologies, and genetically designed and delivered molecules we will enhance our understanding of this brain cell communication and critical roles played by intracellular calcium. This will enhance international competitiveness of Australian biological research and provide novel insight of glial function in neurodegeneration and potential for specific therapeutic intervention in disease.Read moreRead less