THE MATERNAL GUT MICROBIOTA DRIVES FOETAL THYMIC T CELL DEVELOPMENT . This project aims to investigate the role of maternal gut microbiota on foetal immune development, revealing the interaction of gut microbiota-host immunity at the early stages of new life. Significantly, the research will examine the time window when microbiota by-products from the mother reach the foetus and affect the development of immunity. Maternal by-products will be identified using cutting-edge methods to unravel the ....THE MATERNAL GUT MICROBIOTA DRIVES FOETAL THYMIC T CELL DEVELOPMENT . This project aims to investigate the role of maternal gut microbiota on foetal immune development, revealing the interaction of gut microbiota-host immunity at the early stages of new life. Significantly, the research will examine the time window when microbiota by-products from the mother reach the foetus and affect the development of immunity. Maternal by-products will be identified using cutting-edge methods to unravel the complex systems interactions in the developmental process. Outcomes include new fundamental knowledge about maternal gut microbiota composition and its relationship to the growing foetus, with benefits in informing pregnant women about their lifestyle choices, particularly their dietary habits, during pregnancy.
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The macrophage nucleus - its form and function during migration in vivo. As cells migrate through tissues, they encounter complex, 3-dimensional environments that provide cues to guide them and present obstacles in their path. This project focuses on macrophages, a large immune cell capable of both amoeboid and mesenchymal modes of migration. The nucleus is the largest organelle and its bulk and stiffness must be managed as migrating cells travel through constrictions. The project uses specialis ....The macrophage nucleus - its form and function during migration in vivo. As cells migrate through tissues, they encounter complex, 3-dimensional environments that provide cues to guide them and present obstacles in their path. This project focuses on macrophages, a large immune cell capable of both amoeboid and mesenchymal modes of migration. The nucleus is the largest organelle and its bulk and stiffness must be managed as migrating cells travel through constrictions. The project uses specialised high-end microscopy and genetic methods to examine how the nucleus of migrating zebrafish macrophages deforms, repositions and is restructured during migration in living tissues, and how this influences macrophage locomotion. The goal is to provide fundamental insights into the cell biology of macrophage migration.Read moreRead less
Cellular bases of enteric neural circuitry underlying gut propulsion. This project aims to investigate the neural bases of behaviour in the mammalian gut. The Enteric Nervous System (ENS) plays a critical role in the propulsion of intestinal contents. This project expects to establish how specific functional classes of enteric neurons control propulsion along the gut. By recording the simultaneous neural activity from hundreds of different functional classes of enteric nerve cells simultaneously ....Cellular bases of enteric neural circuitry underlying gut propulsion. This project aims to investigate the neural bases of behaviour in the mammalian gut. The Enteric Nervous System (ENS) plays a critical role in the propulsion of intestinal contents. This project expects to establish how specific functional classes of enteric neurons control propulsion along the gut. By recording the simultaneous neural activity from hundreds of different functional classes of enteric nerve cells simultaneously, whilst recording intestinal muscle electrical activity and the movements of the gut wall, the project expects to identify which enteric neurochemical classes of neurons generate specific motor patterns along the intestine.Read moreRead less
Sarcoplasmic reticulum-mitochondrial functional interactions in muscle. Muscle in the body of animals and human has the ability to adapt to stress placed on it, to improve performance. This allows new physical tasks that have been unfamiliar to become easier. One form of stress on the muscle is the demand to work longer without fatigue. This can be important for animal survival or athletes training for sport. A single session of intense muscle contractions can lead to the muscle increasing its c ....Sarcoplasmic reticulum-mitochondrial functional interactions in muscle. Muscle in the body of animals and human has the ability to adapt to stress placed on it, to improve performance. This allows new physical tasks that have been unfamiliar to become easier. One form of stress on the muscle is the demand to work longer without fatigue. This can be important for animal survival or athletes training for sport. A single session of intense muscle contractions can lead to the muscle increasing its capacity for endurance within 24 hrs. This project aims to examine this phenomenon in animals and human to decipher the mechanism involved in the beneficial muscle changes experienced in such a brief time. It will provide benefits such as the potential to manipulate human muscle condition and animal muscle (meat) quality.Read moreRead less
Revealing the mechanobiology of neural tube formation. This project aims to understand the formation of the neural tube; a fundamental tissue structure that generates the brain and the spinal cord. Using interdisciplinary approaches and exploiting recent advances in transgenic and imaging technologies, we expect to reveal the complex interplay between cells and their environment that generates mechanical forces to direct neural tissue formation. Outcomes include knowledge of previously intractab ....Revealing the mechanobiology of neural tube formation. This project aims to understand the formation of the neural tube; a fundamental tissue structure that generates the brain and the spinal cord. Using interdisciplinary approaches and exploiting recent advances in transgenic and imaging technologies, we expect to reveal the complex interplay between cells and their environment that generates mechanical forces to direct neural tissue formation. Outcomes include knowledge of previously intractable developmental processes, training of future scientists and development of international collaborations. This should provide enhanced imaging capacity, a higher quality scientific workforce and position Australia at the forefront of cell and developmental biology.Read moreRead less
Determining how the soluble dietary fibre beta-glucan is made in cereals. This Project aims to define the molecular mechanisms that control the processes involved in the biosynthesis and regulation of mixed linkage glucan, a major soluble dietary fibre in the cell walls of cereal grains. Plant cell walls determine the quality of most plant-based products used in modern human societies, yet the regulatory mechanisms responsible for their modulation are not well understood. Key distinguishing feat ....Determining how the soluble dietary fibre beta-glucan is made in cereals. This Project aims to define the molecular mechanisms that control the processes involved in the biosynthesis and regulation of mixed linkage glucan, a major soluble dietary fibre in the cell walls of cereal grains. Plant cell walls determine the quality of most plant-based products used in modern human societies, yet the regulatory mechanisms responsible for their modulation are not well understood. Key distinguishing features of the Project will be the international, integrative, and multidisciplinary approach towards addressing this major challenge in plant biology and the potential of the fundamental scientific discoveries to benefit end-users in the food, feed and beverage industries.Read moreRead less
Regulated muscle-based thermogenesis for body temperature regulation. Mammals maintain a constant core body temperature by generating heat in resting muscles in response to changes in the environmental temperatures. This project aims to show how the skeletal muscles that are closer to the body core contribute the majority of heat, how the muscles of the limbs have their heat generation curtailed as necessary, and how this is coordinated by the body in response to ambient temperature. Project out ....Regulated muscle-based thermogenesis for body temperature regulation. Mammals maintain a constant core body temperature by generating heat in resting muscles in response to changes in the environmental temperatures. This project aims to show how the skeletal muscles that are closer to the body core contribute the majority of heat, how the muscles of the limbs have their heat generation curtailed as necessary, and how this is coordinated by the body in response to ambient temperature. Project outcomes include defining, for the first time, how heat generation in the muscles of the body is regulated. This should provide critical knowledge of mammalian evolution and ways to manipulate metabolism, which may provide ways to assist the production of meat by managing hypothermia and hyperthermia risk in agriculture.Read moreRead less
Physiology of oxygen transport in the mammalian kidney. This project aims to improve understanding of oxygen regulation in renal tissue and knowledge of the physiology of the kidney. The mammalian kidney receives more oxygen than it uses or needs, and yet renal tissue is commonly found to be hypoxic. This project proposes that oxygen transport to the renal tissue is limited by blood vessel surface area. The project expects to generate anatomical data currently missing from the renal physiology c ....Physiology of oxygen transport in the mammalian kidney. This project aims to improve understanding of oxygen regulation in renal tissue and knowledge of the physiology of the kidney. The mammalian kidney receives more oxygen than it uses or needs, and yet renal tissue is commonly found to be hypoxic. This project proposes that oxygen transport to the renal tissue is limited by blood vessel surface area. The project expects to generate anatomical data currently missing from the renal physiology community, and potentially change the accepted story of oxygen homeostasis in the kidney. This will provide significant benefits, such as the provision of the foundational physiological science behind a determinant of kidney health and its flow-on impact to quality of life.Read moreRead less
A thermodynamic pathway to intracellular delivery. Cells transmit information through molecules. By delivering foreign molecules into cells, such as DNA and proteins, it is possible to engineer and reprogram cells just like a computer. This proposal aims to develop a novel microfluidic device for intracellular delivery. The device will work by exposing cells to rapid thermal shock to generate transient disruptions in cell membranes and thereby enable influx of foreign molecules into cells. To un ....A thermodynamic pathway to intracellular delivery. Cells transmit information through molecules. By delivering foreign molecules into cells, such as DNA and proteins, it is possible to engineer and reprogram cells just like a computer. This proposal aims to develop a novel microfluidic device for intracellular delivery. The device will work by exposing cells to rapid thermal shock to generate transient disruptions in cell membranes and thereby enable influx of foreign molecules into cells. To understand how the method can be optimized, the thermodynamic pathway of membrane disruption will be investigated at a single cell level. The methods and insights arising from this project could eventually lead to novel, patentable and lower-cost health technologies.Read moreRead less
Microtubule structure in nervous system repair. This Project aims to investigate the role of structural and functional cellular components known as microtubules in nervous system regeneration. This Project aims to use innovative approaches in confocal and electron microscopy, genetics, and cell biology, with the expectation of generating new knowledge into nervous system repair. Expected outcomes of this Project include a comprehensive description of how microtubules are rearranged following ner ....Microtubule structure in nervous system repair. This Project aims to investigate the role of structural and functional cellular components known as microtubules in nervous system regeneration. This Project aims to use innovative approaches in confocal and electron microscopy, genetics, and cell biology, with the expectation of generating new knowledge into nervous system repair. Expected outcomes of this Project include a comprehensive description of how microtubules are rearranged following nervous system injury and the importance of microtubule modifying proteins in promoting regeneration. This should provide significant benefits in our understanding of the cellular mechanisms behind nervous system repair, and offer new approaches for promoting regeneration after injury.Read moreRead less