A Structural Investigation Into The T-cell Response To Epstein Barr Virus Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$549,000.00
Summary
X-ray crystallography is an essential tool for solving the three-dimensional structure of proteins. Proteins control the biological processes within the cell and it is the precise shape of proteins that determines how they function. Depending on the particular sequence of the amino acids, the so-called building unit of the proteins, the protein molecule bends and forms a distinct, complex shape. This specific three-dimensional shape allows the protein to undertake its specific function, such as ....X-ray crystallography is an essential tool for solving the three-dimensional structure of proteins. Proteins control the biological processes within the cell and it is the precise shape of proteins that determines how they function. Depending on the particular sequence of the amino acids, the so-called building unit of the proteins, the protein molecule bends and forms a distinct, complex shape. This specific three-dimensional shape allows the protein to undertake its specific function, such as binding to other proteins, acting as an enzyme or interacting with nucleic acids. To determine how a protein acts, it is vital to know the precise three-dimensional shape at the atomic level. This proposal is concerned with understanding the precise shape of proteins that control the immune response to Epstein Barr Virus. Epstein Barr Virus is an ubiquitous human pathogen that has being linked to a number of cancers. This work will further our understanding of the immune response to Epstein Barr Virus.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989226
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$340,000.00
Summary
Multi-photon imaging for infection, immunity, and self recognition. This proposal will address a gap in our imaging capabilities, allowing us to visualise the movement of immune cells and infectious agents such as bacteria and viruses within living tissues. This will immensely improve our capacity to understand interactions between the immune system, invading organisms and the rest of our body. The intravital imaging system will provide novel insights into how the immune system works, which will ....Multi-photon imaging for infection, immunity, and self recognition. This proposal will address a gap in our imaging capabilities, allowing us to visualise the movement of immune cells and infectious agents such as bacteria and viruses within living tissues. This will immensely improve our capacity to understand interactions between the immune system, invading organisms and the rest of our body. The intravital imaging system will provide novel insights into how the immune system works, which will benefit the design of vaccines, the treatment of cancer, and our understanding of allergy. This state-of-the-art facility will also provide vital training in an emerging technology that will have application in many areas of biology.
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Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE160100097
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$675,000.00
Summary
An Automated Protein Nano-Crystallisation Facility. An automated protein nano-crystallisation facility:
The project aims to establish a high throughput protein nanocrystallisation and imaging facility for protein crystallography. Protein crystallography is an important field of biological research, however there are many proteins, such as integral membrane proteins and transient molecular complexes that are more challenging to crystallise. The facility aims to use state-of-the-art imaging and c ....An Automated Protein Nano-Crystallisation Facility. An automated protein nano-crystallisation facility:
The project aims to establish a high throughput protein nanocrystallisation and imaging facility for protein crystallography. Protein crystallography is an important field of biological research, however there are many proteins, such as integral membrane proteins and transient molecular complexes that are more challenging to crystallise. The facility aims to use state-of-the-art imaging and crystallisation techniques, including second order nonlinear imaging of chiral crystals (SONICC) imaging and lipid cubic phase approaches, to enable structural studies to be undertaken on challenging proteins. This information is often used for the rational development of therapeutics. The facility would support cutting-edge biological research In Australia.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0882913
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$300,000.00
Summary
Mass spectrometry facility for the quantitation and analysis of post-translationally modified peptides. This proposal will address a gap in our mass spectrometry capabilities and aid in our understanding of the cellular immune response and investigate the chemical diversity of the targets of immunity. This proposal has broad implications in the basic immunology of antigen presentation, in biomarker discovery as well as in the design of new vaccines in infectious disease and cancer and the develo ....Mass spectrometry facility for the quantitation and analysis of post-translationally modified peptides. This proposal will address a gap in our mass spectrometry capabilities and aid in our understanding of the cellular immune response and investigate the chemical diversity of the targets of immunity. This proposal has broad implications in the basic immunology of antigen presentation, in biomarker discovery as well as in the design of new vaccines in infectious disease and cancer and the development of therapies for autoimmune diseases. In addition to these key scientific outcomes this project will also facilitate the training of several new personnel in a skill area for which there is a critical shortage (mass spectrometry) and promote cross-disciplinary skills (immunology, biochemistry, proteomics).Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE150100100
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$440,000.00
Summary
Cytometer by Time of Flight (CyTOF): A New Paradigm in Cytometry. Cytometer by Time of Flight (CyTOF) - a new paradigm in cytometry: The acquisition of a Cytometer by Time of Flight will allow multiparametric characterisation of biological systems and quantitative analysis of nano-bio interactions at the single cell level. The convergence of nanotechnology with biomedicine offers unprecedented opportunities for biological applications, including targeted therapeutics. One of the major challenges ....Cytometer by Time of Flight (CyTOF): A New Paradigm in Cytometry. Cytometer by Time of Flight (CyTOF) - a new paradigm in cytometry: The acquisition of a Cytometer by Time of Flight will allow multiparametric characterisation of biological systems and quantitative analysis of nano-bio interactions at the single cell level. The convergence of nanotechnology with biomedicine offers unprecedented opportunities for biological applications, including targeted therapeutics. One of the major challenges lies in understanding the complex interactions between nanoengineered materials and biological systems.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE210100001
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$875,000.00
Summary
A 3-photon imaging system for deep live imaging. This project aims to establish Australia’s first 3-photon microscope system with adaptive optics for deep intravital imaging. This advanced imaging system will enable researchers to investigate the biology of cells and tissue structures in a wide range of organs and engineered tissues, to a degree not possible with existing technology. This project will capitalise on advanced laser, microscope and adaptive optics technologies with the expected out ....A 3-photon imaging system for deep live imaging. This project aims to establish Australia’s first 3-photon microscope system with adaptive optics for deep intravital imaging. This advanced imaging system will enable researchers to investigate the biology of cells and tissue structures in a wide range of organs and engineered tissues, to a degree not possible with existing technology. This project will capitalise on advanced laser, microscope and adaptive optics technologies with the expected outcomes to include the generation of new knowledge of major biological systems, including the immune system and the nervous system. This will provide significant benefits to fundamental interdisciplinary research into immunology, infectious disease, neuroscience, mechanobiology and engineering.Read moreRead less
Development of a prime-boost anti-cancer vaccine. New vaccination strategies are urgently needed for a variety of diseases, including cancer. The problem with cancer vaccines is that it is difficult to trigger a response to a self protein. We propose that a prime-boost vaccination, using yellow fever virus and modified vaccinia virus ankara, could create very strong responses against tumor antigens. This approach can be patented and can revive that field of tumor vaccination, which is currently ....Development of a prime-boost anti-cancer vaccine. New vaccination strategies are urgently needed for a variety of diseases, including cancer. The problem with cancer vaccines is that it is difficult to trigger a response to a self protein. We propose that a prime-boost vaccination, using yellow fever virus and modified vaccinia virus ankara, could create very strong responses against tumor antigens. This approach can be patented and can revive that field of tumor vaccination, which is currently restrained by the difficulty of breaking immunological tolerance. We envisage the construction of a anti-cancer vaccine vector with obvious market potential. An exciting prospect is that this approach could be used as a prophylactic vaccine and possibly also as a therapeutic vaccine.Read moreRead less
A structural and functional investigation into events within the immunological synapse. This project will provide fundamental insight into processes that control infection. Investigating processes central to immunity is important, as it will further the understanding of these critically-important events. Such knowledge will increase Australia's research standing, as well as having the potential to generate novel therapies
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100217
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$450,000.00
Summary
In-Vivo Multispectral and X-ray Micro-CT Imaging: Founding a Western Australian small animal imaging core facility. The Western Australian Small Animal Imaging facility will provide wide access for the West Australian research community to a multimodality functional and dynamic core bioimaging facility to characterise in-vivo animal models, including extensive postgraduate research training. Wide-ranging research outcomes of national and community benefit include imaging tumour development, bone ....In-Vivo Multispectral and X-ray Micro-CT Imaging: Founding a Western Australian small animal imaging core facility. The Western Australian Small Animal Imaging facility will provide wide access for the West Australian research community to a multimodality functional and dynamic core bioimaging facility to characterise in-vivo animal models, including extensive postgraduate research training. Wide-ranging research outcomes of national and community benefit include imaging tumour development, bone metabolism (osteoporosis), neural function (Alzheimer's disease) and regeneration, and infection mechanisms in live animals, which will result in improvements in human health. Imaging and monitoring coral growth, fish age, and soil structure will improve the economics and sustainability of Australia's marine ecosystems and agricultural food production.Read moreRead less