Investigating the molecular basis of T-cell receptor cross-reactivity. This project will explore the basis of unexpected immune reactions whereby the immune system mistakes one molecular structure for another, a phenomenon known as cross-reactivity. This project will examine how often this is due to molecular mimicry, potentially explaining why immune T cells sometimes react inappropriately to different agents.
CX3C chemokine signalling in the olfactory epithelium and its role in the self regeneration of the olfactory system. The current proposal will explore new venues in adult neural stem cell research and contribute to the further development of molecular biology and neuroscience research in Western Australia and Australia. The use of neural stem cells holds therapeutic promise for the treatment of a wide variety of neurological conditions, including neurotrauma and stroke. The proposed research wil ....CX3C chemokine signalling in the olfactory epithelium and its role in the self regeneration of the olfactory system. The current proposal will explore new venues in adult neural stem cell research and contribute to the further development of molecular biology and neuroscience research in Western Australia and Australia. The use of neural stem cells holds therapeutic promise for the treatment of a wide variety of neurological conditions, including neurotrauma and stroke. The proposed research will provide new data on the fundamental cellular and molecular events that are required to trigger the birth, differentiation and conditions for growth of new neurons in the adult nervous system. The generation of such insights will be critical for any translational research.
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An X-ray crystallographic investigation into co-receptors on T-lymphocytes. T lymphocytes are an indispensable cellular component of the immune system. The normal process of T cell selection in the thymus, and the ability of mature T cells to respond to foreign antigens are governed by receptor recognition and co-receptor mediated events. The co-receptors encompass a wide spectrum of structurally diverse proteins that are involved in adhesion, co-ligation and signal transduction. This proposa ....An X-ray crystallographic investigation into co-receptors on T-lymphocytes. T lymphocytes are an indispensable cellular component of the immune system. The normal process of T cell selection in the thymus, and the ability of mature T cells to respond to foreign antigens are governed by receptor recognition and co-receptor mediated events. The co-receptors encompass a wide spectrum of structurally diverse proteins that are involved in adhesion, co-ligation and signal transduction. This proposal aims to investigate, using X-ray crystallography as the primary research tool, co- receptors located on T-lymphocytes. This work will gain fundamental insights into co-receptor function.Read moreRead less
A Structural Investigation Into Events Within The Immunological Synapse. The proposed research program, using laboratory-based and synchrotron-based radiation, will provide significant fundamental insight into the processes that control infection. Investigating processes central to immunity is important, as it will further our understanding of these critically-important events. Such knowledge will increase Australia's international research standing, as well as having the potential to generat ....A Structural Investigation Into Events Within The Immunological Synapse. The proposed research program, using laboratory-based and synchrotron-based radiation, will provide significant fundamental insight into the processes that control infection. Investigating processes central to immunity is important, as it will further our understanding of these critically-important events. Such knowledge will increase Australia's international research standing, as well as having the potential to generate novel therapies, such as immunosuppressants.Read moreRead less
FUNCTIONAL GENOMICS OF PLANT MITOCHONDRIA: THEIR ROLE IN DEVELOPMENT, OXIDATIVE STRESS AND PLANT DEFENSE. Crops encounter many situations in their environment which place them under stress. Reactive oxygen molecules produced in these situations act as messengers to trigger defence mechanisms but also cause cellular damage. Mitochondria are the subcellular compartments involved in energy production and are essential for plant development and growth. However, they also have been implicated in th ....FUNCTIONAL GENOMICS OF PLANT MITOCHONDRIA: THEIR ROLE IN DEVELOPMENT, OXIDATIVE STRESS AND PLANT DEFENSE. Crops encounter many situations in their environment which place them under stress. Reactive oxygen molecules produced in these situations act as messengers to trigger defence mechanisms but also cause cellular damage. Mitochondria are the subcellular compartments involved in energy production and are essential for plant development and growth. However, they also have been implicated in the response of plants to stress and pathogen attack, and in production of reactive oxygen molecules. This proposal seeks to investigate how mitochondria are involved in these processes, using the latest plant genome information. Potential outcomes include crops better able to cope with environmental stress.Read moreRead less
The molecular role of ADAM12 in maintenance of skeletal muscle, myogenesis and adipogenesis. An understanding of the molecular control of skeletal muscle growth, maintenance and balance between muscle and fat production is of fundamental importance for a competitive meat industry, for the promotion of strong muscles in the ageing population and for disorders such as muscle diseases, diabetes and obesity. This project will enhance strong international collaborations and expand cutting-edge resear ....The molecular role of ADAM12 in maintenance of skeletal muscle, myogenesis and adipogenesis. An understanding of the molecular control of skeletal muscle growth, maintenance and balance between muscle and fat production is of fundamental importance for a competitive meat industry, for the promotion of strong muscles in the ageing population and for disorders such as muscle diseases, diabetes and obesity. This project will enhance strong international collaborations and expand cutting-edge research within Australia with many potential economic benefits for the meat industry, biotechnology and health. The expertise developed by this pioneering research will ensure that Australia is well placed to harness new technologies and exploit future advances in this fast-moving field of muscle biology.Read moreRead less
A structural investigation into T cell signalling machines. The project aims to understand how receptor recognition events cause intracellular signalling.Membrane-bound receptors, their cognate ligands and the ensuing intracellular activation signal determine cellular fate. The project will explore events central to cellular immunity by examining the T cell signalling machinery. This project will use labelling, crystallographic and cryo-electron microscopy studies, to determine the molecular arc ....A structural investigation into T cell signalling machines. The project aims to understand how receptor recognition events cause intracellular signalling.Membrane-bound receptors, their cognate ligands and the ensuing intracellular activation signal determine cellular fate. The project will explore events central to cellular immunity by examining the T cell signalling machinery. This project will use labelling, crystallographic and cryo-electron microscopy studies, to determine the molecular architecture of the T cell receptor (TCR) CD3 complex, a molecular machine central to T cell signalling. This project should reveal how antigen recognition leads to T cell signal transduction which will create jobs, bring substantial health benefits and improve quality of life for Australians.Read moreRead less
A structural and molecular investigation into the basic mechanism of T cell receptor complex function. Cellular fate is determined by interactions between membrane-bound receptors and their cognate ligands. The basic mechanism of how such receptor-mediated recognition events cause intracellular signalling is poorly understood in most biological systems, including the cellular immune recognition axis. This project will explore events central to cellular immunity by examining the interactions cent ....A structural and molecular investigation into the basic mechanism of T cell receptor complex function. Cellular fate is determined by interactions between membrane-bound receptors and their cognate ligands. The basic mechanism of how such receptor-mediated recognition events cause intracellular signalling is poorly understood in most biological systems, including the cellular immune recognition axis. This project will explore events central to cellular immunity by examining the interactions centred on T-cell receptor complexes. This project will explore the molecular mechanisms underpinning these key receptor-recognition events and relate these observations to T-cell activation. The proposal will shed fundamental insight into Major Histocompatibility Complex restriction, T-cell development and how antigen recognition leads to T-cell signal transduction. 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
Re-uniting marsupials and eutherians by embryonic micromanipulation. The unique responsibility for transmitting life from generation to generation normally depends on the gametes. This project will use new reproductive technologies to investigate the properties of the oocyte in reprogramming somatic cell nuclei, and will use the nuclei of both marsupial and eutherian somatic cells to test this. We will also use both marsupial and eutherian genes to insert into the oocyte to create the first tra ....Re-uniting marsupials and eutherians by embryonic micromanipulation. The unique responsibility for transmitting life from generation to generation normally depends on the gametes. This project will use new reproductive technologies to investigate the properties of the oocyte in reprogramming somatic cell nuclei, and will use the nuclei of both marsupial and eutherian somatic cells to test this. We will also use both marsupial and eutherian genes to insert into the oocyte to create the first transgenic marsupials. We will also investigate the ability of spermatozoa from species of increasing genetic distance to ferttilise marsupial eggs using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).Read moreRead less