Molecular toxinology of Australia's lesser known venomous snakes. This proposal represents a tremendous opportunity for biodiscovery from venomous snakes. This will be achieved through the researchers' unique approach of investigating previously unmapped venom systems for divergent, bioactive proteins. An understanding of venomous animal protein evolution great potential in drug discovery and other commercial applications. This project will provide Australian graduate and post-graduate stude ....Molecular toxinology of Australia's lesser known venomous snakes. This proposal represents a tremendous opportunity for biodiscovery from venomous snakes. This will be achieved through the researchers' unique approach of investigating previously unmapped venom systems for divergent, bioactive proteins. An understanding of venomous animal protein evolution great potential in drug discovery and other commercial applications. This project will provide Australian graduate and post-graduate students with finely tuned skills in cutting edge methodological techniques and a fluent understanding of molecular evolution, preparing them to be internationally competitive scientists.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150101150
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$362,000.00
Summary
Using sponge transcriptomes to understand ancestral animal development. The invention of a basic developmental program was likely a key step in the transition to multicellularity in animals, one of the major transitions in the tree of life. By combining next-generation sequencing of a representative panel of sponges and functional studies on an oviparous sponge, this project aims to identify gene interactions and networks that built the first animal embryos over 680 million years ago. Furthermor ....Using sponge transcriptomes to understand ancestral animal development. The invention of a basic developmental program was likely a key step in the transition to multicellularity in animals, one of the major transitions in the tree of life. By combining next-generation sequencing of a representative panel of sponges and functional studies on an oviparous sponge, this project aims to identify gene interactions and networks that built the first animal embryos over 680 million years ago. Furthermore, the role of Wingless (Wnt) signalling in patterning these ancestral embryos along a primordial anterior-posterior axis will be investigated. Piecing together the fundamental molecular machinery shared by all animal embryos will shed light on the molecular basis for the complex development of most animals on Earth.Read moreRead less
Evolutionary origin of stem cells and the emergence of animal complexity. The project aims to decipher the fundamental mechanisms governing stem cell specification and formation. All animals rely on stem cells to replenish, repair and regenerate tissues. Stem cells are also often a conduit to malignant tumours. This project seeks to uncover the rules governing stem cell formation through the study of a simple and ancient animal – the marine sponge Amphimedon queenslandica. The project plans to c ....Evolutionary origin of stem cells and the emergence of animal complexity. The project aims to decipher the fundamental mechanisms governing stem cell specification and formation. All animals rely on stem cells to replenish, repair and regenerate tissues. Stem cells are also often a conduit to malignant tumours. This project seeks to uncover the rules governing stem cell formation through the study of a simple and ancient animal – the marine sponge Amphimedon queenslandica. The project plans to combine insights from the simple, experimentally-tractable sponge stem cell system with existing knowledge of stem cell specification in humans and other animals, to reveal the essential features of stem cell formation. These insights may inform future pursuits to generate, control and use stem cells in cancer and regenerative medicines.Read moreRead less
Evolution of environmental regulation of cell states in animal life cycles. This project seeks to understand how the environment influences the fate of cells over an animal's life, and how this influence originated in animal evolution. Using a homegrown Australian model, a sea sponge from the Great Barrier Reef, and advanced multi-omic approaches (genomics plus cell biology), this project aims to uncover the mechanisms underlying global cell state changes that are induced through the interplay o ....Evolution of environmental regulation of cell states in animal life cycles. This project seeks to understand how the environment influences the fate of cells over an animal's life, and how this influence originated in animal evolution. Using a homegrown Australian model, a sea sponge from the Great Barrier Reef, and advanced multi-omic approaches (genomics plus cell biology), this project aims to uncover the mechanisms underlying global cell state changes that are induced through the interplay of environmental and endogenous signals at metamorphosis. Because of the evolutionary position of sponges, outcomes of this project expect to reveal the cardinal rules governing environmentally-induced cell state changes that are obligatory for most animals to complete their complex life cycles.Read moreRead less
Co-evolution of the host pathogen interaction between Leptosphaeria maculans and Brassica species. Brassica canola is Australia's third largest export crop, producing 13% of the world's canola oil. However, blackleg disease, caused by the fungus Leptospheria maculans leads to annual yield losses of 15%, with 100% loss associated with breakdown of resistance. International investment has provided novel genome resources for Brassica and L. maculans. Applying these resources to understand the co-ev ....Co-evolution of the host pathogen interaction between Leptosphaeria maculans and Brassica species. Brassica canola is Australia's third largest export crop, producing 13% of the world's canola oil. However, blackleg disease, caused by the fungus Leptospheria maculans leads to annual yield losses of 15%, with 100% loss associated with breakdown of resistance. International investment has provided novel genome resources for Brassica and L. maculans. Applying these resources to understand the co-evolution of this plant-fungal interaction could prevent the current boom-bust cycle of canola production in Australia. This study will also provide a model and knowledge base for applications in other species, leading to enhanced crops with increased plant protection and robust, reliable productivity.Read moreRead less
Developing biogeographic know-how: Improving species divergence and dispersal estimations to examine geological and climatic evolutionary drivers. Anthropogenic activity over the last 150 years is now dramatically changing our global climate and ecosystems. The impact on biodiversity is already evident, and large-scale floral and faunal extinctions are predicted. This study unites a cohort of international experts in an interdisciplinary team to develop new molecular and mathematical methods to ....Developing biogeographic know-how: Improving species divergence and dispersal estimations to examine geological and climatic evolutionary drivers. Anthropogenic activity over the last 150 years is now dramatically changing our global climate and ecosystems. The impact on biodiversity is already evident, and large-scale floral and faunal extinctions are predicted. This study unites a cohort of international experts in an interdisciplinary team to develop new molecular and mathematical methods to expand our fundamental knowledge on how geological and global climate change have affected our world's species components and ecosystems in the past. This research is of environmental significance and global importance as it will improve our ability to predict how species behave under future predicted climate scenarios.Read moreRead less
Origins of Parasitism in the Psocodea (Insecta). The Psocodea has 2 groups: the lice and the psocopterans (the psocids and their kin). The lice are parasites whereas the psocopterans are free-living. The Psocodea are a unique model-system that will allow us to discover the processes that preadapt arthropods for parasitism and the processes that facilitate "explosive" radiations of arthropods once they become parasites. We will infer evolutionary trees for these insects from 3 genes. Then we ....Origins of Parasitism in the Psocodea (Insecta). The Psocodea has 2 groups: the lice and the psocopterans (the psocids and their kin). The lice are parasites whereas the psocopterans are free-living. The Psocodea are a unique model-system that will allow us to discover the processes that preadapt arthropods for parasitism and the processes that facilitate "explosive" radiations of arthropods once they become parasites. We will infer evolutionary trees for these insects from 3 genes. Then we will use these trees to track the evolution of feeding, attachment, senses and reproduction through evolutionary time. Our work should provide unprecedented insight into the evolution of parasitism in the arthropods.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE150100161
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$540,000.00
Summary
A multi-omics platform for molecular evolution and developmental biology. A multi-omics platform for molecular evolution and developmental biology: The proposed multi-omics platform will provide the computational environment (consisting of data, computer hardware, software and workflows) required to undertake large scale 'omics based research projects within molecular evolution and developmental biology. The platform architecture is designed to accommodate the requirements of data intensive rese ....A multi-omics platform for molecular evolution and developmental biology. A multi-omics platform for molecular evolution and developmental biology: The proposed multi-omics platform will provide the computational environment (consisting of data, computer hardware, software and workflows) required to undertake large scale 'omics based research projects within molecular evolution and developmental biology. The platform architecture is designed to accommodate the requirements of data intensive research in a collaborative environment where datasets, tools and workflows can be shared. Bringing together complementary expertise in molecular evolution and developmental biology, the platform will provide the opportunity to perform integrative analysis across genomes, transcriptomes, proteomes, metabalomes and epigenomes, providing a unique collaborative analytical platform for Australian researchers.Read moreRead less
Evolution of the biofabrication of mineralized structures in animals. Shells and skeletons are produced by a wide range of animals. These highly-order crystalline structures are genetically-encoded and produce high-performance composite materials that exceed present capabilities in human engineering. This international collaboration will elucidate the molecular mechanisms controlling the fabrication of these architectures. This knowledge will contribute significantly to the development of materi ....Evolution of the biofabrication of mineralized structures in animals. Shells and skeletons are produced by a wide range of animals. These highly-order crystalline structures are genetically-encoded and produce high-performance composite materials that exceed present capabilities in human engineering. This international collaboration will elucidate the molecular mechanisms controlling the fabrication of these architectures. This knowledge will contribute significantly to the development of materials for advanced electronics and energy transducers, human bone therapeutics and marine-based products such as pearls and cements, through the identification of genes underlying biofabrication networks and the development of in vitro bioproduction systems.Read moreRead less
Marine sponge–microbe interactions and the origin of animal innate immunity. This project aims to address how the animal innate immune system evolved to discriminate between potential pathogens versus beneficial symbionts by studying a marine sponge holobiont. Using advanced genomic and cellular approaches, the project will uncover deeply conserved regulatory pathways used by the cells of sponges, humans and other animals, and thereby identify cardinal rules governing animal innate immunity and ....Marine sponge–microbe interactions and the origin of animal innate immunity. This project aims to address how the animal innate immune system evolved to discriminate between potential pathogens versus beneficial symbionts by studying a marine sponge holobiont. Using advanced genomic and cellular approaches, the project will uncover deeply conserved regulatory pathways used by the cells of sponges, humans and other animals, and thereby identify cardinal rules governing animal innate immunity and its evolutionary origin. The project will provide an understanding of how beneficial microbial symbionts are recruited and maintained by animals, and are instrumental to the health of our environment and all its inhabitants.Read moreRead less