Nettles & toxic toupees: the molecular weaponry of venomous caterpillars. This project aims to investigate the structure, function and evolution of peptide toxins in venoms made by caterpillars in superfamily Zygaenoidea. Caterpillars in this group are covered in spines that inject pain-causing venoms, and this protects them from vertebrate and invertebrate predators. This project will test if peptides in this venom cause pain by pharmacological modulation of mammalian ion channels and signallin ....Nettles & toxic toupees: the molecular weaponry of venomous caterpillars. This project aims to investigate the structure, function and evolution of peptide toxins in venoms made by caterpillars in superfamily Zygaenoidea. Caterpillars in this group are covered in spines that inject pain-causing venoms, and this protects them from vertebrate and invertebrate predators. This project will test if peptides in this venom cause pain by pharmacological modulation of mammalian ion channels and signalling receptors, and if they have insecticidal properties. The first three-dimensional structures of caterpillar venom peptides will also be solved. Genomes of representatives of two different zygaenoid families will be produced, and genomic techniques will be used to elucidate how venom use evolved at the molecular level.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210101144
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$429,450.00
Summary
Understanding crosstalks between Natural Killer cells and Dendritic Cells. This project aims to investigate the interactions between two populations of immune cells: natural killer cells and dendritic cells. This proposal will advance basic knowledge in immunology by innovating in considering the heterogeneity and diversity of these two immune populations and combining interdisciplinary approaches using cutting-edge technologies. Expected outcomes from this proposal include the identification of ....Understanding crosstalks between Natural Killer cells and Dendritic Cells. This project aims to investigate the interactions between two populations of immune cells: natural killer cells and dendritic cells. This proposal will advance basic knowledge in immunology by innovating in considering the heterogeneity and diversity of these two immune populations and combining interdisciplinary approaches using cutting-edge technologies. Expected outcomes from this proposal include the identification of new immunoregulatory pathways, the development of new scientific theories, and enhancement of Australia’s research capacity through international collaborations and student training. This project will provide significant benefits such as the identification of biological targets for development of new biotechnologies. Read moreRead less
A new class of sodium channel toxin from ant venoms . Ants are diverse and ubiquitous and the ability of certain species to sting is familiar to many of us. Yet we know remarkably little about the chemistry underlying these stings. We recently discovered that the venoms of ants, including common Australian species, harbour a novel and unique class of sodium channel toxins. Building on this discovery, the aim of this project will be to perform an in-depth characterisation of the effects of these ....A new class of sodium channel toxin from ant venoms . Ants are diverse and ubiquitous and the ability of certain species to sting is familiar to many of us. Yet we know remarkably little about the chemistry underlying these stings. We recently discovered that the venoms of ants, including common Australian species, harbour a novel and unique class of sodium channel toxins. Building on this discovery, the aim of this project will be to perform an in-depth characterisation of the effects of these toxins on sodium channels and to uncover the diversity and breadth of this toxin class in ant venoms. The outcome of this project will be novel insights into the chemistry of ant venoms and new insights into sodium channel function.Read moreRead less
Click chemistry to reveal how neurons and glia shape perineuronal nets . The extracellular matrix (ECM) and its perineuronal nets (which are net-like structures with holes wrapped around neurons) are largely underexplored, despite representing a remarkable 20% of the brain’s total volume and having been suggested to be involved in many brain functions. Interestingly, digestion of the ECM improves learning and memory, but deficits return once the ECM has reformed. However, how this ECM remodellin ....Click chemistry to reveal how neurons and glia shape perineuronal nets . The extracellular matrix (ECM) and its perineuronal nets (which are net-like structures with holes wrapped around neurons) are largely underexplored, despite representing a remarkable 20% of the brain’s total volume and having been suggested to be involved in many brain functions. Interestingly, digestion of the ECM improves learning and memory, but deficits return once the ECM has reformed. However, how this ECM remodelling is organised at a cell-type level is not understood. Here we aim to close this knowledge gap, using cutting-edge technology including bioconjugation and ultrasound-mediated cargo delivery. Together, this project aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of this major brain compartment in neuronal function. Read moreRead less
Adrenomedullin: a specific regulator of venous vessel integrity. Arteries and veins display different adhesive properties, which enable them to fulfil their physiological roles. We are yet to understand the mechanisms that establish and maintain adhesive function in different vessel types. We have discovered that signalling by the peptide Adrenomedullin (ADM) is a key mediator of adhesion, only in veins but not arteries. This project aims to utilise innovative models (zebrafish, mouse and bioeng ....Adrenomedullin: a specific regulator of venous vessel integrity. Arteries and veins display different adhesive properties, which enable them to fulfil their physiological roles. We are yet to understand the mechanisms that establish and maintain adhesive function in different vessel types. We have discovered that signalling by the peptide Adrenomedullin (ADM) is a key mediator of adhesion, only in veins but not arteries. This project aims to utilise innovative models (zebrafish, mouse and bioengineered vessels) to identify the biochemical and mechanical mechanisms by which ADM controls venous adhesion. Outcomes will improve our understanding on how vessel integrity is controlled across vessel types and will expand the scope of Australian research by informing efforts to vascularise engineered tissues.Read moreRead less
RhoA signaling: the nanoscale mechanisms of mechanochemical regulation. This project aims to elucidate a new paradigm for regulating cell signals at the nanoscale level. Cell signalling involves the coordination of multi-molecular networks at the plasma membrane, the interface between the cell and its external environment. These are often thought to involve the assembly of multimolecular complexes through the action of protein scaffolds. This project will focus on how the contractile regulator, ....RhoA signaling: the nanoscale mechanisms of mechanochemical regulation. This project aims to elucidate a new paradigm for regulating cell signals at the nanoscale level. Cell signalling involves the coordination of multi-molecular networks at the plasma membrane, the interface between the cell and its external environment. These are often thought to involve the assembly of multimolecular complexes through the action of protein scaffolds. This project will focus on how the contractile regulator, anillin, controls RhoA signalling by kinetic regulation. In particular, how nanoscale clustering of anillin by the dynamic actomyosin cytoskeleton modulates RhoA signalling for contractility and tissue homeostasis. The outcomes of this project are first and foremost fundamental understanding of how cells communicate with one another.Read moreRead less
Defining mechanisms behind the formation of hierarchical vascular networks. Blood vessels form complex branched networks composed of arteries, capillaries and veins. The development and maintenance of different vessel systems (arteries and veins) is dependent on cell adherence properties within each vessel, yet how these are established and maintained remains unknown. This project aims to analyse the differences in junctional dynamics between sprouting arteries and veins, and to identify arteria ....Defining mechanisms behind the formation of hierarchical vascular networks. Blood vessels form complex branched networks composed of arteries, capillaries and veins. The development and maintenance of different vessel systems (arteries and veins) is dependent on cell adherence properties within each vessel, yet how these are established and maintained remains unknown. This project aims to analyse the differences in junctional dynamics between sprouting arteries and veins, and to identify arterial and venous signalling networks that make and maintain vessel identity. This project will reveal how adhesiveness is regulated in order to make a hierarchical, functional vascular network, with implications for engineering of functional, vascularised organs in the biotech sector.Read moreRead less