Genome evolution & adaptation of the multinuclear wheat stripe rust fungus. Animals and plants package their genomes into a single nucleus within each cell. In contrast, millions of fungal species accommodate multiple nuclei containing individual haploid genomes. It is currently unknown what the evolutionary implications are for this unusual genome division into multiple nuclei. Here we explore the evolutionary consequences of genome division into multiple nuclei for the first time by applying c ....Genome evolution & adaptation of the multinuclear wheat stripe rust fungus. Animals and plants package their genomes into a single nucleus within each cell. In contrast, millions of fungal species accommodate multiple nuclei containing individual haploid genomes. It is currently unknown what the evolutionary implications are for this unusual genome division into multiple nuclei. Here we explore the evolutionary consequences of genome division into multiple nuclei for the first time by applying cutting edge genome biology tools and algorithms. The economically significant study system is the devastating wheat stripe rust fungus. This pathogen costs Australian farmers over $100 million a year. New understanding is expected to lead to better disease management, reduced fungicide applications, and increased yields.Read moreRead less
Transcriptome profiling of Phytophthora pathogenicity genes: regulation of cell wall degrading enzyme synthesis during plant infection. This project will catalogue the repertoire of enzymes produced by plant pathogens to break down plant cell walls during initial penetration and later establishment of disease. This project will determine how production of these enzymes is regulated and how their function is optimised to achieve successful plant infection.
Transcriptome analysis of Phytophthora–plant interactions: characterisation of plant inhibitor proteins targeting Phytophthora extracellular effectors. A critical aspect of plant defence is protection of plant cell walls against pathogen penetration. Plants achieve this through the activity of inhibitors that specifically target pathogen cell wall degrading enzymes. These inhibitor proteins have great potential in engineering improved plant resistance to disease but their use is hampered by limi ....Transcriptome analysis of Phytophthora–plant interactions: characterisation of plant inhibitor proteins targeting Phytophthora extracellular effectors. A critical aspect of plant defence is protection of plant cell walls against pathogen penetration. Plants achieve this through the activity of inhibitors that specifically target pathogen cell wall degrading enzymes. These inhibitor proteins have great potential in engineering improved plant resistance to disease but their use is hampered by limited knowledge of their deployment and specificity. This project will produce an in-depth understanding of the identity, regulation and role of plant inhibitors that combat attack by destructive pathogens in the genus Phytophthora. It will not only address the serious problem of Phytophthora diseases in Australia but will also apply to plant defence against other pathogens.Read moreRead less
Biogenesis of secretory organelles and the function of adhesins secreted during the establishment of plant disease. Many agriculturally important crops and Australian native plants are susceptible to diseases caused by species of Phytophthora, a fungus-like organism that lives in the soil. Economic losses due to Phytophthora diseases are estimated to exceed $200 million per annum and the scale of environmental damage in natural ecosystems is huge. Currently, control of Phytophthora diseases la ....Biogenesis of secretory organelles and the function of adhesins secreted during the establishment of plant disease. Many agriculturally important crops and Australian native plants are susceptible to diseases caused by species of Phytophthora, a fungus-like organism that lives in the soil. Economic losses due to Phytophthora diseases are estimated to exceed $200 million per annum and the scale of environmental damage in natural ecosystems is huge. Currently, control of Phytophthora diseases largely depends on a very small number of effective chemicals and there is an imminent risk of the development of pathogen resistance. This research will increase our understanding of how Phytophthora spores infect host plants and will identify suitable targets for the development of novel, environmentally safe chemicals that inhibit disease development.Read moreRead less
Selective secretion: a novel mechanism of protein trafficking and its role in Phytophthora pathogenicity. Agriculturally important crops and over 3,000 Australian native plants are susceptible to diseases caused by Phytophthora, fungus-like pathogens that live in the soil. Economic losses exceed $200m pa and natural ecosystems are being destroyed on a vast scale. Phytophthora control depends upon a limited number of chemical inhibitors to which resistance has already emerged. New control stra ....Selective secretion: a novel mechanism of protein trafficking and its role in Phytophthora pathogenicity. Agriculturally important crops and over 3,000 Australian native plants are susceptible to diseases caused by Phytophthora, fungus-like pathogens that live in the soil. Economic losses exceed $200m pa and natural ecosystems are being destroyed on a vast scale. Phytophthora control depends upon a limited number of chemical inhibitors to which resistance has already emerged. New control strategies are urgently needed. This research will investigate a novel mechanism for release of infection material recently discovered in Phytophthora cells, and will increase our understanding of how Phytophthora infects host plants, providing vital information required for the development of new, environmentally-safe inhibitors. Read moreRead less
Positronic Atoms - A Search for Positron Bound States. An experimental verification of positron bound states will solve a long standing problem in positron physics. A clear understanding of positron binding and the underlying mechanisms will open a new era in low-energy positron-atom/molecular physics, leading the way for breakthrough sciences. For instance, a positron bound state should enhance the annihilation rate between the positron and target valence electron. Positron annihilation, to pro ....Positronic Atoms - A Search for Positron Bound States. An experimental verification of positron bound states will solve a long standing problem in positron physics. A clear understanding of positron binding and the underlying mechanisms will open a new era in low-energy positron-atom/molecular physics, leading the way for breakthrough sciences. For instance, a positron bound state should enhance the annihilation rate between the positron and target valence electron. Positron annihilation, to produce two gamma rays, is a key process in both materials research (e.g. as already heavily employed in defect detection) and bio-medical treatments (e.g. the Positron Emission Tomography, or PET).Read moreRead less
A Microscope for Molecular Reactions. We are proposing to combine new, state-of-the-art detector technology and innovative experimental techniques in the development of A Microscope for Molecular Reactions. This device will enable precise and highly efficient studies on the structure of molecules and their interactions with the physical world. It will be applied to a broad range of problems in contemporary atomic and molecular physics, and will lead to new insights into the dynamics of such re ....A Microscope for Molecular Reactions. We are proposing to combine new, state-of-the-art detector technology and innovative experimental techniques in the development of A Microscope for Molecular Reactions. This device will enable precise and highly efficient studies on the structure of molecules and their interactions with the physical world. It will be applied to a broad range of problems in contemporary atomic and molecular physics, and will lead to new insights into the dynamics of such reactions and their role in our everyday lives.Read moreRead less
Benchmark Studies of Positron Interactions with Helium. Australia has been at the forefront of experimental studies of electron-driven processes and theoretical descriptions of positron interactions. A new experimental program to study experimental low energy positron atomic physics provides a perfect synergy of these two areas of expertise. The field is a relatively new and emerging one and is focused around a number of new experimental approaches, such as those being developed at the Austral ....Benchmark Studies of Positron Interactions with Helium. Australia has been at the forefront of experimental studies of electron-driven processes and theoretical descriptions of positron interactions. A new experimental program to study experimental low energy positron atomic physics provides a perfect synergy of these two areas of expertise. The field is a relatively new and emerging one and is focused around a number of new experimental approaches, such as those being developed at the Australian National University. This set of experiments, on positron interactions with helium, will provide new experimental evidence to further our understanding of fundamental quantum processes and place Australia at the forefront of the field.Read moreRead less
Multiple ionization of atoms and molecules in strong laser fields. Our research contributes to multidisciplinary efforts to unravel the
fundamental mechanisms that govern interaction of intense laser
radiation with matter. Understanding and accurate numerical modelling
of such preocesses have far-reaching implications for astrophysics,
plasma physics and controlled fusion, life and materials sciences. The
research project will further enhance our reputation in an area where
Australian the ....Multiple ionization of atoms and molecules in strong laser fields. Our research contributes to multidisciplinary efforts to unravel the
fundamental mechanisms that govern interaction of intense laser
radiation with matter. Understanding and accurate numerical modelling
of such preocesses have far-reaching implications for astrophysics,
plasma physics and controlled fusion, life and materials sciences. The
research project will further enhance our reputation in an area where
Australian theorists are preeminent, and the research training will
produce PhD graduates with a high-level ability in numerical modelling
using supercomputers. Such skills are essential in many defense,
information and nano-technology applications of national priority.
Read moreRead less
Two-electron atomic photoionization in superstrong electromagnetic field. Correlation, or entanglement, of electrons in matter governs many important phenomena in nature, such as chemical reactions, superconductivity and ferromagnetism. However, it is the many-electron processes in atoms which allow the study of electron correlations most clearly. In this project we will investigate such a process of two-electron atomic photoionization by an intense laser pulse. We will combine advanced theoret ....Two-electron atomic photoionization in superstrong electromagnetic field. Correlation, or entanglement, of electrons in matter governs many important phenomena in nature, such as chemical reactions, superconductivity and ferromagnetism. However, it is the many-electron processes in atoms which allow the study of electron correlations most clearly. In this project we will investigate such a process of two-electron atomic photoionization by an intense laser pulse. We will combine advanced theoretical and experimental tools with the aim of understanding how the electron correlation interplays with the
superstrong electromagnetic field. This will provide insight into fundamental processes of interaction of intense laser pulses with matter which are important in a wide range of applications.
Read moreRead less