Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE160100127
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$355,000.00
Summary
Superresolution fluorescence imaging in microbiology. Superresolution fluorescence imaging in microbiology:
This project involves the purchase of new, and upgrade of existing, fluorescence imaging tools to facilitate the study of intracellular processes in microbial systems at significantly higher spatial and temporal resolutions than hitherto possible. Visualisation of the structure and dynamics of intracellular molecular assemblies at maximal resolution is required to understand protein funct ....Superresolution fluorescence imaging in microbiology. Superresolution fluorescence imaging in microbiology:
This project involves the purchase of new, and upgrade of existing, fluorescence imaging tools to facilitate the study of intracellular processes in microbial systems at significantly higher spatial and temporal resolutions than hitherto possible. Visualisation of the structure and dynamics of intracellular molecular assemblies at maximal resolution is required to understand protein function inside living cells. The new equipment is designed to provide a fast super-resolution imaging system to study the intracellular dynamics of proteins in vitro and a super-resolution microscope to visualise structures and assemblies inside microbes with a resolution of tens of nanometres, putting in vitro biochemistry into the context of a living cell. Read moreRead less
An interdisciplinary approach to host-pathogen interactions in infection. This project aims to understand the molecular and cellular interactions between host and parasite, as well as providing a quantitative framework for analysing infection dynamics in other systems. Infection involves a complex interaction between the host and the parasite, which is very dynamic and therefore difficult to study by traditional sampling and analysis approaches. This project has combined mathematical modelling w ....An interdisciplinary approach to host-pathogen interactions in infection. This project aims to understand the molecular and cellular interactions between host and parasite, as well as providing a quantitative framework for analysing infection dynamics in other systems. Infection involves a complex interaction between the host and the parasite, which is very dynamic and therefore difficult to study by traditional sampling and analysis approaches. This project has combined mathematical modelling with a novel experimental protocol to allow the study of kinetics of parasite replication in vivo. Expected outcomes will provide significant benefits, such as new avenues for vaccination and immune intervention.Read moreRead less
Understanding the dynamics of malaria infection. Malaria infection kills around one million patients each year and this project involves an interdisciplinary team who will directly measure how the parasite grows and is killed by the immune system. A better understanding of parasite growth and control will help develop better drugs therapy and vaccination for this important infection.
Structural insights of virus-glycan interactions. Influenza virus, rotavirus and Dengue virus infect the body by adhering to certain types of sugars on the human cell surface. This project will develop a detailed structural understanding of how viruses interact with those sugar molecules for the development of novel drugs and vaccines to combat influenza and rotaviral infections.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100428
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$368,968.00
Summary
Diversity and evolution of methanogens. This project aims to discover methane-metabolising microorganisms and link their metabolic capabilities to cryptic parts of the carbon cycle. To date, only a small fraction of microbial diversity has been characterised, so there are significant gaps in our understanding of carbon cycling, while the metabolic capabilities of undiscovered and widely distributed microorganisms involved in methane metabolism remain unknown. This project will study these microo ....Diversity and evolution of methanogens. This project aims to discover methane-metabolising microorganisms and link their metabolic capabilities to cryptic parts of the carbon cycle. To date, only a small fraction of microbial diversity has been characterised, so there are significant gaps in our understanding of carbon cycling, while the metabolic capabilities of undiscovered and widely distributed microorganisms involved in methane metabolism remain unknown. This project will study these microorganisms’ metabolic pathways using DNA sequencing, bioinformatics and cultivation techniques. By understanding these microorganisms’ metabolisms, researchers expect to assess how they affect global carbon cycling and climate change.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180101563
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$365,058.00
Summary
The sweet road to synthesis of bacterial sugar structures. This project aims to characterise the synthesis pathways of nonulosonic acid sugars (NulOs) in bacteria using a combination of bioinformatics and experimental methodologies. Bacteria produce long chains of sugars or glycans on their cell surface known as capsules. These often contain important NulOs that can be uniquely harvested for use in the nutrition, cosmetic and bioremediation industries. By understanding the natural pathways of th ....The sweet road to synthesis of bacterial sugar structures. This project aims to characterise the synthesis pathways of nonulosonic acid sugars (NulOs) in bacteria using a combination of bioinformatics and experimental methodologies. Bacteria produce long chains of sugars or glycans on their cell surface known as capsules. These often contain important NulOs that can be uniquely harvested for use in the nutrition, cosmetic and bioremediation industries. By understanding the natural pathways of their synthesis, ‘glycans-by-design’ can be synthetically created with potent tailor-made properties. This project endeavours to examine how glycans with acidic sugars are produced to generate a fundamental understanding of sugar biology and create a database that will advance industrial applications in glycoengineering.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130101169
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Understanding how bacteria become sticky. This study will investigate the machinery used by bacteria to build specialised sticky fibres which allow them to attach to surfaces. The outcomes will significantly advance our understanding of how bacteria generate molecular weapons enabling them to survive and to infect humans and animals.
Evolution of bacterial pathogenesis. Little is known regarding the specific evolutionary steps involved in the emergence of highly virulent microbial pathogens from benign or mildly virulent populations. The group A streptococcus is exemplary of this vexing problem - a large population reservoir of bacteria exists causing only mild infections and a highly virulent strain emerges causing significant disease and mortality. Utilising an extensive WHO reference collection of group A streptococcus is ....Evolution of bacterial pathogenesis. Little is known regarding the specific evolutionary steps involved in the emergence of highly virulent microbial pathogens from benign or mildly virulent populations. The group A streptococcus is exemplary of this vexing problem - a large population reservoir of bacteria exists causing only mild infections and a highly virulent strain emerges causing significant disease and mortality. Utilising an extensive WHO reference collection of group A streptococcus isolates. This project will define the evolutionary events that produced the most significant invasive strain designated M1T1. The M1T1 strain emerged in the mid-1980s, has since disseminated globally, yet the evolutionary sequence of events resulting in this emergence are largely unknown.Read moreRead less
How auto-transporter proteins mediate bacterial interactions. This project aims to investigate the structure-function relationships that underpin key auto-transporter roles in bacterial cell adhesion, aggregation and biofilm formation. Auto-transporter proteins are extremely common in bacteria where they play a central role in controlling bacterial interactions with other bacteria, with human cells, and with surfaces. This project will define the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes. ....How auto-transporter proteins mediate bacterial interactions. This project aims to investigate the structure-function relationships that underpin key auto-transporter roles in bacterial cell adhesion, aggregation and biofilm formation. Auto-transporter proteins are extremely common in bacteria where they play a central role in controlling bacterial interactions with other bacteria, with human cells, and with surfaces. This project will define the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes. This will have significant benefits, such as providing the basis for the development of approaches to block auto-transporter functions that contribute to the establishment of persistent and difficult to treat bacterial infections.Read moreRead less
Rapid functional and taxonomic skin microbe characterisation. Rapid functional and taxonomic skin microbe characterisation. This project aims to develop methods to detect and characterise bioactive molecules released by skin microbes, and a novel microspectroscopy method for rapid taxonomic identification. This project will acquire independent spectra and develop classification algorithms, and participate in strategic planning for applications and product development. The expected outcomes from ....Rapid functional and taxonomic skin microbe characterisation. Rapid functional and taxonomic skin microbe characterisation. This project aims to develop methods to detect and characterise bioactive molecules released by skin microbes, and a novel microspectroscopy method for rapid taxonomic identification. This project will acquire independent spectra and develop classification algorithms, and participate in strategic planning for applications and product development. The expected outcomes from this project are research tools for skin microbiome modulation of immunity, and proof-of-concept data for future commercial product development. Potential commercial applications include microbial characterisation for biosecurity, agriculture, environmental and soil biology.Read moreRead less