Identifying Novel Biosynthetic Pathways in Mycobacteria using DNA Microarray Technology. DNA microarrays are a powerful new bioinformatics-based technology and an ideal tool for characterising complex biosynthetic pathways since the expression of all genes in the bacterial genome can be monitored in a single experiment. In this project we aim to construct and use a DNA microarray to identify novel biosynthetic pathways in mycobacteria. Of particular interest are pathways used to create compone ....Identifying Novel Biosynthetic Pathways in Mycobacteria using DNA Microarray Technology. DNA microarrays are a powerful new bioinformatics-based technology and an ideal tool for characterising complex biosynthetic pathways since the expression of all genes in the bacterial genome can be monitored in a single experiment. In this project we aim to construct and use a DNA microarray to identify novel biosynthetic pathways in mycobacteria. Of particular interest are pathways used to create components of the highly complex and poorly characterised cell wall. Since this structure is unique in the bacterial world, we expect to identify and characterise pathways that are unique to mycobacteria.Read moreRead less
Genomic and molecular characterisation of a novel Australian leishmania pathogen. Leishmaniasis is the second most serious protozoal disease after malaria. This project will help characterise the first Leishmania species identified in Australia providing molecular tools to monitor the pathogen and a detailed assessment of any potential risk to human health. Comparative analysis with more pathogenic species will help identify genes and mechanisms that determine the progression of human disease le ....Genomic and molecular characterisation of a novel Australian leishmania pathogen. Leishmaniasis is the second most serious protozoal disease after malaria. This project will help characterise the first Leishmania species identified in Australia providing molecular tools to monitor the pathogen and a detailed assessment of any potential risk to human health. Comparative analysis with more pathogenic species will help identify genes and mechanisms that determine the progression of human disease leading to the potential identification of new drug and vaccine targets. The methodologies and expertise developed will be used will be available to other research groups working on infectious diseases.Read moreRead less
Host cell targets of bacterial virulence effectors. The research described in this proposal will result in a better understanding of the cell biology of host-pathogen interactions. We are in a unique position to analyze the importance of protein/protein interactions between bacterial virulence determinants and host cell proteins using a range of cell biology techniques to address the fundamental, molecular basis of the host-pathogen interaction. In addition we will construct a new genetic tool ....Host cell targets of bacterial virulence effectors. The research described in this proposal will result in a better understanding of the cell biology of host-pathogen interactions. We are in a unique position to analyze the importance of protein/protein interactions between bacterial virulence determinants and host cell proteins using a range of cell biology techniques to address the fundamental, molecular basis of the host-pathogen interaction. In addition we will construct a new genetic tool to identify novel bacterial virulence determinants. We anticipate that a greater knowledge of the factors that contribute to the host-pathogen interaction will provide new insights into the subversion of host cell processes by bacterial pathogens of animals, plants and humans.
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Genetic and epigenetic control of developmental competence. Development is an important biological process of life and understanding development has important medical and economic benefits for Australia. This research aims to study development using a simple, easily manipulated and well established experimental organism, a fungus, as a model for development in other organisms, including humans. In addition, fungi directly impact on life at many levels. Fungi can be pathogens of humans, other ani ....Genetic and epigenetic control of developmental competence. Development is an important biological process of life and understanding development has important medical and economic benefits for Australia. This research aims to study development using a simple, easily manipulated and well established experimental organism, a fungus, as a model for development in other organisms, including humans. In addition, fungi directly impact on life at many levels. Fungi can be pathogens of humans, other animals or plants significantly affecting our health, agriculture and industry. Fungi are also beneficial to other organisms, especially to many plants, and are used to manufacture pharmaceuticals and enzymes used in the health and biotechnology industries.Read moreRead less
The role of virulence factors of Clostridium difficile in food animals. Disease caused by the bacterium Clostridium difficile are a significant food production animal and public health problem in many countries. Specific animal and human public health resources have been allocated in many countries in efforts to mitigate the growing epidemics. The study proposed in this application presents a significant opportunity to learn about the virulence factors of animal strains of this bacterium about w ....The role of virulence factors of Clostridium difficile in food animals. Disease caused by the bacterium Clostridium difficile are a significant food production animal and public health problem in many countries. Specific animal and human public health resources have been allocated in many countries in efforts to mitigate the growing epidemics. The study proposed in this application presents a significant opportunity to learn about the virulence factors of animal strains of this bacterium about which very little is known. This project will lead to rationally designed preventative and treatment strategies that apply to both animals and humans, thereby impeding epidemics caused by C. difficile in Australia.Read moreRead less
The biology, structure and function of bacterial virulence effectors. This project is closely aligned with the National Research Priority of Promoting and Maintaining Good Health and will establish a research framework to investigate novel virulence processes that allow bacterial pathogens to infect humans and cause disease. This fresh approach to the study of bacterial pathogenesis will sit outside classic genetic methods to investigate infection and immunity which rely heavily on genetic manip ....The biology, structure and function of bacterial virulence effectors. This project is closely aligned with the National Research Priority of Promoting and Maintaining Good Health and will establish a research framework to investigate novel virulence processes that allow bacterial pathogens to infect humans and cause disease. This fresh approach to the study of bacterial pathogenesis will sit outside classic genetic methods to investigate infection and immunity which rely heavily on genetic manipulation of the pathogen. Other than providing fundamental information on host-pathogen interactions, this work may lead to novel disease interventions by inhibition of bacterial virulence factor activity and/or enhancement of host inflammatory and immune responses.Read moreRead less
A high-through-put method for unlocking the mitochondrial genomes of significant pathogens. The national/community benefits of this research are: (1) to develop a long-term, high quality scientific and technological program contributing to national objectives, including the maintenance of a strong capability in basic research, the development of new scientific concepts and the enhancement of international collaborative links; (2) to strengthen the links between basic and applied research; (3) to ....A high-through-put method for unlocking the mitochondrial genomes of significant pathogens. The national/community benefits of this research are: (1) to develop a long-term, high quality scientific and technological program contributing to national objectives, including the maintenance of a strong capability in basic research, the development of new scientific concepts and the enhancement of international collaborative links; (2) to strengthen the links between basic and applied research; (3) to develop excellence in research by promoting collaborative research, resulting in a more efficient use of resources in a national and international context; (4) to enhance the skills-base in biology and biotechnology; and (5) to substantially increase global visibility through quality research, leading to an increased investment in Australian science.Read moreRead less
The Evolution and Diversification of Apicomplexan Cell Invasion Mechanisms. Insights gained through this project, about the mechanisms of cell invasion in Apicomplexan parasites, will have far reaching implications for a number of parasites of great significance to humans and animals. Since host cell invasion is a key step in the parasite lifecycle, proteins identified here will be prime targets for novel drugs that prevent invasion or antigens that can be used as vaccines. This will be importan ....The Evolution and Diversification of Apicomplexan Cell Invasion Mechanisms. Insights gained through this project, about the mechanisms of cell invasion in Apicomplexan parasites, will have far reaching implications for a number of parasites of great significance to humans and animals. Since host cell invasion is a key step in the parasite lifecycle, proteins identified here will be prime targets for novel drugs that prevent invasion or antigens that can be used as vaccines. This will be important for developing new control strategies for diseases of global significance such as malaria or toxoplasmosis, as well as those of national importance to the food industry of Australia, including diseases like babesiosis and coccidiosis that cause significant economic loss to the livestock and poultry industries each year.Read moreRead less
MitoGenomics of Key Pathogens - An International Research Co-operative. The national/community benefits are: (1) to develop a long-term, high quality scientific and technological program contributing to national objectives, including the maintenance of a strong capability in basic research, the development of new scientific concepts and the enhancement of international collaborative links; (2) to strengthen the links between basic and applied research; (3) to develop excellence in research by pr ....MitoGenomics of Key Pathogens - An International Research Co-operative. The national/community benefits are: (1) to develop a long-term, high quality scientific and technological program contributing to national objectives, including the maintenance of a strong capability in basic research, the development of new scientific concepts and the enhancement of international collaborative links; (2) to strengthen the links between basic and applied research; (3) to develop excellence in research by promoting collaborative research, resulting in a more efficient use of resources in a national and international context; (4) to enhance the skills-base in biology and biotechnology; (5) to substantially increase global visibility through quality research, leading to an increased investment in Australian science.Read moreRead less
Chromatin barriers in Plasmodium falciparum gene regulation. Malaria is a major world disease that kills around 2 million people annually. The genome of the causative agent has now been completely sequenced, but we still know very little of how and why some genes are activated while their neighbours are turned off. I will study the DNA barriers that separate such genes, and the proteins that interact with these regions to better understand how genetic regulation functions in these parasites. A b ....Chromatin barriers in Plasmodium falciparum gene regulation. Malaria is a major world disease that kills around 2 million people annually. The genome of the causative agent has now been completely sequenced, but we still know very little of how and why some genes are activated while their neighbours are turned off. I will study the DNA barriers that separate such genes, and the proteins that interact with these regions to better understand how genetic regulation functions in these parasites. A better understanding of gene regulation in malaria parasites will help us to better combat the tricks utilised by this and other organisms to elude our immune systems.Read moreRead less