The evolution of bacterial pathogenesis: a genomic approach. The outcome of this research will be a better understanding of the genes involved with adaptation to particular pathogenic lifestyles. Specifically, genes that are rapidly evolving in selected bacterial pathogens of medical and veterinary importance will be identified using a bioinformatics approach that exploits the existence of multiple closely-related genome sequences. Such genes encode potential new targets for therapeutic interv ....The evolution of bacterial pathogenesis: a genomic approach. The outcome of this research will be a better understanding of the genes involved with adaptation to particular pathogenic lifestyles. Specifically, genes that are rapidly evolving in selected bacterial pathogens of medical and veterinary importance will be identified using a bioinformatics approach that exploits the existence of multiple closely-related genome sequences. Such genes encode potential new targets for therapeutic intervention that provide alternatives in the face of emerging antibiotic resistance. Importantly, the methodology developed in this project is broadly applicable to the study of evolution of bacterial pathogenesis in any background: medical, agricultural or horticultural.Read moreRead less
Phasevarions of Haemophilus influenzae: mechanisms and origins of a novel epigenetic system controlling coordinated random switching in expression of multiple genes. Central to the utilisation of biological information is our ability to identify and interpret DNA sequence information from genomes. In bacteria that cause disease, these investigations can identify key aspects of the infectious process or potential components of vaccines or new targets for antibiotics. Our recent work has identifie ....Phasevarions of Haemophilus influenzae: mechanisms and origins of a novel epigenetic system controlling coordinated random switching in expression of multiple genes. Central to the utilisation of biological information is our ability to identify and interpret DNA sequence information from genomes. In bacteria that cause disease, these investigations can identify key aspects of the infectious process or potential components of vaccines or new targets for antibiotics. Our recent work has identified a new genetic system, the 'phasevarion', that mediates random expression of multiple genes. The proposed research aims to advance our understanding of gene expression at the most basic level, revealing how bacteria generate diverse populations to evade environmental and immune stresses, and facilitating improved interpretation and use of DNA sequences for researchers and industry in this field.Read moreRead less
Sulfur cycling in soil environments - how bacteria contribute to the oxidation of organic and inorganic sulfur compounds. Element cycling in soil environments is of global significance as soils constantly exchange compounds with the atmosphere and cover vast areas of land. Many of the compounds exchanged are known contributors to the greenhouse effect and other phenomena such as acid rain. By elucidating the regulation of bacterial sulfur oxidation pathways and their integration into general met ....Sulfur cycling in soil environments - how bacteria contribute to the oxidation of organic and inorganic sulfur compounds. Element cycling in soil environments is of global significance as soils constantly exchange compounds with the atmosphere and cover vast areas of land. Many of the compounds exchanged are known contributors to the greenhouse effect and other phenomena such as acid rain. By elucidating the regulation of bacterial sulfur oxidation pathways and their integration into general metabolism, we will enable the development of better management strategies for agricultural soils. Our data will also significantly improve understanding of how soil processes will change in response to changing climatic conditions.Read moreRead less
Simultaneous analysis of root-derived plant defences and the associated microbiome. Australia is dependent on sustainable agricultural yields, which need to be maintained or improved. This production capacity is currently under threat by new and existing diseases which are predicted to worsen with climate change. This project will provide a global picture of how disease resistance and soil microbial communities are causally linked, and provide new strategies for disease control. In doing so, it ....Simultaneous analysis of root-derived plant defences and the associated microbiome. Australia is dependent on sustainable agricultural yields, which need to be maintained or improved. This production capacity is currently under threat by new and existing diseases which are predicted to worsen with climate change. This project will provide a global picture of how disease resistance and soil microbial communities are causally linked, and provide new strategies for disease control. In doing so, it will develop intellectual property (IP) and infrastructure that can be used in soil health management. This will provide many benefits to Australia, including sustainable agriculture in the context of climate variability and an increased demand for food, biomaterials and biofuels.Read moreRead less