Competition or cooperation between marine biofilm bacteria recycling POM? Biofilms develop on any wetted surface by adhesion and subsequent growth of microorganisms. Recycling the energy, carbon and nitrogen contained in oceanic particulate organic matter (POM) is a global process essential for life on Earth. Ocean POM is degraded by its biofilm consortia, particularly bacteria secreting digestive enzymes. It is not known whether biofilm bacteria compete or cooperate in recycling POM. This proj ....Competition or cooperation between marine biofilm bacteria recycling POM? Biofilms develop on any wetted surface by adhesion and subsequent growth of microorganisms. Recycling the energy, carbon and nitrogen contained in oceanic particulate organic matter (POM) is a global process essential for life on Earth. Ocean POM is degraded by its biofilm consortia, particularly bacteria secreting digestive enzymes. It is not known whether biofilm bacteria compete or cooperate in recycling POM. This project combines microscopy image analysis, flow cytometry and molecular genetics to determine bacterial interactions quantitatively in mixed-species biofilms on natural POM. Results will increase knowledge of bacterial community functioning and biofilm recycling of POM in marine environments.Read moreRead less
Bacterial mechanisms of gold mobilisation and precipitation with applications to mineral processing and exploration. The development of a comprehensive model for the biogeochemical behaviour of gold in the environment will aid mineral explorers to interpret existing exploration data and to develop better exploration strategies. Moreover, this project aims to develop the basis for a new geomicrobiological gold exploration method by identifying organisms and microbial gene sequences that could be ....Bacterial mechanisms of gold mobilisation and precipitation with applications to mineral processing and exploration. The development of a comprehensive model for the biogeochemical behaviour of gold in the environment will aid mineral explorers to interpret existing exploration data and to develop better exploration strategies. Moreover, this project aims to develop the basis for a new geomicrobiological gold exploration method by identifying organisms and microbial gene sequences that could be used as biomarkers for mineralisation. This research will also provide the fundamental information required to copy nature and engineer new cost-efficient and environmentally friendly technologies for gold processing using microorganisms that occur naturally in Australian soils. Read moreRead less
Mechanisms and management of inducible tolerance to synthetic insecticides and Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)-formulations in Australian populations of diamondback moth. Insects have a cunning ability to respond to damaging environments by evolving genetic resistance or mobilising metabolic tolerance mechanisms. Recent observations of inducible tolerance to synthetic and biopesticides, which can be transmitted to offspring by a maternal effect has the potential to cause ecological and economic prob ....Mechanisms and management of inducible tolerance to synthetic insecticides and Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)-formulations in Australian populations of diamondback moth. Insects have a cunning ability to respond to damaging environments by evolving genetic resistance or mobilising metabolic tolerance mechanisms. Recent observations of inducible tolerance to synthetic and biopesticides, which can be transmitted to offspring by a maternal effect has the potential to cause ecological and economic problems in agricultural production. We will use field-collected Diamondback moth (DBM), a major insect pest in canola and brassica vegetable crops, to investigate the genetic implications of inducible tolerance for the integrated management of DBM and for the design of new resistance management strategies.Read moreRead less
Role of rhizosphere microorganisms in growth of plants in soils with low P availability. The concentration of available phosphorus in many Australian soils is low compared to the requirement of plants and soil organisms. Plant genotypes differ in their capacity to grow at low P availability but the role of rhizosphere microorganisms in plant P uptake from such soils is largely unknown. We will determine the role of rhizosphere microorganisms in P solubilisation and mobilisation in different crop ....Role of rhizosphere microorganisms in growth of plants in soils with low P availability. The concentration of available phosphorus in many Australian soils is low compared to the requirement of plants and soil organisms. Plant genotypes differ in their capacity to grow at low P availability but the role of rhizosphere microorganisms in plant P uptake from such soils is largely unknown. We will determine the role of rhizosphere microorganisms in P solubilisation and mobilisation in different crop genotypes and native plant species in different Australian soils with low P availability. The results will give a comprehensive picture of the role of rhizosphere microbial ecology in phosphorus acquisition by crop and native plants.Read moreRead less
Development and implementation of biodiversity information for sustainable management of South Australian groundwater. Clean potable water is one of the most important resources for human health and a successful economy. Increasingly, subterranean aquifers are used for storage and recovery of water. These aquifers contain dynamic ecosystems, but little is known about species composition or about the importance of the presence of various species for water quality. We will use the latest laborator ....Development and implementation of biodiversity information for sustainable management of South Australian groundwater. Clean potable water is one of the most important resources for human health and a successful economy. Increasingly, subterranean aquifers are used for storage and recovery of water. These aquifers contain dynamic ecosystems, but little is known about species composition or about the importance of the presence of various species for water quality. We will use the latest laboratory techniques and DNA identification methods to provide a template for determining ground water diversity and food web dynamics throughout Australia. This project will lead to a better understanding of how to manage ground water in a sustainable manner.Read moreRead less
Bacterial polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon transport and degradation. This project aims to investigate the molecular processes underpinning the degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by bacteria. PAHs are persistent environmental contaminants linked to several human diseases, including cancer. Bacteria capable of degrading PAHs could be used to naturally and effectively reduce environmental PAH loads to below safe levels. The project will apply techniques in functional genomics an ....Bacterial polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon transport and degradation. This project aims to investigate the molecular processes underpinning the degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by bacteria. PAHs are persistent environmental contaminants linked to several human diseases, including cancer. Bacteria capable of degrading PAHs could be used to naturally and effectively reduce environmental PAH loads to below safe levels. The project will apply techniques in functional genomics and biochemistry to help define the ways that PAHs are taken up from the environment by bacteria, their fate within bacterial cells, and the ways that bacteria overcome the inherent toxicity of PAHs. The knowledge generated is expected to enhance our capacity to rationally deploy bacteria for PAH degradation.Read moreRead less
Determination of factors effecting pathogen removal in lagoons treating and storing effluent for reuse. Waste stabilisation ponds are a preferred treatment option for wastewater in many rural and remote communities within Australia and overseas because of their low-tech, robust structure. Reducing numbers of pathogens in the final treated effluent of these systems so that it can be reused, will minimise risks to the public and the environment and improve management of this sustainable water reso ....Determination of factors effecting pathogen removal in lagoons treating and storing effluent for reuse. Waste stabilisation ponds are a preferred treatment option for wastewater in many rural and remote communities within Australia and overseas because of their low-tech, robust structure. Reducing numbers of pathogens in the final treated effluent of these systems so that it can be reused, will minimise risks to the public and the environment and improve management of this sustainable water resource throughout the region. This research also provides an opportunity for Australia to export knowledge on the efficient use of these systems to 2.4 billion people worldwide currently without access to affordable sanitation.Read moreRead less
Motility as a means to understand prokaryotic function in the biosphere. Bacterial processes are crucial to the environment, industry and technology of Australia. This work will open a new area of research to expand our understanding of how bacteria behave and function. This will lay the foundation for improved environmental management and resource utilisation in the critical areas of groundwater purification, coral infections, fisheries yields, petroleum remediation and bioenergy generation. Th ....Motility as a means to understand prokaryotic function in the biosphere. Bacterial processes are crucial to the environment, industry and technology of Australia. This work will open a new area of research to expand our understanding of how bacteria behave and function. This will lay the foundation for improved environmental management and resource utilisation in the critical areas of groundwater purification, coral infections, fisheries yields, petroleum remediation and bioenergy generation. This proposal will train over a dozen new scientists in these crucial areas and bring leading international scientists to Australia in the areas of bioenergy production, microfluidics, advanced microscopy and bioengineering.Read moreRead less
The Role of the Single-Cell Environment in Microbial Invasion. This project aims to use a single-cell approach to develop a quantitative analysis of single-cell interactions to advance our understanding of complex bacterial behaviour fundamental to ecology, industry, technology and disease. Bacteria are ubiquitous on Earth and play key roles in nutrient cycles, biogeochemistry, pathogenesis, symbiosis and bioremediation among other processes. They exhibit complex behaviour and continuously invad ....The Role of the Single-Cell Environment in Microbial Invasion. This project aims to use a single-cell approach to develop a quantitative analysis of single-cell interactions to advance our understanding of complex bacterial behaviour fundamental to ecology, industry, technology and disease. Bacteria are ubiquitous on Earth and play key roles in nutrient cycles, biogeochemistry, pathogenesis, symbiosis and bioremediation among other processes. They exhibit complex behaviour and continuously invade animals, plants and new habitats. These behaviours are poorly understood in natural communities.Read moreRead less