Molecular and genetic analysis of epigenetic components in a model plant. Australia is a major exporter of agricultural food crops thus producers must maintain their competitive advantage in order to compete on the world stage. Food crops unfortunately have large, complex genomes that are not sequenced and a generation time of months that makes research outcomes slow to achieve. This project proposes to utilise a model plant that has a small completely sequenced genome and a short generation tim ....Molecular and genetic analysis of epigenetic components in a model plant. Australia is a major exporter of agricultural food crops thus producers must maintain their competitive advantage in order to compete on the world stage. Food crops unfortunately have large, complex genomes that are not sequenced and a generation time of months that makes research outcomes slow to achieve. This project proposes to utilise a model plant that has a small completely sequenced genome and a short generation time making it ideal to study the fundamental biological process of RNA silencing. Discoveries and outcomes from this project may have the potential to benefit Australian crops, ecosystems and human health.Read moreRead less
ARC Centre of Excellence - In Plant Energy Biology (CPEB). Plant cell metabolism underlies the synthesis of important products in crops, and subtle changes in metabolism can enhance germination rates, early seedling vigour, biomass/yield, and tolerance to harsh environments. Research in CPEB will focus on control of this metabolism. Its expertise will enhance Australia's participation in major international research efforts directly relevant to sustainable agriculture in a country with fragile/ ....ARC Centre of Excellence - In Plant Energy Biology (CPEB). Plant cell metabolism underlies the synthesis of important products in crops, and subtle changes in metabolism can enhance germination rates, early seedling vigour, biomass/yield, and tolerance to harsh environments. Research in CPEB will focus on control of this metabolism. Its expertise will enhance Australia's participation in major international research efforts directly relevant to sustainable agriculture in a country with fragile/degrading ecosystems. The research will provide new approaches for enhancing quality metabolite traits important for human health. It will further strengthen our international leadership in plant energy science, and will strengthen Australia's research training in systems biology to influence plant function.Read moreRead less
The Interferon Inducible Transcription Factor IFI 16.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$151,208.00
Summary
Interferons (IFNs) play an important role in human biology by regulating cell growth and differentiation, immune function and inhibiting viral replication. These vital functions of type I (alpha and beta) and type II (gamma) IFN are triggered upon binding of IFN to their cognate cell surface receptors. This initiates a series of intracellular signalling cascades resulting in the activation of key transcription factors which induce the expression of specific cellular target genes. The protein pro ....Interferons (IFNs) play an important role in human biology by regulating cell growth and differentiation, immune function and inhibiting viral replication. These vital functions of type I (alpha and beta) and type II (gamma) IFN are triggered upon binding of IFN to their cognate cell surface receptors. This initiates a series of intracellular signalling cascades resulting in the activation of key transcription factors which induce the expression of specific cellular target genes. The protein products of these genes in turn directly or indirectly mediate the necessary biological response to maintain cellular homeostasis. While there are hundreds of cellular genes that are induced following IFN stimulation, the molecular and biological functions of the protein products of many of these genes are often not known. IFI 16 is one such IFN-induced gene that belongs to a family of related genes found in human and mouse. Little is known about what role IFI 16 may play in an IFN response and how it may function to mediate its effect. The proposed study is aimed at understanding how IFI 16 is upregulated following treatment of cells with IFN, identifying which cellular genes may be directly regulated by IFI 16 and how this happens, and whether IFI 16 plays a role in the development of specific blood cells.Read moreRead less
Using genomic information to understand and improve the quality of the Australian South Sea Pearl. Recently, mass-produced freshwater pearls from Asia have markedly increased in quality and begun to compromise our prestigious South Sea Pearl market. This presents Australian pearlers with a challenge to maintain market identity by improving their pearl quality and consistency. By adding genomics to the existing Australian pearl industry armoury we will help not only to maintain the premier positi ....Using genomic information to understand and improve the quality of the Australian South Sea Pearl. Recently, mass-produced freshwater pearls from Asia have markedly increased in quality and begun to compromise our prestigious South Sea Pearl market. This presents Australian pearlers with a challenge to maintain market identity by improving their pearl quality and consistency. By adding genomics to the existing Australian pearl industry armoury we will help not only to maintain the premier position of the Australian South Sea Pearl in the market, but also to move it further ahead. Knowledge of the genetics of pearl formation will advance a range of hatchery and farm practices, such as selective breeding and pearl grafting, which in turn can enhance farm-based operations and the remote communities that support them.Read moreRead less
Enhancing the Pearl: understanding the molecular genetics of pearl lustre, colour and size. Australia produces some of the most valuable pearls in the world. However recently the world has been flooded with high quality mass-produced freshwater pearls. This has begun to eat into our prestigious South Sea Pearl market and now presents Australian pearlers with a challenge to maintain market identity. We propose to respond this challenge by improving the quality and consistency of the cultured Sou ....Enhancing the Pearl: understanding the molecular genetics of pearl lustre, colour and size. Australia produces some of the most valuable pearls in the world. However recently the world has been flooded with high quality mass-produced freshwater pearls. This has begun to eat into our prestigious South Sea Pearl market and now presents Australian pearlers with a challenge to maintain market identity. We propose to respond this challenge by improving the quality and consistency of the cultured South Sea Pearl through gaining a detailed understanding of how the oyster genetically controls pearl biofabrication - focusing on pearl colour, size and lustre. This information will identify pearl oysters that are a source of high-quality donor mantle tissue and that can be used in selective breeding programs.Read moreRead less
Discovery of novel microRNA biogenesis and functional components. Discovery of novel microRNA components will provide new strategies for confronting a diverse array of challenges Australia faces, such as the increasing rates of certain cancers in our population, to stresses on our crop plants faced with environmental changes. The biological mechanisms underlying these disparate problems are unified by microRNA involvement in many instances. By finding microRNA controlling factors common to all h ....Discovery of novel microRNA biogenesis and functional components. Discovery of novel microRNA components will provide new strategies for confronting a diverse array of challenges Australia faces, such as the increasing rates of certain cancers in our population, to stresses on our crop plants faced with environmental changes. The biological mechanisms underlying these disparate problems are unified by microRNA involvement in many instances. By finding microRNA controlling factors common to all higher organisms, we expect our community will benefit from the increased knowledge base that will help our researchers adopt new strategies in fighting diseases and improving our agricultural industry.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0775763
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$189,000.00
Summary
High throughput orthogonal mass spectrometer for biotechnology research in WA. The new 'orthogonal' mass spectrometer will be housed at the WA State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre at Murdoch University (SABC). The SABC is a multi-user university centre that provides equal access for researchers from all universities, state government and industry to major facilities. The equipment will provide a competitive advantage to researchers undertaking fundamental and applied projects that underpin ....High throughput orthogonal mass spectrometer for biotechnology research in WA. The new 'orthogonal' mass spectrometer will be housed at the WA State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre at Murdoch University (SABC). The SABC is a multi-user university centre that provides equal access for researchers from all universities, state government and industry to major facilities. The equipment will provide a competitive advantage to researchers undertaking fundamental and applied projects that underpin new developments in plant and animal agriculture. Outcomes include: development of new molecular markers to speed crop improvement and quality, animal genetic improvement and health, and support for new biotechnology companies. This will benefit the community through more productive, competitive and sustainable agriculture.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0230245
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$600,000.00
Summary
Joint controlled environment facility for research and development in plant biotechnolgy in Western Australia. The aim of this proposal is to establish a high quality, controlled-environment growth facility for plant research in Perth, jointly managed by Murdoch University and the University of Western Australia. This facility is needed urgently to support current research and new initiatives in plant molecular biology and biotechnology. It will focus on the molecular bases of plant growth and ....Joint controlled environment facility for research and development in plant biotechnolgy in Western Australia. The aim of this proposal is to establish a high quality, controlled-environment growth facility for plant research in Perth, jointly managed by Murdoch University and the University of Western Australia. This facility is needed urgently to support current research and new initiatives in plant molecular biology and biotechnology. It will focus on the molecular bases of plant growth and defence against pathogens. Outcomes include enhancement of WA plant research and its application to improved agricultural production that will benefit rural industries and promote exports. It will also facilitate postgraduate training in plant biotechnology and enhance career prospects of graduates.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0668507
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$260,000.00
Summary
Real time PCR and nanoparticle diagnostic facilities for high-throughput quantitative analysis of genomic structure and gene expression. Modern molecular tools have lead to an explosion in genome projects and unification of all areas of biology. The most basic need for such research is access to improving technologies for detecting DNA fingerprints that distinguish genetically-diverse genes, and determining which genes are "switched on" or 'off' in various situations. Real time PCR technology, ....Real time PCR and nanoparticle diagnostic facilities for high-throughput quantitative analysis of genomic structure and gene expression. Modern molecular tools have lead to an explosion in genome projects and unification of all areas of biology. The most basic need for such research is access to improving technologies for detecting DNA fingerprints that distinguish genetically-diverse genes, and determining which genes are "switched on" or 'off' in various situations. Real time PCR technology, pioneered by The University of Queensland (UQ) and Southern Cross University (SCU) using ARC funding in 1996, is now the technology of choice for much of this research. This project will provide high-throughput equipment for real time PCR, and will develop complementary high-throughput "nanoparticle" DNA genotyping technologies, with applications to medicine and agriculture.
Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354908
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
The Insect-Plant Chemical Ecology Network (IPCEN). We bring together plant molecular biology, entomology and analytical chemistry to transform three leading fields of Australian research into an advanced science with far reaching capabilities in innovative research and applied outcomes. Expertise studying the biochemical pathways that produce specific plant compounds and expertise in insect recognition and response to these chemicals will be brought together. This will lead to new research outco ....The Insect-Plant Chemical Ecology Network (IPCEN). We bring together plant molecular biology, entomology and analytical chemistry to transform three leading fields of Australian research into an advanced science with far reaching capabilities in innovative research and applied outcomes. Expertise studying the biochemical pathways that produce specific plant compounds and expertise in insect recognition and response to these chemicals will be brought together. This will lead to new research outcomes and solutions to problems in agriculture, horticulture, forestry and protection of Australia's native flora. Researchers are struggling to create these links, constrained by disciplinary boundaries and geographical isolation. Key industries and researchers already support this proposal.Read moreRead less