Regulation of principal components of the antioxidant system in table grapes. An expanded ?health-claims? system will likely be enacted by Food Standards Australia New Zealand within two years. Horticultural industries are attracted to the promotional ?point of difference? this offers. Many health-promoting compounds are antioxidants, including polyphenols that are abundant in fruit such as grape and citrus. Antioxidants are also involved in the plant's defences against abiotic and biotic stres ....Regulation of principal components of the antioxidant system in table grapes. An expanded ?health-claims? system will likely be enacted by Food Standards Australia New Zealand within two years. Horticultural industries are attracted to the promotional ?point of difference? this offers. Many health-promoting compounds are antioxidants, including polyphenols that are abundant in fruit such as grape and citrus. Antioxidants are also involved in the plant's defences against abiotic and biotic stress. Here, the WA Table Grape industry has committed funds for an APAI to study regulation of antioxidants in relation to nutritional and postharvest qualities. Effects of preconditioning with mild oxidative stresses will be assayed, postharvest, using molecular and biochemical techniques.Read moreRead less
New biotech methods for crop quality assurance. Quality assurance of crop products is a key for Australia to be competitive in the world marketplace. The power of molecular diagnostics has not been applied to this important but neglected part of the produce handling chain. In this project research will be undertaken that will lead to low cost on site assays to test for variety preservation, contamination, and presence of pests and diseases. It employs the tools of genomics and proteomics to p ....New biotech methods for crop quality assurance. Quality assurance of crop products is a key for Australia to be competitive in the world marketplace. The power of molecular diagnostics has not been applied to this important but neglected part of the produce handling chain. In this project research will be undertaken that will lead to low cost on site assays to test for variety preservation, contamination, and presence of pests and diseases. It employs the tools of genomics and proteomics to provide basic understanding of processes which can be developed into cost effective analyses for practical use by industry to ensure quality assurance.Read moreRead less
Role of mRNA polyadenylation control in gene expression. Several benefits would come from a more complete understanding of the function of the messenger RNA poly(A) tail. It is frequently targeted by mechanisms that control cellular protein synthesis. This is most evident in developmental biology, where tail length control regulates maternal mRNA expression. Our previous work suggests that it has much wider importance for cellular function than previously thought and thus its study will produce ....Role of mRNA polyadenylation control in gene expression. Several benefits would come from a more complete understanding of the function of the messenger RNA poly(A) tail. It is frequently targeted by mechanisms that control cellular protein synthesis. This is most evident in developmental biology, where tail length control regulates maternal mRNA expression. Our previous work suggests that it has much wider importance for cellular function than previously thought and thus its study will produce knowledge of broad relevance to modern life sciences and its applications in medicine and biotechnology. Finally, a better understanding of yeast cellular biology is of benefit to the food and biotechnology sector of industry.Read moreRead less
Application of genome-wide transcriptional analysis to identifying genetic markers for industrial fermentation processes. This project aims to identify yeast genes involved in the response of commercial strains to stress, to determine their role in fermentation and the genetic pathways through which they operate. The ultimate goals are to determine the impact on fermentation activity of stress, and to develop predictive methods for assessing such conditions. This has significance since stress ....Application of genome-wide transcriptional analysis to identifying genetic markers for industrial fermentation processes. This project aims to identify yeast genes involved in the response of commercial strains to stress, to determine their role in fermentation and the genetic pathways through which they operate. The ultimate goals are to determine the impact on fermentation activity of stress, and to develop predictive methods for assessing such conditions. This has significance since stress during fermentation represents a significant commercial loss. The outcomes of this work will be a better understanding of how yeast responds to stress, and the identification of genes that can be used by the commercial partner to monitor and ensure fermentation efficiency.Read moreRead less
Determining the sequence of events during eukaryotic translation initiation. Multiple benefits will arise from a more complete understanding of translation initiation. It is a frequent target for mechanisms that control gene expression and its dys-regulation is associated with human disease. For example, this is evident in cancer biology, since altered translation is a frequent cause of tumorigenesis. Translation is of universal importance for cellular function and knowledge of how it works is c ....Determining the sequence of events during eukaryotic translation initiation. Multiple benefits will arise from a more complete understanding of translation initiation. It is a frequent target for mechanisms that control gene expression and its dys-regulation is associated with human disease. For example, this is evident in cancer biology, since altered translation is a frequent cause of tumorigenesis. Translation is of universal importance for cellular function and knowledge of how it works is central to modern life sciences and its application to medical and biotechnological problems. Finally, a better understanding of yeast cellular biology is of benefit to the food and biotechnology sector of industry.Read moreRead less
Molecular tracing of spectacled flying-fox (Pteropus conspicillatus) movements in rainforests and orchards of wet tropical Queensland. This project uses molecular markers to trace movements of spectacled flying-foxes in the wet tropics of north Queensland. The intention is to determine the origins of bats visiting orchards, determine patterns of seasonal and intra-seasonal migration of bats and to document the significance of such migrations to estimation of population numbers and trends. These ....Molecular tracing of spectacled flying-fox (Pteropus conspicillatus) movements in rainforests and orchards of wet tropical Queensland. This project uses molecular markers to trace movements of spectacled flying-foxes in the wet tropics of north Queensland. The intention is to determine the origins of bats visiting orchards, determine patterns of seasonal and intra-seasonal migration of bats and to document the significance of such migrations to estimation of population numbers and trends. These data are critical to conservation of bat populations, to the ecologically sustainable development of fruit growing in the region and the long term sustainable management of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.Read moreRead less
The future of fruit fly control: making the Sterile Insect Technique work for Queensland fruit fly. The future of fruit fly control in Australia lies in the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT): it is the only non-pesticide option that can totally eliminate pest populations. Millions of dollars have already been invested to establish an SIT program against Queensland fruit fly (Q-fly) in southern and eastern Australia, but this program is currently largely ineffective due to the poor performance of t ....The future of fruit fly control: making the Sterile Insect Technique work for Queensland fruit fly. The future of fruit fly control in Australia lies in the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT): it is the only non-pesticide option that can totally eliminate pest populations. Millions of dollars have already been invested to establish an SIT program against Queensland fruit fly (Q-fly) in southern and eastern Australia, but this program is currently largely ineffective due to the poor performance of the mass-reared sterile flies. This project will apply genetic, ecological and technical solutions to the problems facing the current Q-fly control program. Effective control of Q-fly will enhance the international competitiveness of Australia's horticultural industries.Read moreRead less
Potential of gene drives to eliminate incursions of Drosophila suzukii. This project aims to test the efficacy and evolutionary stability of different types of gene drives, and model whether gene drives can be used to eliminate incursions of Drosophila suzukii into Australia. It is now possible to use genome editing technology to alter populations of organisms using ‘gene drives’. Multiple strategies have been conceived with a major distinction between those that aim to eliminate populations ver ....Potential of gene drives to eliminate incursions of Drosophila suzukii. This project aims to test the efficacy and evolutionary stability of different types of gene drives, and model whether gene drives can be used to eliminate incursions of Drosophila suzukii into Australia. It is now possible to use genome editing technology to alter populations of organisms using ‘gene drives’. Multiple strategies have been conceived with a major distinction between those that aim to eliminate populations versus those that aim to modify populations. This project will examine these strategies in two fly species, the model, Drosophila melanogaster and the devastating pest of horticulture, Drosophila suzukii. The project expects to assess a gene drive strategy to control the invasive pest that threatens the Australian soft-skinned fruit industries.Read moreRead less