Epigenetic Regulation of Fetal and Placental Development. Perturbations of the environment of the early embryo can alter fetal and placental growth. The mechanisms by which the early environment alters development of the fetal adrenal-placental axis are unknown. This axis coordinates fetal growth and development to ensure a successful transition from intra- to extrauterine life. We propose a novel role for the epigenetic regulation of imprinted genes in the activation of the fetal adrenal and in ....Epigenetic Regulation of Fetal and Placental Development. Perturbations of the environment of the early embryo can alter fetal and placental growth. The mechanisms by which the early environment alters development of the fetal adrenal-placental axis are unknown. This axis coordinates fetal growth and development to ensure a successful transition from intra- to extrauterine life. We propose a novel role for the epigenetic regulation of imprinted genes in the activation of the fetal adrenal and in placental growth and differentiation. This proposal extends the 'genetic conflict' hypothesis of the role of imprinted genes beyond its current focus on the regulation of fetal nutrient supply and demand.Read moreRead less
Avoiding the immune response: lessons from 'simple' bacteria. Some of the most important bacterial diseases of domestic animals are caused by mycoplasmas. Improved control of these diseases would significantly improve agricultural productivity by reducing losses associated with reduced feed conversion efficiency and increased susceptibility to other diseases, as well as improve animal welfare and public health, by reducing the need for antibiotic therapy to control these diseases in food produci ....Avoiding the immune response: lessons from 'simple' bacteria. Some of the most important bacterial diseases of domestic animals are caused by mycoplasmas. Improved control of these diseases would significantly improve agricultural productivity by reducing losses associated with reduced feed conversion efficiency and increased susceptibility to other diseases, as well as improve animal welfare and public health, by reducing the need for antibiotic therapy to control these diseases in food producing animals.Read moreRead less
Evaluating host-parasite interplay in individual tissues. The immune system of the host and the infecting parasite has coevolved into a sophisticated balance of power. This project will explore this balance using Schistosoma japonicum infection in sheep and determine immune mechanisms unleashed by the host in various tissues as well as the response of the parasite to these attacks.
New Bayesian methodology for understanding complex systems using hidden Markov models and expert opinion, environmental, robotics and genomics applications. This project aims to merge four areas of intense international interest in describing complex systems: hidden Markov models and mixtures, semi-parametric and nonparametric approaches, true combination of expert opinion with data, and new Bayesian computational methods based on perfect sampling and particle sampling. The project will signific ....New Bayesian methodology for understanding complex systems using hidden Markov models and expert opinion, environmental, robotics and genomics applications. This project aims to merge four areas of intense international interest in describing complex systems: hidden Markov models and mixtures, semi-parametric and nonparametric approaches, true combination of expert opinion with data, and new Bayesian computational methods based on perfect sampling and particle sampling. The project will significantly contribute to statistical methodology and its ability to inform about real-world problems. A strong focus on applications to genomics, robotics and environmental modelling will bring immediate research and monetary benefit for industry. Expected outcomes include enhanced cross-disciplinary and international linkages, publications, industry-funded projects and highly trained graduates.Read moreRead less
Stimulation of the mammalian reproductive system by olfactory pathways. This project answers fundamental questions about mammalian reproductive biology but, because we work with the sheep model, our findings can be applied to two of Australia's biggest export industries, wool and sheepmeat. Understanding the reproductive responses of our production animals to exteroceptive factors such as socio-sexual signals, photoperiod and nutrition is an important first step towards refining the management ....Stimulation of the mammalian reproductive system by olfactory pathways. This project answers fundamental questions about mammalian reproductive biology but, because we work with the sheep model, our findings can be applied to two of Australia's biggest export industries, wool and sheepmeat. Understanding the reproductive responses of our production animals to exteroceptive factors such as socio-sexual signals, photoperiod and nutrition is an important first step towards refining the management of breeding programs. It has been argued that this approach will also minimise, and perhaps even remove the need for, exogenous hormones and drugs for controlling the reproductive process.Read moreRead less
Brain temperature regulation in mammals: mechanisms and consequences. Mammals detect increases in body temperature predominantly in the brain. Counterintuitively many mammals selectively cool the brain during heat stress, which appears to defeat the mechanism for inducing cooling responses. We intend to investigate this apparent anomaly which we believe is concerned with optimizing water use in hot conditions. We will further investigate the source of water for evaporative cooling by panting and ....Brain temperature regulation in mammals: mechanisms and consequences. Mammals detect increases in body temperature predominantly in the brain. Counterintuitively many mammals selectively cool the brain during heat stress, which appears to defeat the mechanism for inducing cooling responses. We intend to investigate this apparent anomaly which we believe is concerned with optimizing water use in hot conditions. We will further investigate the source of water for evaporative cooling by panting and discover if there has been convergent evolution in thermoregulatory strategies in the eutherian and marsupial lineages. The data we collect will be used to support a new model for thermoregulation in mammals.
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TSuNAMi: Time Series Network Animal Modelling. Our proposal is motivated by and based upon the successful representation of time series as a network (or graph). We construct an abstract representation of a system from measurements of its changing behaviour over time. Properties of that structure (the network) then allow us to infer diagnostic information of the system. Specifically, we propose to apply this to livestock welfare during transport. By measuring the biological and environment condi ....TSuNAMi: Time Series Network Animal Modelling. Our proposal is motivated by and based upon the successful representation of time series as a network (or graph). We construct an abstract representation of a system from measurements of its changing behaviour over time. Properties of that structure (the network) then allow us to infer diagnostic information of the system. Specifically, we propose to apply this to livestock welfare during transport. By measuring the biological and environment condition of the animal we construct a network representation of that system. Geometric features of that network can then be used to infer health or duress of the subject. This proposal will develop the generic mathematical machinery to connect geometric features of the network with system behaviour. Read moreRead less
The critical role of kisspeptin/neurokinin/dynorphin (KNDy) neurons in gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) release. The brain controls fertility through the secretion of its primary stimulatory factor, gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH). Brain cells producing three key peptide hormones, kisspeptin, neurokin B and dynorphin (termed KNDy cells) are vital for the control of GnRH. This project will detail the role of KNDy cells in puberty and reproduction.
Pathogenesis, regulation and genomics of the ovine footrot pathogen, Dichelobacter nodosus. Footrot is one of the most economically significant diseases of sheep in Australia. The aim of this project is to develop a detailed understanding of how the bacterium that causes this infection is able to infect the sheep hoof and result in clinical disease. The complete sequence of the genome of the causative bacterium will be determined, enabling us to deduce its genetic potential. The completed projec ....Pathogenesis, regulation and genomics of the ovine footrot pathogen, Dichelobacter nodosus. Footrot is one of the most economically significant diseases of sheep in Australia. The aim of this project is to develop a detailed understanding of how the bacterium that causes this infection is able to infect the sheep hoof and result in clinical disease. The complete sequence of the genome of the causative bacterium will be determined, enabling us to deduce its genetic potential. The completed project will significantly advance fundamental knowledge of the disease process and will lead to the development of improved methods for the control of the disease, with concomitant cost savings to Australian primary industry.Read moreRead less
Second messenger-activated calcium channels in liver cells. This project concerns second messenger-activated calcium channels, part of the family of hormone-activated calcium channels which are essential to the functions of all animal cells. The aims are to elucidate the properties of a novel "large conductance" Ca2+ channel (using maitotoxin as an artificial activator), an inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-activated calcium channel, and the calcium channel formed by the transient receptor potential ....Second messenger-activated calcium channels in liver cells. This project concerns second messenger-activated calcium channels, part of the family of hormone-activated calcium channels which are essential to the functions of all animal cells. The aims are to elucidate the properties of a novel "large conductance" Ca2+ channel (using maitotoxin as an artificial activator), an inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-activated calcium channel, and the calcium channel formed by the transient receptor potential-1 (TRP-1) protein in hepatocytes. The electrophysiological properties, mechanisms of activation and intracellular trafficking of the channels will be investigated. It is anticipated the results will provide basic information on the physiological functions of second messenger-activated calcium channels. This will benefit the understanding of liver function, hepatotoxicity in animals, animal production and the development of pharmaceuticals in animal husbandary.Read moreRead less