Human Leukocyte Antigen-A and -B regulation of Natural Killer cell function. The aim of this project is to determine how genetic variation in the genes encoding cell surface receptors expressed by innate lymphocytes and the molecules they recognise diversifies their capacity to sense and respond to infection. This knowledge is critical for understanding why there are intrinsic differences between individuals with respect to their capacity to respond to different types of infection and will ultim ....Human Leukocyte Antigen-A and -B regulation of Natural Killer cell function. The aim of this project is to determine how genetic variation in the genes encoding cell surface receptors expressed by innate lymphocytes and the molecules they recognise diversifies their capacity to sense and respond to infection. This knowledge is critical for understanding why there are intrinsic differences between individuals with respect to their capacity to respond to different types of infection and will ultimately inform our capacity to better deploy personalised medicines.Read moreRead less
Structural and functional investigations of the human transcription machinery by ion mobility-mass spectrometry. This project will apply emerging mass spectrometric technologies to gain previously inaccessible insight into human transcription factor proteins. This will reveal new avenues for intervention in human disease states related to aberrant gene expression, while developing innovative methods for the study of complex protein assemblies.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE210100163
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$860,365.00
Summary
Structure Determination Pipeline Capabilities for South Australia. This project aims to complete a high-throughput, automated pipeline for biomolecule crystallisation and provide enhanced X-ray structure determination capabilities for all sample types. This is critical because X-ray crystallography remains the primary technique for achieving molecular level insights to help solve cutting-edge problems in life, materials, chemical, earth and agricultural sciences. The diverse researcher community ....Structure Determination Pipeline Capabilities for South Australia. This project aims to complete a high-throughput, automated pipeline for biomolecule crystallisation and provide enhanced X-ray structure determination capabilities for all sample types. This is critical because X-ray crystallography remains the primary technique for achieving molecular level insights to help solve cutting-edge problems in life, materials, chemical, earth and agricultural sciences. The diverse researcher community in South Australia will benefit from a more rapid structure determination pipeline from molecular sample to structure. The infrastructure will drive research findings in energy and resources, food, soil and water security, advanced manufacturing and life sciences and lead to economic and technological impacts.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE180100202
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$255,120.00
Summary
Three-dimensional cryo correlative light and electron microscopy facility. This project aims to establish a three-dimensional (3D) cryo-correlative light and electron microscopy facility. The facility will integrate light microscopy with high resolution cryo-electron tomography and 3D slice-and-view focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy. The open access facility should create new capabilities for Australian researchers to tag biological events and structures with fluorescence markers and ....Three-dimensional cryo correlative light and electron microscopy facility. This project aims to establish a three-dimensional (3D) cryo-correlative light and electron microscopy facility. The facility will integrate light microscopy with high resolution cryo-electron tomography and 3D slice-and-view focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy. The open access facility should create new capabilities for Australian researchers to tag biological events and structures with fluorescence markers and image them using the currently highest resolution 3D imaging techniques for biological matter. The facility expects to reveal fundamental insights into cell and structural biology, and help drive innovation in agriculture, pharmaceutics, and biomaterials.Read moreRead less
Structural and molecular studies of endocrine disruption in Australia fauna. Contamination of waterways with compounds that disrupt hormone (endocrine) function is a major environmental problem and threat to the health and fertility of animals. Specifically, we lack an understanding of how these potent endocrine disrupting compounds function in native species. Using an innovative combination of structural and molecular biology approaches we will elucidate the mechanisms of action of environmenta ....Structural and molecular studies of endocrine disruption in Australia fauna. Contamination of waterways with compounds that disrupt hormone (endocrine) function is a major environmental problem and threat to the health and fertility of animals. Specifically, we lack an understanding of how these potent endocrine disrupting compounds function in native species. Using an innovative combination of structural and molecular biology approaches we will elucidate the mechanisms of action of environmental endocrine disrupting compounds in native aquatic species - model fish and the platypus; and develop novel technologies for their detection. This work will provide an understanding of the environmental threat of these pollutants to our unique wildlife and will guide future waterway management. Read moreRead less
Exploring the immunomodulatory potential of Natural Killer T cells. Natural Killer T cells (NKT cells) are an innate-like population of T cells that recognise a range of lipid based antigens when bound to the antigen-presenting molecule, CD1d. Once activated, NKT cells rapidly secrete a variety of cytokines. This project, in partnership with Vaxine Pty Ltd, aims to gain a basic understanding of NKT recognition of lipids and NKT cell activation by lipids. The project aims to use a combination of ....Exploring the immunomodulatory potential of Natural Killer T cells. Natural Killer T cells (NKT cells) are an innate-like population of T cells that recognise a range of lipid based antigens when bound to the antigen-presenting molecule, CD1d. Once activated, NKT cells rapidly secrete a variety of cytokines. This project, in partnership with Vaxine Pty Ltd, aims to gain a basic understanding of NKT recognition of lipids and NKT cell activation by lipids. The project aims to use a combination of cellular immunology and structural biology to gain insight into NKT cell agonism.Read moreRead less
New biocatalysts for selective chemical oxidations under extreme conditions. This project will identify and design new enzyme biocatalysts which function under extreme conditions such as elevated temperature and high concentrations of peroxides. These enzymes will be sourced from microorganisms which are located in extreme biological environments e.g. hot springs (the so-called extremophiles). The expected outcome of this project are the identification of robust enzymes which can catalyse select ....New biocatalysts for selective chemical oxidations under extreme conditions. This project will identify and design new enzyme biocatalysts which function under extreme conditions such as elevated temperature and high concentrations of peroxides. These enzymes will be sourced from microorganisms which are located in extreme biological environments e.g. hot springs (the so-called extremophiles). The expected outcome of this project are the identification of robust enzymes which can catalyse selective oxidation reactions in complex organic molecules, such as steroids. The new biocatalysts developed in this project will have significant benefit in the development of new routes to access bespoke molecules of value in fine chemical synthesis and drug development.
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Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE240100054
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,341,398.00
Summary
Dedicated High-throughput 3D-Electron Diffractometer. This proposal aims to install the first dedicated high-throughput 3D-electron diffractometer in the Southern Hemisphere, and one of the first in the world. It will be able to rapidly solve the atomic-scale structures of molecules and materials for which this is now extremely difficult and time-consuming – or impossible – due to the inability to grow large enough crystals for traditional X-ray diffraction. It will thus provide a significant ad ....Dedicated High-throughput 3D-Electron Diffractometer. This proposal aims to install the first dedicated high-throughput 3D-electron diffractometer in the Southern Hemisphere, and one of the first in the world. It will be able to rapidly solve the atomic-scale structures of molecules and materials for which this is now extremely difficult and time-consuming – or impossible – due to the inability to grow large enough crystals for traditional X-ray diffraction. It will thus provide a significant advantage for chemists, physicists, biologists, geologists, and engineers who rely on detailed structural knowledge to rationally optimise the properties of their compounds, from pharmaceutical activity to carbon capture to superconductivity, to the substantial benefit of multiple national priority areas.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE150100163
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$560,000.00
Summary
Single molecule imaging laboratory. Single molecule imaging laboratory: The goal of the project is to establish a single molecule imaging laboratory to close the gap between structural imaging and cellular imaging. Utilising the expertise of the ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, the aim of the project is to design, build and apply three microscopes that go beyond the current commercial solutions for single molecule localisation microscopy such as Photo-Activation Localisati ....Single molecule imaging laboratory. Single molecule imaging laboratory: The goal of the project is to establish a single molecule imaging laboratory to close the gap between structural imaging and cellular imaging. Utilising the expertise of the ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, the aim of the project is to design, build and apply three microscopes that go beyond the current commercial solutions for single molecule localisation microscopy such as Photo-Activation Localisation Microscopy (PALM) and Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy (STORM) and perform single molecule imaging: deep inside cells and tissue.The facility will have a fast acquisition rate to monitor highly dynamic molecular events, and improved precision to image molecules and complexes in intact cells with less than or equal to one nanometre resolution. There is currently no comparable imaging facility in the world.Read moreRead less
Mass spectrometry to reveal the role of lipids in protein misfolding. This project aims to develop an integrated mass spectrometry-based approach to determine structures and dynamics of membrane associated proteins, and discover how lipids cause protein misfolding implicated in neurodegeneration. Lipid membranes may influence protein (mis)folding, aggregation and related toxicity. However, the complex and dynamic nature of the lipid-protein interactions involved means traditional methods cannot ....Mass spectrometry to reveal the role of lipids in protein misfolding. This project aims to develop an integrated mass spectrometry-based approach to determine structures and dynamics of membrane associated proteins, and discover how lipids cause protein misfolding implicated in neurodegeneration. Lipid membranes may influence protein (mis)folding, aggregation and related toxicity. However, the complex and dynamic nature of the lipid-protein interactions involved means traditional methods cannot easily characterise them, and they are poorly understood at a molecular level. The project expects to develop tools to bridge a critical gap in structural biology, while understanding lipid-protein interactions could lead to new therapies. This will ultimately provide benefits such as reduced health costs and better health outcomes.Read moreRead less