Mapping cell wall and surface structures of Gram-positive cocci. The synthesis of the Gram-positive cell wall and protein transport are fundamental processes, the improved understanding of which will impact across a range of fields including microbiology, biochemistry and biotechnology, and the application and manipulation of Gram-positive bacteria in agriculture, industry and human health. In the long-term, the analysis of the Gram-positive ExPortal and cell wall will identify proteins that ma ....Mapping cell wall and surface structures of Gram-positive cocci. The synthesis of the Gram-positive cell wall and protein transport are fundamental processes, the improved understanding of which will impact across a range of fields including microbiology, biochemistry and biotechnology, and the application and manipulation of Gram-positive bacteria in agriculture, industry and human health. In the long-term, the analysis of the Gram-positive ExPortal and cell wall will identify proteins that may represent targets for therapeutic intervention. Additionally a precise understanding of the mechanisms of secretion of anchorless proteins will have an important impact in the biotechnology field, as new methodologies for the secretion of recombinant proteins of industrial value is a potential outcome.Read moreRead less
Safety in numbers: Bacterial aggregation and adaptation to oxidative stress. This project is a new collaboration which links two molecular microbiologists with the complementary skills required to make new insights into the molecular processes that underpin bacterial aggregation and biofilm formation. Biofilms are of immense significance in medical, industrial and environmental settings and so the fundamental information gained from this project will have wider relevance to the field of microbio ....Safety in numbers: Bacterial aggregation and adaptation to oxidative stress. This project is a new collaboration which links two molecular microbiologists with the complementary skills required to make new insights into the molecular processes that underpin bacterial aggregation and biofilm formation. Biofilms are of immense significance in medical, industrial and environmental settings and so the fundamental information gained from this project will have wider relevance to the field of microbiology. An outcome of this proposal will be fundamental knowledge about the production of surface adhesins that will form the basis for rational treatment of disease in the future. Prevention of aggregation and biofilm formation would make bacterial populations more susceptible to conventional antibiotic treatment.Read moreRead less
How bacteria cause disease in the urinary tract. This project will investigate the virulence properties of uropathogenic Escherichia coli, the major causative agent of urinary tract infections (UTI) in humans. The results will help to understand how these bacterial pathogens cause disease and will impact strategies aimed at the prevention and treatment of chronic and recurrent UTI.
Molecular mechanisms of pilin glycosylation in Neisseria: a model system for protein glycosylation in bacteria. The disease causing bacteria Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae are important human pathogens. Cell surface structures, called pili, are known to be important in allowing the bacteria to stick to host cells. Genetic and structural studies have identified that the protein subunits, which make up pili, are glycosylated - modified by the addition of sugars. Until recently ....Molecular mechanisms of pilin glycosylation in Neisseria: a model system for protein glycosylation in bacteria. The disease causing bacteria Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae are important human pathogens. Cell surface structures, called pili, are known to be important in allowing the bacteria to stick to host cells. Genetic and structural studies have identified that the protein subunits, which make up pili, are glycosylated - modified by the addition of sugars. Until recently glycosylation of Gram-negative bacterial proteins was not thought to occur, however our recent work with these bacteria, and other groups studying Pseudomonas and Campylobacter, have shown that this process may be widespread. In our previous studies, we have identified and analysed a number of genes involved in pili glycosylation, in bacteria, which make known sugar structures. We have used this information to developed models for how the biochemistry and physiology of the glycosylation system may work. With a well-established structure and many genes already identified, glycosylation in Neisseria represents the best available model system to study this novel and important process. In the proposed study we describe experiments planned to test our models and reveal the molecular detail of this process. This study could lead to major advances in our understanding of this process and, when understood, may have future applications in biotechnology.Read moreRead less
Transport and innate immune properties of DNA in bacterial nano-sized vesicles. All types of living organisms release nano-sized membrane vesicles or “blebs” which they use for intercellular communication and transport of molecules. This project will determine how bacteria package DNA within these vesicles, how this DNA is transported into host cells and how it triggers immune responses in these cells.
Nuclear structure and function in the nucleated planctomycete bacterium Gemmata obscuriglobus: a third cell plan for living organisms? The project will contribute knowledge of how cells such as those of animals and plants evolved from bacterial components. Origins of cell nuclei and pores in nuclear membranes will be studied via the simple eukaryote-like nucleus of the planctomycete Gemmata obscuriglobus, from Australian freshwater. Simple nuclear pore-like structures of G. obscuriglobus will he ....Nuclear structure and function in the nucleated planctomycete bacterium Gemmata obscuriglobus: a third cell plan for living organisms? The project will contribute knowledge of how cells such as those of animals and plants evolved from bacterial components. Origins of cell nuclei and pores in nuclear membranes will be studied via the simple eukaryote-like nucleus of the planctomycete Gemmata obscuriglobus, from Australian freshwater. Simple nuclear pore-like structures of G. obscuriglobus will help understanding nucleus function in animal cells, and such pores will give insight into 'minimal' composition needed for cell nuclei, and allow design of biological nanopores. The origin of the nucleus is a major problem in biology, and an Australian contribution to its solution will achieve international recognition. Read moreRead less
A fundamental study of the role of signal transduction pathways in the regulation of Chlamydia's complex developmental cycle. Chlamydia are unique organisms in the microbial world. They are among the smallest bacteria and yet have a complex two-stage developmental cycle. In addition they are major causes of disease in animals and humans with no vaccines available. We have used the recent flood of full genome sequence data to identify over 30 new cell signalling proteins. By understanding how the ....A fundamental study of the role of signal transduction pathways in the regulation of Chlamydia's complex developmental cycle. Chlamydia are unique organisms in the microbial world. They are among the smallest bacteria and yet have a complex two-stage developmental cycle. In addition they are major causes of disease in animals and humans with no vaccines available. We have used the recent flood of full genome sequence data to identify over 30 new cell signalling proteins. By understanding how these cell signaling proteins are organized into pathways and how this microorganism controls its complex growth and developmental cycle, we will be able to develop novel methods of control. We are at the fore front of international research and therefore uniquely placed to conduct this project.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180101563
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$365,058.00
Summary
The sweet road to synthesis of bacterial sugar structures. This project aims to characterise the synthesis pathways of nonulosonic acid sugars (NulOs) in bacteria using a combination of bioinformatics and experimental methodologies. Bacteria produce long chains of sugars or glycans on their cell surface known as capsules. These often contain important NulOs that can be uniquely harvested for use in the nutrition, cosmetic and bioremediation industries. By understanding the natural pathways of th ....The sweet road to synthesis of bacterial sugar structures. This project aims to characterise the synthesis pathways of nonulosonic acid sugars (NulOs) in bacteria using a combination of bioinformatics and experimental methodologies. Bacteria produce long chains of sugars or glycans on their cell surface known as capsules. These often contain important NulOs that can be uniquely harvested for use in the nutrition, cosmetic and bioremediation industries. By understanding the natural pathways of their synthesis, ‘glycans-by-design’ can be synthetically created with potent tailor-made properties. This project endeavours to examine how glycans with acidic sugars are produced to generate a fundamental understanding of sugar biology and create a database that will advance industrial applications in glycoengineering.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130101169
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Understanding how bacteria become sticky. This study will investigate the machinery used by bacteria to build specialised sticky fibres which allow them to attach to surfaces. The outcomes will significantly advance our understanding of how bacteria generate molecular weapons enabling them to survive and to infect humans and animals.
New models as tools for defining mechanisms of microbe survival in the urogenital tract. Bacteria that infect the human urogenital tract can cause serious disease and these infections represent a large cost to the health-care system world-wide. This study will focus on how bacteria survive in the human urogenital tract and this will impact on strategies aimed at preventing and treating these infections.