Proteome mapping of the model fungal plant pathogen Stagonospora nodorum using LC-LC-MS/MS. Stagonospora nodorum is a fungus that causes leaf and glume blotch disease on wheat. This disease alone causes $55 million dollars in yield losses per annum in Australia. This project aims to identify the proteins produced by Stagonospora nodorum through the development of a new proteomics technique. Two clear benefits to the community resulting from this project will emerge. The first will be the expert ....Proteome mapping of the model fungal plant pathogen Stagonospora nodorum using LC-LC-MS/MS. Stagonospora nodorum is a fungus that causes leaf and glume blotch disease on wheat. This disease alone causes $55 million dollars in yield losses per annum in Australia. This project aims to identify the proteins produced by Stagonospora nodorum through the development of a new proteomics technique. Two clear benefits to the community resulting from this project will emerge. The first will be the expert training of a student in proteomics, a skill that is keenly sought. Secondly, the identification of these pathogen proteins will lead to new strategies to better control the disease and secure the supply of wheat.Read moreRead less
A proteomic approach to identifying the signaling pathway(s) by which acute oxidative stress causes cell death by apoptosis. Oxidative stress following traumatic injury (heart attack or stroke) is known to activate signaling pathways leading to programmed cell death (apoptosis). The aim of this project is to develop methods to identify the signaling proteins involved. Identifying proteins involved in causing cell death will be useful in developing diagnostic tools as well as providing potential ....A proteomic approach to identifying the signaling pathway(s) by which acute oxidative stress causes cell death by apoptosis. Oxidative stress following traumatic injury (heart attack or stroke) is known to activate signaling pathways leading to programmed cell death (apoptosis). The aim of this project is to develop methods to identify the signaling proteins involved. Identifying proteins involved in causing cell death will be useful in developing diagnostic tools as well as providing potential therapeutic possibilities.Read moreRead less
Imaging Mass Spectrometry (IMS), a peptide biomarker discovery tool using tissue. Cancer is the second most common cause of death in Australia. The newly developed technology of Imaging Mass Spectrometry for peptides in tissue has the potential to discover biomarkers for early diagnosis of cancer. This new technology could avoid a number of cancer deaths and reduce suffering of patients through earlier and better diagnosis.
Feeding and digestion in tropical rock lobster phyllosoma larvae and its applications for culture. Provision of larval culture diets that provide optimal nutrition in a suitable presentation format is the major challenge for developing a rock lobster aquaculture industry. Tropical rock lobsters are likely contenders due to their faster growth rates and shorter larval phase than temperate species. This project will assess the ingestive and digestive capabilities of larvae during development, thro ....Feeding and digestion in tropical rock lobster phyllosoma larvae and its applications for culture. Provision of larval culture diets that provide optimal nutrition in a suitable presentation format is the major challenge for developing a rock lobster aquaculture industry. Tropical rock lobsters are likely contenders due to their faster growth rates and shorter larval phase than temperate species. This project will assess the ingestive and digestive capabilities of larvae during development, through an examination of mouthpart and gut structure and their types and concentration of digestive enzymes. Information will be used to formulate and test improved diets of appropriate size, texture and nutritional composition and will be the first comprehensive analysis of preferred larval diets on the basis of their biological and physiological characteristics.Read moreRead less
Characterising the transport and delivery of oligonucleotides . Short RNA and DNA molecules represent a class of macromolecules that have great potential, but to facilitate their trafficking across cellular and membrane barriers into specific sites of action is challenging. This project aims to develop and apply novel imaging approaches to track them in cells and tissues. Expected outcomes include better understanding of the trafficking across cellular and membrane barriers, and improved imaging ....Characterising the transport and delivery of oligonucleotides . Short RNA and DNA molecules represent a class of macromolecules that have great potential, but to facilitate their trafficking across cellular and membrane barriers into specific sites of action is challenging. This project aims to develop and apply novel imaging approaches to track them in cells and tissues. Expected outcomes include better understanding of the trafficking across cellular and membrane barriers, and improved imaging tools that could be used to further study the molecular mechanisms of accumulation, metabolism and trafficking of these molecules. This project should provide new strategies to target these molecules to specific cells and tissues, which have significant social and economic benefits to the Australian community.Read moreRead less
Proteomic techniques to assess oxidative stress in muscle wasting diseases. Australia will experience a significant increase in the proportion of its population that is over 65 years of age over the next 50 years. There will be an increased demand for health services related to injury from falls unless effective preventive strategies are put in place. Loss of muscle mass contributes to falls, so development of preventative strategies has the potential for considerable benefits. Oxidative stress ....Proteomic techniques to assess oxidative stress in muscle wasting diseases. Australia will experience a significant increase in the proportion of its population that is over 65 years of age over the next 50 years. There will be an increased demand for health services related to injury from falls unless effective preventive strategies are put in place. Loss of muscle mass contributes to falls, so development of preventative strategies has the potential for considerable benefits. Oxidative stress is a key intermediary in muscle wasting. This PhD project examines a possible mechanism by which oxidative stress causes muscle wasting. An appropriately tailored therapy to minimise oxidative stress has the potential to ameliorate loss of muscle mass.
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Role of nitrogen and sulphur nutrition in determining quantity and quality of oil in canola seed. Canola is the second most important crop in Australia, with exports worth $1 billion a year. However, competitiveness of Australian canola on the world markets is hampered by low and inconsistent oil content. Nitrogen fertilisation increases seed yield and seed protein content, but decreases oil content. This project will elucidate regulation by nitrogen and sulphur (the other important nutrient in ....Role of nitrogen and sulphur nutrition in determining quantity and quality of oil in canola seed. Canola is the second most important crop in Australia, with exports worth $1 billion a year. However, competitiveness of Australian canola on the world markets is hampered by low and inconsistent oil content. Nitrogen fertilisation increases seed yield and seed protein content, but decreases oil content. This project will elucidate regulation by nitrogen and sulphur (the other important nutrient in canola growth) of protein and oil biosynthesis in developing canola grain. The knowledge generated in this project will allow optimisation of canola agronomy and more effective breeding for increased nitrogen- and sulphur-use efficiency, seed yields and oil content in canola, thus enhancing the competitiveness of Australian canola on the world markets.Read moreRead less
Defining the evolutionary processes of resistance to the new mode of action herbicide, pyroxasulfone. The sustainability of the Australin grains industry is threatened by the continuing evolution and widespread expansion of herbicide resistant weed populations across the crop production regions. The resulting loss in herbicide efficacy is forcing producers away from the environmentally friendly practices of stubble retention and reduced tillage in an effort to control herbicide resistant weed po ....Defining the evolutionary processes of resistance to the new mode of action herbicide, pyroxasulfone. The sustainability of the Australin grains industry is threatened by the continuing evolution and widespread expansion of herbicide resistant weed populations across the crop production regions. The resulting loss in herbicide efficacy is forcing producers away from the environmentally friendly practices of stubble retention and reduced tillage in an effort to control herbicide resistant weed populations. This research is aimed at conserving a novel mode of action herbicide with efficacy on resistant Lolium rigidum populations. The success of this project will inevitably lead the pesticide industry to adopt this approach for future product development. Read moreRead less
Physiological and genetic mechanisms underlying tolerance of bread wheat to ion toxicities. Ion toxicities associated with acidic or alkaline soils and waterlogging cost about $190 million per year in lost yield in Western Australia alone. Soil ameliorants and agricultural measures to deal with these constraints are non-existent (B toxicity in alkaline sodic subsoils), non-effective (liming of acidic subsoils), expensive (drainage for waterlogged soils) or a combination of the above. This projec ....Physiological and genetic mechanisms underlying tolerance of bread wheat to ion toxicities. Ion toxicities associated with acidic or alkaline soils and waterlogging cost about $190 million per year in lost yield in Western Australia alone. Soil ameliorants and agricultural measures to deal with these constraints are non-existent (B toxicity in alkaline sodic subsoils), non-effective (liming of acidic subsoils), expensive (drainage for waterlogged soils) or a combination of the above. This project will characterise wheat genotypes for tolerance to ion toxicities and will lay the groundwork for deliberate breeding effort toward pyramiding tolerance to ion toxicities in elite germplasm.Read moreRead less
Wheat biomarkers - the effect of nitrogen withdrawal on the proteome and peptidome. Nitrogen is a crucial macroelement for plants. Its importance is highlighted by the wide use of agricultural nitrogen fertilizers in Australia and world wide. This comes at substantial costs for the environment and the economy, due to low nitrogen use efficiency of cereals and environmental impacts. By understanding plant responses to nitrogen we can improve nitrogen efficiency. This project will identify protein ....Wheat biomarkers - the effect of nitrogen withdrawal on the proteome and peptidome. Nitrogen is a crucial macroelement for plants. Its importance is highlighted by the wide use of agricultural nitrogen fertilizers in Australia and world wide. This comes at substantial costs for the environment and the economy, due to low nitrogen use efficiency of cereals and environmental impacts. By understanding plant responses to nitrogen we can improve nitrogen efficiency. This project will identify proteins and peptides as biomarkers of plant responses to nitrogen withdrawal. Such biomarkers can be used in plant breeding and in agricultural prediction of plant nitrogen requirements with the potential to reduce agricultural costs and environmental impacts.Read moreRead less