Bacterial mechanisms of gold mobilisation and precipitation with applications to mineral processing and exploration. The development of a comprehensive model for the biogeochemical behaviour of gold in the environment will aid mineral explorers to interpret existing exploration data and to develop better exploration strategies. Moreover, this project aims to develop the basis for a new geomicrobiological gold exploration method by identifying organisms and microbial gene sequences that could be ....Bacterial mechanisms of gold mobilisation and precipitation with applications to mineral processing and exploration. The development of a comprehensive model for the biogeochemical behaviour of gold in the environment will aid mineral explorers to interpret existing exploration data and to develop better exploration strategies. Moreover, this project aims to develop the basis for a new geomicrobiological gold exploration method by identifying organisms and microbial gene sequences that could be used as biomarkers for mineralisation. This research will also provide the fundamental information required to copy nature and engineer new cost-efficient and environmentally friendly technologies for gold processing using microorganisms that occur naturally in Australian soils. Read moreRead less
Use of Organic Residues in Edible Mushroom Production. The aims are to develop growth and casing materials for mushroom production based on organic wastes. Casing peat is the most expensive raw ingredient used in mushroom production and there are major concerns over supply due to increasing environmental concerns in supplier countries and quarantine issues such as the recent foot and mouth outbreak in Europe. This project will develop alternatives to imported peats as casing materials and invest ....Use of Organic Residues in Edible Mushroom Production. The aims are to develop growth and casing materials for mushroom production based on organic wastes. Casing peat is the most expensive raw ingredient used in mushroom production and there are major concerns over supply due to increasing environmental concerns in supplier countries and quarantine issues such as the recent foot and mouth outbreak in Europe. This project will develop alternatives to imported peats as casing materials and investigate a range of organic residues which can be used as basic growth media for button and exotic mushrooms. This will increase the viability and sustainability of the mushroom industry in Australia.Read moreRead less
Enhancement of monopartite geminivirus pathogenicity by satellite DNA beta encoded betaC1 protein: the role of host factors. Australian incursions of geminiviruses are uncontrollable due to their unique mode of spread by whiteflies. The first incursion in Darwin in 1970 has spread to Far Northern Queensland. The second in SE Queensland in 2006 is estimated to cause $500 million loss to horticulture. Our $2 billion cotton industry is threatened by cotton leaf curl diseases from South Asia, where ....Enhancement of monopartite geminivirus pathogenicity by satellite DNA beta encoded betaC1 protein: the role of host factors. Australian incursions of geminiviruses are uncontrollable due to their unique mode of spread by whiteflies. The first incursion in Darwin in 1970 has spread to Far Northern Queensland. The second in SE Queensland in 2006 is estimated to cause $500 million loss to horticulture. Our $2 billion cotton industry is threatened by cotton leaf curl diseases from South Asia, where DNA beta enhances virus replication and disease severity. DNA beta has the potential to enter Australia with several different geminiviruses and to spread into others by co-infection, which requires research on detection and pathogenesis of DNA beta.Read moreRead less