New photobioreactor to up-scale axenic cultures of microalgae. This project aims to deliver a scalable photo-bioreactor for the large scale axenic culture of microalgae to close the technology gap for research and development in the Australian algae biotechnology sector. Algae biotechnology is a rapidly emerging area, particularly in biofuel production. The project aims to test and demonstrate a photo-bioreactor for its applicability to produce sufficient algae biomass to study a low abundance p ....New photobioreactor to up-scale axenic cultures of microalgae. This project aims to deliver a scalable photo-bioreactor for the large scale axenic culture of microalgae to close the technology gap for research and development in the Australian algae biotechnology sector. Algae biotechnology is a rapidly emerging area, particularly in biofuel production. The project aims to test and demonstrate a photo-bioreactor for its applicability to produce sufficient algae biomass to study a low abundance photosynthetic protein complex to advance knowledge of coral bleaching.Read moreRead less
Immobilized biocatalysts on selected filter media to control odour emissions from wastewater treatment and composting facilities. Odour is one of the common problems faced by wastewater and solid waste industries as a result of public complaints about poor local air quality. Although odour removal technologies exist, they encounter a number of problems. The lack of harsh chemicals required for the proposed technology means there is no wastewater stream to treat. This will have an impact on the r ....Immobilized biocatalysts on selected filter media to control odour emissions from wastewater treatment and composting facilities. Odour is one of the common problems faced by wastewater and solid waste industries as a result of public complaints about poor local air quality. Although odour removal technologies exist, they encounter a number of problems. The lack of harsh chemicals required for the proposed technology means there is no wastewater stream to treat. This will have an impact on the reduction of chemicals disposed to the environment, preventing unnecessary contamination of land and water resources. The lower space requirement of the technology will free up land, formerly required for large biofilters, for other uses including civic amenities.Read moreRead less
Synthetic Biology Derived Electroactive Whole Cell Microbial Biosensors. The aim of this project is to develop, using synthetic biology, electrically integrated microbial biosensors for the detection of heavy metals in the environment. Building on our existing technology, this project aims to produce novel ‘biobricks’ capable of electrically integrating electric microbes into real time environmental monitors for heavy metal contaminants. This expansion of synthetic biology, and integration of el ....Synthetic Biology Derived Electroactive Whole Cell Microbial Biosensors. The aim of this project is to develop, using synthetic biology, electrically integrated microbial biosensors for the detection of heavy metals in the environment. Building on our existing technology, this project aims to produce novel ‘biobricks’ capable of electrically integrating electric microbes into real time environmental monitors for heavy metal contaminants. This expansion of synthetic biology, and integration of electric bacteria into sensor systems, will result in a new platform technology that expands our abilities to protect the ecology, agriculture and health of terrestrial, marine and agricultural at risk areas from economic and environmental damage.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL180100036
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,011,916.00
Summary
Engineering microbes that increase coral climate resilience. This project aims to develop microbes which are able to enhance the climate resilience of corals. Coral reefs around the world are being lost at an alarming rate. Developing microbial symbionts to enhance coral climate resilience will give Australian and other coral reef ecosystems an increased chance of surviving the impact of climate change. The project will also enhance understanding of the functional roles of microbial symbionts of ....Engineering microbes that increase coral climate resilience. This project aims to develop microbes which are able to enhance the climate resilience of corals. Coral reefs around the world are being lost at an alarming rate. Developing microbial symbionts to enhance coral climate resilience will give Australian and other coral reef ecosystems an increased chance of surviving the impact of climate change. The project will also enhance understanding of the functional roles of microbial symbionts of corals, and advance the microbial symbiosis discipline globally. Expected outcomes include healthier coral reefs through the use of more climate resilient coral stock in reef conservation and restoration initiatives.Read moreRead less
Contribution of Comammox Process to Sustainable Wastewater Treatment. This project aims to understand the versatility, activity and physiological features of comammox bacteria, the newly-discovered complete nitrifiers, in Australian wastewater treatment systems, and to model and evaluate their contributions to biological nitrogen removal process. Nitrogen transformations are crucial microbial processes in the wastewater treatment ecosystems, with nitrification largely responsible for ammonium ox ....Contribution of Comammox Process to Sustainable Wastewater Treatment. This project aims to understand the versatility, activity and physiological features of comammox bacteria, the newly-discovered complete nitrifiers, in Australian wastewater treatment systems, and to model and evaluate their contributions to biological nitrogen removal process. Nitrogen transformations are crucial microbial processes in the wastewater treatment ecosystems, with nitrification largely responsible for ammonium oxidation but comammox previously overlooked. The expected outcomes will develop new knowledge on the comammox process and provide novel insight and technological solution to refine strategies to manipulate nitrification processes for achieving improved biological nitrogen removal and sustainable wastewater management.Read moreRead less
Developing and testing a novel biological reduction cell to remediate heavy metal and acid-containing industrial and mine leachates. Echo Remediation Ltd. has a new reduction cell that uses sulfur and bacteria to remove heavy metals and acidity from mine leachates, but development is now required to make it viable. The project aims to optimise the process using molecular approaches to study the effects of operating conditions on the bacterial communities. As part of the investigation, active iro ....Developing and testing a novel biological reduction cell to remediate heavy metal and acid-containing industrial and mine leachates. Echo Remediation Ltd. has a new reduction cell that uses sulfur and bacteria to remove heavy metals and acidity from mine leachates, but development is now required to make it viable. The project aims to optimise the process using molecular approaches to study the effects of operating conditions on the bacterial communities. As part of the investigation, active iron reducers will be selected and introduced to the cell (in conjunction with chemical amendments) and their colonization monitored. The new technology once developed has the potential to be used at mine sites in Australia and overseas and its employment offers a sustainable, biological "green" approach to mine waste remediation.Read moreRead less
New drugs against parasitic nematodes of livestock animals. New drugs against parasitic nematodes of livestock animals. This project aims to develop an innovative technology platform to deliver novel anti-infectives as biotechnological outcomes, using postgenomics, computing and chemistry. Advanced molecular, computer and chemistry technologies provide unprecedented opportunities to design radically new interventions against socioeconomically important infectious diseases affecting billions of a ....New drugs against parasitic nematodes of livestock animals. New drugs against parasitic nematodes of livestock animals. This project aims to develop an innovative technology platform to deliver novel anti-infectives as biotechnological outcomes, using postgenomics, computing and chemistry. Advanced molecular, computer and chemistry technologies provide unprecedented opportunities to design radically new interventions against socioeconomically important infectious diseases affecting billions of animals worldwide. Anticipated outcomes are the design of radically new chemotherapies to control parasitic diseases, the translation of fundamental research into biotechnological outcomes, international visibility of Australian science, and a solid skills- and knowledge-base in veterinary drug development.Read moreRead less
Exploiting bacterial metal resistance machinery for metal ion nano-biosensors development. This project aims to integrate advanced materials chemistry, molecular biology, bio-electrochemical and synchrotron imaging approaches to understand the role of silver resistance machinery of bacteria in their ability to form silver nanoparticles. This aims to enable discovery of new metal-specific reductase enzymes. The fundamental biomolecular understanding of bacterial silver resistance will allow the u ....Exploiting bacterial metal resistance machinery for metal ion nano-biosensors development. This project aims to integrate advanced materials chemistry, molecular biology, bio-electrochemical and synchrotron imaging approaches to understand the role of silver resistance machinery of bacteria in their ability to form silver nanoparticles. This aims to enable discovery of new metal-specific reductase enzymes. The fundamental biomolecular understanding of bacterial silver resistance will allow the use of a silver-binding protein to develop a series of next-generation nano-biosensors. These biosensing platforms will provide high-throughput, cost-effective, selective, sensitive and continuous monitoring of heavy metal ions in effluents from mining and mineral processing industries in a real-time fashion.Read moreRead less
New anti-parasitic drugs for a global veterinary market. This project aims to establish an advanced, industry-linked pipeline for the development of new drugs against resilient infectious agents (parasites) that cause serious diseases in billions of animals worldwide. The research expects to discover new ways of killing parasites that survive in their host animal, despite being under severe attack by the host immune system. The resultant shift in fundamental understanding will lead to innovative ....New anti-parasitic drugs for a global veterinary market. This project aims to establish an advanced, industry-linked pipeline for the development of new drugs against resilient infectious agents (parasites) that cause serious diseases in billions of animals worldwide. The research expects to discover new ways of killing parasites that survive in their host animal, despite being under severe attack by the host immune system. The resultant shift in fundamental understanding will lead to innovative technologies or products to ameliorate the burden of parasites in livestock animals. Expected socioeconomic benefits include commercial products for end-users and lifting Australia’s scientific knowledge base, reputation in biotechnology, livestock production and investment in translational research.Read moreRead less
Microbial infestation of pre-painted steel building materials: chemical and microbial characterization, model development and control strategies. Coated steel building materials are a multi-billion dollar Australian industry. Microorganisms form slime layers on those materials, which are unsightly and reduce their energy benefits. The project will identify the problem organisms, the factors that facilitate their growth and will develop novel biofilm resistant, functional building materials.