A microscopical examination of curdlan production by an Agrobacterium sp. We will investigate the secretion of the insoluble polysaccharide curdlan, a (1,3)-beta-glucan, from the surfaces of Agrobacterium cells and the assembly of the individual polysaccharide chains into microfibrils. Using state-of-the-art techniques in time lapse and electron microscopy we will compare the images of wild type curdlan-producing cells with those of mutants impaired in the production of curdlan. The outputs will ....A microscopical examination of curdlan production by an Agrobacterium sp. We will investigate the secretion of the insoluble polysaccharide curdlan, a (1,3)-beta-glucan, from the surfaces of Agrobacterium cells and the assembly of the individual polysaccharide chains into microfibrils. Using state-of-the-art techniques in time lapse and electron microscopy we will compare the images of wild type curdlan-producing cells with those of mutants impaired in the production of curdlan. The outputs will be information on the mechanics of curdlan production that will complement that emerging from our molecular biological and biochemical studies. These will have implications for understanding bacterial polysaccharide production in general and may have a commercial outcome in enhanced curdlan production.Read moreRead less
Investigating pathways of lipoglycan formation in the bacterial cell wall. This project aims to investigate how the complex cell walls of Mycobacteria and Corynebacteria are assembled. The project will utilise a combination of genetic, biochemical and advanced analytical approaches to investigate individual steps in the synthesis of key cell wall components and understand how the assembly of these components is coordinated with bacterial growth. Important outcomes of this research will be detail ....Investigating pathways of lipoglycan formation in the bacterial cell wall. This project aims to investigate how the complex cell walls of Mycobacteria and Corynebacteria are assembled. The project will utilise a combination of genetic, biochemical and advanced analytical approaches to investigate individual steps in the synthesis of key cell wall components and understand how the assembly of these components is coordinated with bacterial growth. Important outcomes of this research will be detailed information on processes that regulate the growth of bacteria with important biotechnology, veterinary and medical significance, as well as information on mechanisms of cell wall synthesis that may be conserved in all bacteria.Read moreRead less
Molecular mechanisms of regulatory proteolysis in Escherichia coli. This project will examine how microorganisms, such as bacteria, remodel their internal proteins by selectively dismantling them in order to survive. Knowledge gained here could be used to manipulate these organisms for social and economic benefit by improving health outcomes and the production of resources.
Bacterial vesicles transport their bioactive cargo to the host nucleus. This project aims to investigate how bacterial membrane vesicles transport their cargo to the nucleus of cells and its impact on host cell functions. Bacteria use membrane vesicles as a means of communication with the host, but the full extent of their effects on host cells has yet to be fully elucidated. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the field using cutting-edge imaging and molecular biology approaches. ....Bacterial vesicles transport their bioactive cargo to the host nucleus. This project aims to investigate how bacterial membrane vesicles transport their cargo to the nucleus of cells and its impact on host cell functions. Bacteria use membrane vesicles as a means of communication with the host, but the full extent of their effects on host cells has yet to be fully elucidated. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the field using cutting-edge imaging and molecular biology approaches. The work should provide significant benefits, particularly towards the development of membrane vesicles in gene therapy, gene editing and other applications. Read moreRead less
Biology and evolution of intracellular parasitism. This project will investigate the development of intracellular parasitism in environmental amoebae. The outcomes of this work will help to understand the mechanisms by which bacteria have evolved to survive inside cells and in some cases cause disease.
Characterising O-linked glycosylation across Burkholderia. Protein glycosylation, the chemical addition of sugars to proteins, enables the augmentation of protein properties. Across the Burkholderia genus we have shown O-linked glycosylation is both conserved as well as essential for bacterial fitness. Yet, we have little understanding of how glycosylation modulates the proteome of this genus. This project aims to characterise the glycoproteomes of Burkholderia species and track the impact of gl ....Characterising O-linked glycosylation across Burkholderia. Protein glycosylation, the chemical addition of sugars to proteins, enables the augmentation of protein properties. Across the Burkholderia genus we have shown O-linked glycosylation is both conserved as well as essential for bacterial fitness. Yet, we have little understanding of how glycosylation modulates the proteome of this genus. This project aims to characterise the glycoproteomes of Burkholderia species and track the impact of glycosylation on both the proteome and protein stability. By understanding how glycosylation shapes the proteome we will gain a greater understanding of the role of bacterial glycosylation in Burkholderia physiology as well as how we may better utilise microbial glycosylation for glycoprotein production.Read moreRead less
Mitochondria: a target for intracellular bacterial pathogens. This project aims to understand how intracellular bacterial pathogens target mitochondria. Coxiella burnetii is a unique and significant pathogen of humans and commercially important animals that uses effector proteins to control host cell functions. A cohort of these effectors target mitochondria. Since mitochondria are key players in cell health, the intended outcome of this research is to understand the role of the mitochondrially- ....Mitochondria: a target for intracellular bacterial pathogens. This project aims to understand how intracellular bacterial pathogens target mitochondria. Coxiella burnetii is a unique and significant pathogen of humans and commercially important animals that uses effector proteins to control host cell functions. A cohort of these effectors target mitochondria. Since mitochondria are key players in cell health, the intended outcome of this research is to understand the role of the mitochondrially-targeted effector proteins. The project will determine the importance of mitochondrial protein trafficking for Coxiella pathogenesis and how mitochondrial function is altered during infection. This will provide understanding of how bacterial pathogens manipulate organelles like mitochondria for their survival.Read moreRead less
How does glycosylation shape protein function within Burkholderia? Protein glycosylation, the chemical addition of sugars to proteins, is an important but poorly understood aspect of bacterial physiology. This project aims to build on our recent discovery of the conservation of O-linked glycosylation across the Burkholderia genus to understand the function of this modification. Using cutting-edge proteomics, novel expression systems and molecular approaches this project will reveal the role of g ....How does glycosylation shape protein function within Burkholderia? Protein glycosylation, the chemical addition of sugars to proteins, is an important but poorly understood aspect of bacterial physiology. This project aims to build on our recent discovery of the conservation of O-linked glycosylation across the Burkholderia genus to understand the function of this modification. Using cutting-edge proteomics, novel expression systems and molecular approaches this project will reveal the role of glycosylation in Burkholderia species. This innovative project will provide a comprehensive understanding of how glycosylation contributes to Burkholderia protein function and how these systems can be harnessed for the creation of bespoke glycoconjugatesRead moreRead less
Nucleomodulin effectors of the environmental pathogen Legionella. This project aims to examine the evolution of Legionella as an intracellular organism and the mechanisms by which the bacteria evade environmental predation by amoebae. Aside from the advancement of knowledge, expected outcomes of this project include a greater understanding of amoebae. This will provide significant benefits, and this knowledge may be used to develop inhibitors of amoebae growth.
Investigation of a Novel Protein Implicated in Phosphate Metabolism in Bacteria. Phosphate is an important nutrient for all forms of life on Earth. A novel bacterial protein has been identified that appears to be important for the uptake or processing of phosphate, since mutants lacking the protein grow poorly inside certain cells of the human immune system (where phosphate levels are low) and in media containing low phosphate. The aims of this project are: to determine the role of the protein b ....Investigation of a Novel Protein Implicated in Phosphate Metabolism in Bacteria. Phosphate is an important nutrient for all forms of life on Earth. A novel bacterial protein has been identified that appears to be important for the uptake or processing of phosphate, since mutants lacking the protein grow poorly inside certain cells of the human immune system (where phosphate levels are low) and in media containing low phosphate. The aims of this project are: to determine the role of the protein by examining all phosphate containing molecules in our mutants; to determine its location in bacteria and functional domains; to identify other affected genes in our mutants; and, to find proteins that interact with this new protein. This project expects to demonstrate the importance of this protein in phosphate metabolism in bacteria.Read moreRead less