Functional and regulatory analysis of n-acetylcholine receptors, key targets of insecticides. Agriculture is one of Australia's mainstay industries and a major user of insecticides. However, current insecticides suffer a number of significant deficiencies, including collateral damage in the environment and insect resistance. One of the major targets for insecticides are a class of neuronal receptors, found in organisms ranging from worms to man. Our work will provide a detailed biological unders ....Functional and regulatory analysis of n-acetylcholine receptors, key targets of insecticides. Agriculture is one of Australia's mainstay industries and a major user of insecticides. However, current insecticides suffer a number of significant deficiencies, including collateral damage in the environment and insect resistance. One of the major targets for insecticides are a class of neuronal receptors, found in organisms ranging from worms to man. Our work will provide a detailed biological understanding of these receptors leading to better ways of developing new insecticides. Similar receptors in humans are the target for nicotine and associated with neurological disorders such as schizophrenia and autism. Thus our work will also increase our understanding of important human receptors associated with disease.Read moreRead less
New approaches for screening cereal germplasm for enhanced microbial pathogen resistance and desirable grain texture. The trait of grain hardness (texture) is of significance to the Australian infrastructure, as exports of hard wheat contribute over 5 billion dollars per year on average to the national economy and hard wheats are also important for domestic usage. The genes responsible for grain texture also impart resistance to bacterial and fungal pathogens which can cause extensive damage. ....New approaches for screening cereal germplasm for enhanced microbial pathogen resistance and desirable grain texture. The trait of grain hardness (texture) is of significance to the Australian infrastructure, as exports of hard wheat contribute over 5 billion dollars per year on average to the national economy and hard wheats are also important for domestic usage. The genes responsible for grain texture also impart resistance to bacterial and fungal pathogens which can cause extensive damage. However, the Australian gene pool has very limited genetic diversity in grain textures and thus possibly in pathogen resistance. The project will work out the science behind these two traits and identify lines with new variants of textures and pathogen resistances, thus greatly benefiting the national infrastructure and local primary industries.Read moreRead less
Genetic and epigenetic control of developmental competence. Development is an important biological process of life and understanding development has important medical and economic benefits for Australia. This research aims to study development using a simple, easily manipulated and well established experimental organism, a fungus, as a model for development in other organisms, including humans. In addition, fungi directly impact on life at many levels. Fungi can be pathogens of humans, other ani ....Genetic and epigenetic control of developmental competence. Development is an important biological process of life and understanding development has important medical and economic benefits for Australia. This research aims to study development using a simple, easily manipulated and well established experimental organism, a fungus, as a model for development in other organisms, including humans. In addition, fungi directly impact on life at many levels. Fungi can be pathogens of humans, other animals or plants significantly affecting our health, agriculture and industry. Fungi are also beneficial to other organisms, especially to many plants, and are used to manufacture pharmaceuticals and enzymes used in the health and biotechnology industries.Read moreRead less
The Cytochrome P450 Gene Super-family in Drosophila melanogaster; Gene Function and Insecticide Resistance. The cytochrome P450 (Cyp) gene super-family is represented by over 90 sequences in the genome of the vinegar fly, Drosophila melanogaster. To date, four Cyp genes are found to be involved in insecticide resistance. The function of the majority of Cyp genes is unknown. This project will investigate the function and regulation of D. melanogaster Cyp genes, linking the fly's genotype to its ....The Cytochrome P450 Gene Super-family in Drosophila melanogaster; Gene Function and Insecticide Resistance. The cytochrome P450 (Cyp) gene super-family is represented by over 90 sequences in the genome of the vinegar fly, Drosophila melanogaster. To date, four Cyp genes are found to be involved in insecticide resistance. The function of the majority of Cyp genes is unknown. This project will investigate the function and regulation of D. melanogaster Cyp genes, linking the fly's genotype to its phenotype. By studying the effects of Cyp genes on fly survival, Cyp gene expression and regulation, and expressing selected Cyp genes in a yeast expression system, we will enhance our understanding of Cyp gene function and evolution.Read moreRead less
Using comparative genomics to identify genes responsible for adaptation to environmental toxins. The US National Human Genome Research Institute has committed to sequencing the genomes of ten different Drosophila (fly) species. We will search these genomes, and two others that are already available, for genes that allow flies to cope with environmental toxins found in the plants upon which they feed and breed. These same genes have the potential to degrade many of the insecticides used to con ....Using comparative genomics to identify genes responsible for adaptation to environmental toxins. The US National Human Genome Research Institute has committed to sequencing the genomes of ten different Drosophila (fly) species. We will search these genomes, and two others that are already available, for genes that allow flies to cope with environmental toxins found in the plants upon which they feed and breed. These same genes have the potential to degrade many of the insecticides used to control insect pests. Hence, this research will contribute to ongoing efforts to minimize the threat to agriculture posed by the insecticide resistance that frequently evolves in pest species. Read moreRead less
Genome-wide determination of Puccinia psidii s.l. rust resistance in eucalypts. Recently, guava rust was detected in Australia, posing significant risks to native flora, plantations, and timber exports. Scientists from The University of Melbourne and Victorian Department of Primary Industries together with tree breeders, forest growers and forest managers aim to use tree genomics rust resistance breeding to enable management and operational responses and inform policy development.
Alternative splicing in apicomplexan parasites. The project intends to provide a detailed picture of how alternative splicing is regulated in four biologically diverse apicomplexan parasites, and to explain why parasites need this molecular trick to survive. Alternative splicing is an important means by which organisms increase the diversity of proteins encoded by their genome. Although this mechanism is well studied in humans, little is known about the extent of this phenomenon in other organis ....Alternative splicing in apicomplexan parasites. The project intends to provide a detailed picture of how alternative splicing is regulated in four biologically diverse apicomplexan parasites, and to explain why parasites need this molecular trick to survive. Alternative splicing is an important means by which organisms increase the diversity of proteins encoded by their genome. Although this mechanism is well studied in humans, little is known about the extent of this phenomenon in other organisms, nor how the process is regulated. The project plans to test if alternative splicing is required to transition between different life stages, just as alternative splicing is required for tissue differentiation in animals, and describe how alternative splicing contributes to apicomplexan proteome diversity.Read moreRead less
ARC Centre for Kangaroo Genome. In this Australian-led Kangaroo Genome Project, we will map and characterize the tammar wallaby genome at the molecular level. Marsupial genomes are uniquely valuable because they provide comparisons that reveal new human genes, regulatory sequences and marsupial-specific genes. These will deliver new products and information useful for medicine, industry, agriculture and conservation. We will construct integrated genetic and physical maps of the genome, clone the ....ARC Centre for Kangaroo Genome. In this Australian-led Kangaroo Genome Project, we will map and characterize the tammar wallaby genome at the molecular level. Marsupial genomes are uniquely valuable because they provide comparisons that reveal new human genes, regulatory sequences and marsupial-specific genes. These will deliver new products and information useful for medicine, industry, agriculture and conservation. We will construct integrated genetic and physical maps of the genome, clone the whole genome as large inserts in BAC vectors, and build a "golden path" with minimal overlap. We will construct libraries of expressed genes from tammar tissues and array them for use in analysing gene expression.Read moreRead less
Cellular genomic approach to the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis. This project compares the levels of gene usage in two important immune cell types between patients with multiple sclerosis and people who do not have the disease. It aims to identify the molecular basis for the disease, in order to identify new diagnostic, preventative and treatment options.
Chromatin barriers in Plasmodium falciparum gene regulation. Malaria is a major world disease that kills around 2 million people annually. The genome of the causative agent has now been completely sequenced, but we still know very little of how and why some genes are activated while their neighbours are turned off. I will study the DNA barriers that separate such genes, and the proteins that interact with these regions to better understand how genetic regulation functions in these parasites. A b ....Chromatin barriers in Plasmodium falciparum gene regulation. Malaria is a major world disease that kills around 2 million people annually. The genome of the causative agent has now been completely sequenced, but we still know very little of how and why some genes are activated while their neighbours are turned off. I will study the DNA barriers that separate such genes, and the proteins that interact with these regions to better understand how genetic regulation functions in these parasites. A better understanding of gene regulation in malaria parasites will help us to better combat the tricks utilised by this and other organisms to elude our immune systems.Read moreRead less