Variation in bacterial genomic mutation rates. Our measurement of global mutation rates will contribute to an understanding of the evolutionary properties of bacteria, the most diverse and successful organisms in the biosphere. Bacterial variation and culture richness contributes not only to ecological processes but also to emerging diseases. The studies will enhance capabilities essential in interpreting the evolution of epidemics and the kinetics of bacterial sweeps in nature. Variation also p ....Variation in bacterial genomic mutation rates. Our measurement of global mutation rates will contribute to an understanding of the evolutionary properties of bacteria, the most diverse and successful organisms in the biosphere. Bacterial variation and culture richness contributes not only to ecological processes but also to emerging diseases. The studies will enhance capabilities essential in interpreting the evolution of epidemics and the kinetics of bacterial sweeps in nature. Variation also provides the source material for exploitation of bacterial products such as antibiotics. The results from understanding a complete set of mutational changes through genomic analysis will provide the most direct estimates of variation in evolving bacteria.Read moreRead less
Metagenomics and the genetic basis of ecology and evolution of communities - complex microbial communities in industrial processes as excellent paradigms. Benefits accrue on two fronts: the international reputation of Australian science in contributing significantly to two new, challenging and highly topical questions in ecology and evolution, and in pioneering a route to better efficiency and control of an important industrial process. Wastewater is rich in organic phosphorus that is damaging t ....Metagenomics and the genetic basis of ecology and evolution of communities - complex microbial communities in industrial processes as excellent paradigms. Benefits accrue on two fronts: the international reputation of Australian science in contributing significantly to two new, challenging and highly topical questions in ecology and evolution, and in pioneering a route to better efficiency and control of an important industrial process. Wastewater is rich in organic phosphorus that is damaging to the environment if untreated, but current understanding enables only rudimentary control of the microbial communities that are the basis of the treatment process. The work will provide unprecedented insight into the mechanisms underpinning the dynamics of phosphorus absorbing microbes in industrial facilities by integrating from gene-to-ecosystem.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120102166
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Identification and characterisation of anti-viral immune response genes in mosquitoes. Emerging viral diseases, transmitted by mosquito bite, present an increasing public health risk globally. Most research to date has neglected the infection dynamic in the insect vector. This project aims to characterise the defensive response of mosquitoes to viral infection, a potentially crucial factor in the epidemiology of vector-borne disease.
Seeking causes of unexplained respiratory illness in children by identifying new respiratory viruses. Many respiratory illnesses including the common cold, ear infections, asthma attacks, the flu and pneumonia have no known cause even after all specimen testing is complete. This project will use 'virus hunting' experience to find and sequence as-yet-undiscovered viruses from such specimens so that they can be studied in more detail.
DNA Replication fork processing and recovery in living Escherichia coli cells. DNA is the genetic blueprint for all life. When cells divide their DNA has to be copied completely, and exactly, to avoid mutations or death. When the process of copying breaks down, the DNA needs to be repaired and the process of copying restarted. This project will investigate living cells, to understand the mechanisms and pathways involved.
The molecular mechanism of action of bacterial epigenetic regulators. This project aims to determine the mechanisms of action of a class of bacterial epigenetic regulators. Many bacteria exhibit phase variable expression of genes (random, high frequency on/off switching of expression), typically due to simple DNA repeats within the gene(s) that encode them. Many bacterial species contain phase variable DNA methyltransferases that regulate epigenetics and control expression of distinct sets of pr ....The molecular mechanism of action of bacterial epigenetic regulators. This project aims to determine the mechanisms of action of a class of bacterial epigenetic regulators. Many bacteria exhibit phase variable expression of genes (random, high frequency on/off switching of expression), typically due to simple DNA repeats within the gene(s) that encode them. Many bacterial species contain phase variable DNA methyltransferases that regulate epigenetics and control expression of distinct sets of proteins (phasevarions) via variable methylation of the genome. The precise mechanism of action of these regulators is unknown. Characterisation of these systems will provide better understanding of bacterial gene regulation and adaptation, which will inform biotechnology and vaccine development and could contribute to economic and health advancements.Read moreRead less
Decoding regulatory RNA function in bacteria. All complex biological processes in bacterial cells appear to utilise regulatory small RNAs to control gene expression, but we lack a systems-level understanding of their functions and mechanisms of control. This proposal aims to address this fundamental knowledge gap using machine learning and cutting-edge, systems-level techniques to determine how small RNA sequence and structure determines function. Small RNAs have been found to control a broad ra ....Decoding regulatory RNA function in bacteria. All complex biological processes in bacterial cells appear to utilise regulatory small RNAs to control gene expression, but we lack a systems-level understanding of their functions and mechanisms of control. This proposal aims to address this fundamental knowledge gap using machine learning and cutting-edge, systems-level techniques to determine how small RNA sequence and structure determines function. Small RNAs have been found to control a broad range of traits including metabolism, biofilm formation, antibiotic tolerance, and virulence. The work proposed here will enhance our ability to predict and control bacterial gene expression with potential future impacts on bioproduction, synthetic biology, and veterinary and medical microbiology.Read moreRead less
Investigations into the antibacterial mechanism of action of cannabidiol. Cannabidiol (CBD) comes from a set of naturally occurring compounds, with a range of applications in mainstream culture. We have recently reported that CBD has excellent antimicrobial properties, with the ability to kill bacteria. This project aims to understand how CBD works by examining CBD-bacterial interactions at a genetic and molecular level. By understanding how CBD acts on and within bacterial cells, we can create ....Investigations into the antibacterial mechanism of action of cannabidiol. Cannabidiol (CBD) comes from a set of naturally occurring compounds, with a range of applications in mainstream culture. We have recently reported that CBD has excellent antimicrobial properties, with the ability to kill bacteria. This project aims to understand how CBD works by examining CBD-bacterial interactions at a genetic and molecular level. By understanding how CBD acts on and within bacterial cells, we can create fundamental new knowledge that could lead to the design of improved analogs of CBD to that can treat bacterial infections. As a much-needed completely new antibiotic class, this will lead to significant benefits, supporting Australia's National Strategy to combat the challenges posed by antimicrobial resistance.Read moreRead less
Investigations into the antibacterial mechanism of action of cannabidiol. This project aims to understand how the compound cannabidiol is able to kill bacteria by examining its interactions with bacteria from a genetic and molecular level. This research is critical, because future development of cannabidiol and design of improved analogs is predicated on knowing how it works. Expected outcomes include the first detailed understanding of how cannabidiol interacts with bacteria. This should lead ....Investigations into the antibacterial mechanism of action of cannabidiol. This project aims to understand how the compound cannabidiol is able to kill bacteria by examining its interactions with bacteria from a genetic and molecular level. This research is critical, because future development of cannabidiol and design of improved analogs is predicated on knowing how it works. Expected outcomes include the first detailed understanding of how cannabidiol interacts with bacteria. This should lead to significant benefits, including high impact publications, additional collaborations with industrial partner Botanix, and a new class of antibiotics to overcome antibiotic resistance.Read moreRead less
Chemo-sensation in Ascaris infection. This project aims to show the role of chemo-sensation as an equally important target for worm control, and explore pathways to prevent infection. Parasitic worms cost global food/textile industry more than $100 billion dollars per year, and cause disease in more than 1 billion people and domesticated animals world-wide. This project will use a combination of imaging, systems biology, chemical biology and microfluidic methods to provide significant benefits, ....Chemo-sensation in Ascaris infection. This project aims to show the role of chemo-sensation as an equally important target for worm control, and explore pathways to prevent infection. Parasitic worms cost global food/textile industry more than $100 billion dollars per year, and cause disease in more than 1 billion people and domesticated animals world-wide. This project will use a combination of imaging, systems biology, chemical biology and microfluidic methods to provide significant benefits, such as exploring Ascaris chemo-sensation during larval migration, identify the key host queues and parasite genes regulating this process, and probe helminth chemosensation as a novel target for anti-parasitic treatments.Read moreRead less