Transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of terminal lymphocyte differentiation and alterations of the same that lead to leukemia. In the developed world infection diseases are the number three killer behind heart disease and cancer, and huge financial effort is put into treatment and prevention. Despite this, results have often been disappointing. One cause of these poor outcomes is the lack of knowledge of how effective immune responses are generated. This project aims to better understand th ....Transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of terminal lymphocyte differentiation and alterations of the same that lead to leukemia. In the developed world infection diseases are the number three killer behind heart disease and cancer, and huge financial effort is put into treatment and prevention. Despite this, results have often been disappointing. One cause of these poor outcomes is the lack of knowledge of how effective immune responses are generated. This project aims to better understand the processes that control the generation of protective lymphocytes. It will deliver information that may enable a more targeted approach to vaccine-development and treatments of infections. As defective differentiation can also be a cause of leukemia it may also lead to targets of cancer treatment.Read moreRead less
Genetic control of plant organ growth. Plants organs, such as leaves and petals, have a distinct size and shape reflecting differences in growth. Despite its importance, very little is known about the mechanisms that regulate growth. The objectives of this proposal are a) to test whether organ growth depends on cell-cell signalling and b) to identifying genes that regulate growth, and to characterize their molecular function.
The epigenetic blueprint for T cell differentiation: a genomic view. A cardinal feature of adaptive immune cell activation is the initiation of a program of differentiation that results in acquisition and long term maintenance of lineage-speci?c effector function. This proposal aims to map and dissect genome wide molecular changes that occur at different stages of immune cell differentiation and identify key factors that regulating these changes. It is expected that distinct genomic signatures, ....The epigenetic blueprint for T cell differentiation: a genomic view. A cardinal feature of adaptive immune cell activation is the initiation of a program of differentiation that results in acquisition and long term maintenance of lineage-speci?c effector function. This proposal aims to map and dissect genome wide molecular changes that occur at different stages of immune cell differentiation and identify key factors that regulating these changes. It is expected that distinct genomic signatures, and the mechanisms indicative of effective immune cell differentiation will be identified. This proposal will provide insights into key mechanisms that result in reprogramming of immune cell function and memory and have implications for understanding general cellular differentiation.Read moreRead less
Marsupial germ cells and genes. Germ cells are the most fascinating cells in the body, since theirs is the unique responsibility for transmitting life from generation to generation. Studies in mice have suggested that position in the embryo determines their origin, but the early embryology of the mouse is so different from that of other mammals that the events need confirming and extending in another species. The simplified embryology of the tammar wallaby makes it ideal for studying one of the ....Marsupial germ cells and genes. Germ cells are the most fascinating cells in the body, since theirs is the unique responsibility for transmitting life from generation to generation. Studies in mice have suggested that position in the embryo determines their origin, but the early embryology of the mouse is so different from that of other mammals that the events need confirming and extending in another species. The simplified embryology of the tammar wallaby makes it ideal for studying one of the most fundamental questions in the whole of biology: what is the basis for the primal distinction between sex and soma?Read moreRead less
How does the unilaminar blastocyst form an embryo? Marsupials are synonymous with Australia and they are scientifically amazing. An understanding how the single-layered marsupial blastocyst cells are directed to form the complex organisation of an embryo would help us understand the biology underlying the developmental potential of all cells. Understanding these processes is not only of great fundamental interest to developmental biology but also for the development of embryonic stem cell lines. ....How does the unilaminar blastocyst form an embryo? Marsupials are synonymous with Australia and they are scientifically amazing. An understanding how the single-layered marsupial blastocyst cells are directed to form the complex organisation of an embryo would help us understand the biology underlying the developmental potential of all cells. Understanding these processes is not only of great fundamental interest to developmental biology but also for the development of embryonic stem cell lines. This research will continue Australia's high profile in reproductive biology using one of our iconic native mammals. A greater understanding of marsupial reproduction will also contribute to management of our threatened marsupial populations.Read moreRead less
Taming the intruders: the domestication of Tigger transposable elements in mammals. It has become apparent that most of the DNA that makes us what we are is actually comprised of the remnants of invading parasitic DNA acquired over time. A continual battle exists between host which tries to silence or remove this DNA, and the parasite that tries to multiply and spread. We are currently investigating an intriguing aspect of this process that involves host genomes 'domesticating' parasitic DNA to ....Taming the intruders: the domestication of Tigger transposable elements in mammals. It has become apparent that most of the DNA that makes us what we are is actually comprised of the remnants of invading parasitic DNA acquired over time. A continual battle exists between host which tries to silence or remove this DNA, and the parasite that tries to multiply and spread. We are currently investigating an intriguing aspect of this process that involves host genomes 'domesticating' parasitic DNA to provide novel functions, thereby facilitating the evolution of specific characteristics within species.Read moreRead less
How enhancers regulate T cell differentiation and function. This project aims to identify the molecular mechanisms that regulate the activity of transcriptional enhancers needed for effective immune cell differentiation. Adaptive immune cell activation starts a programme of differentiation that acquires and maintains lineage-specific effector function. Using a multidisciplinary approach including cellular and chromatin biology, advanced bioinformatics, targeted genome editing and nanotechnology, ....How enhancers regulate T cell differentiation and function. This project aims to identify the molecular mechanisms that regulate the activity of transcriptional enhancers needed for effective immune cell differentiation. Adaptive immune cell activation starts a programme of differentiation that acquires and maintains lineage-specific effector function. Using a multidisciplinary approach including cellular and chromatin biology, advanced bioinformatics, targeted genome editing and nanotechnology, this project expects to provide insights into non-coding regulatory element reprogramming and control of immune cell function and memory with implications for understanding general cellular differentiation.Read moreRead less
Identification of nuclear reprogramming factors in oocyte cytoplasm. The mature oocyte contains dominant factors that are capable of erasing tissue specific gene expression profiles of somatic cells. These reprogramming factors would be valuable for dedifferentiation of cells and for nuclear transfer in animal cloning. The research involves determination of reprogramming factors present in active cytoplasm following enucleation of the germinal vesicle, blockage of transcription and translation, ....Identification of nuclear reprogramming factors in oocyte cytoplasm. The mature oocyte contains dominant factors that are capable of erasing tissue specific gene expression profiles of somatic cells. These reprogramming factors would be valuable for dedifferentiation of cells and for nuclear transfer in animal cloning. The research involves determination of reprogramming factors present in active cytoplasm following enucleation of the germinal vesicle, blockage of transcription and translation, and timed cultures. The assays will involve maintenance of reprogramming ability and erasure of somatic gene transcription. By subtractive elimination the function of isolated proteins which are involved in reprogramming will be identified for potential recombinant production.Read moreRead less
Insect development : the role of cytochrome P450s. Pest insects vector human diseases such as malaria and impose a massive burden in agriculture due to control costs and production losses. The intelligent control of insect pests requires an understanding of their development that is controlled by hormones. This project will provide an in depth understanding of insect hormone synthesis/degradation that is controlled by a class of enzymes, the cytochrome P450s. This will increase the potential ....Insect development : the role of cytochrome P450s. Pest insects vector human diseases such as malaria and impose a massive burden in agriculture due to control costs and production losses. The intelligent control of insect pests requires an understanding of their development that is controlled by hormones. This project will provide an in depth understanding of insect hormone synthesis/degradation that is controlled by a class of enzymes, the cytochrome P450s. This will increase the potential for new insect-specific control strategies with a decreased environmental impact.Read moreRead less
A bird's eye view of sex: the chicken embryo as a model for gonadal development. The development of an embryo as either male or female (sex determination) is a fundamental biological process that fascinates both scientific and lay communities alike. This project will use the chicken embryo as a unique model organism to study how genes control sex determination. We will bring a novel method to our field of study; the use of avian viruses to deliver genes into embryos. This project will enhance ou ....A bird's eye view of sex: the chicken embryo as a model for gonadal development. The development of an embryo as either male or female (sex determination) is a fundamental biological process that fascinates both scientific and lay communities alike. This project will use the chicken embryo as a unique model organism to study how genes control sex determination. We will bring a novel method to our field of study; the use of avian viruses to deliver genes into embryos. This project will enhance our understanding of a basic biological process. It will have application to the poultry industry, in terms of sex ratio manipulation. It will also aid in the diagnosis of humans born with sexual abnormalities. The project will consolidate Australia's standing as a world leader in the area of reproduction and development.Read moreRead less