Imaging the T cell signalling machinery . The conversion of external stimuli to the interior of a cell is a fundamental process that underpins many unique facets of biology, including cellular movement, nerve transmission, response to hormones and immune recognition. However, the basic mechanism by which such signals are transmitted across cellular membranes is poorly understood. This proposal will seek to bridge this gap in our knowledge by imaging a multi-component “decision-making” machine th ....Imaging the T cell signalling machinery . The conversion of external stimuli to the interior of a cell is a fundamental process that underpins many unique facets of biology, including cellular movement, nerve transmission, response to hormones and immune recognition. However, the basic mechanism by which such signals are transmitted across cellular membranes is poorly understood. This proposal will seek to bridge this gap in our knowledge by imaging a multi-component “decision-making” machine that controls whether or not the immune system becomes activated. Accordingly, this proposal will provide far-reaching insights into molecular events that are of central importance to the initiation of immunity, and thus will ultimately benefit society via improvements in health.Read moreRead less
Temperature sensitivity of soil respiration and its components. This project aims to demonstrate how temperate evergreen forests could buffer against climate change. Soil respiration returns around half the carbon taken up by forests to the atmosphere. This project will characterise and quantify how microbes and roots in soils depend on temperature and substrate supply, and so predict how rising temperatures and drought will affect forests as natural carbon sequestration sinks. This project will ....Temperature sensitivity of soil respiration and its components. This project aims to demonstrate how temperate evergreen forests could buffer against climate change. Soil respiration returns around half the carbon taken up by forests to the atmosphere. This project will characterise and quantify how microbes and roots in soils depend on temperature and substrate supply, and so predict how rising temperatures and drought will affect forests as natural carbon sequestration sinks. This project will resolve the roles of environmental drivers of soil respiration across forests; integrate mechanistic understanding of differing plant and microbial responses to temperature within a common modelling framework; and evaluate the implications of this knowledge in predictions of climatic impacts on terrestrial carbon cycling.Read moreRead less
Tree-mediated methane fluxes: A new frontier in the global carbon cycle. Methane is an extremely potent greenhouse gas. Recent evidence suggests that tree-mediated fluxes may be a significant, but overlooked source of methane to the atmosphere. This project aims to quantify the magnitude and drivers of tree-mediated methane fluxes from Australia’s dominant forest types. Innovatively, we will be using a novel combination of empirical field based measurements, gas tracer experiments, microbial ana ....Tree-mediated methane fluxes: A new frontier in the global carbon cycle. Methane is an extremely potent greenhouse gas. Recent evidence suggests that tree-mediated fluxes may be a significant, but overlooked source of methane to the atmosphere. This project aims to quantify the magnitude and drivers of tree-mediated methane fluxes from Australia’s dominant forest types. Innovatively, we will be using a novel combination of empirical field based measurements, gas tracer experiments, microbial analysis and modelling methods. Expected outcomes are a mechanistic understanding of tree-mediated methane fluxes, helping to constrain regional, national and global methane budgets. The results of this study will help inform publicly funded greenhouse gas abatement strategies, ensuring a maximal return on investment.Read moreRead less
Defining mechanisms of action of novel alpha-conotoxins at nicotinic receptor-channels. Marine snails from the waters off the Australian coast produce an amazing variety of mini-proteins in their venoms called conotoxins that they use to capture prey. These conotoxins bind very specifically to receptors in our body associated with the transmission of nerve signals. We will use natural and synthetically modified conotoxins to selectively block particular types of neuronal 'receptors' to gain a gr ....Defining mechanisms of action of novel alpha-conotoxins at nicotinic receptor-channels. Marine snails from the waters off the Australian coast produce an amazing variety of mini-proteins in their venoms called conotoxins that they use to capture prey. These conotoxins bind very specifically to receptors in our body associated with the transmission of nerve signals. We will use natural and synthetically modified conotoxins to selectively block particular types of neuronal 'receptors' to gain a greater understanding of how the nervous system functions. This knowledge will help in the design of new drugs to treat a variety of diseases and disorders. Essentially we will use a chemical armoury developed by the cone snail to design state-of-the-art mini-protein drugs.Read moreRead less
Molecular mechanisms for copper trafficking across membranes. Copper is a trace metal that is essential for all forms of life, however it is toxic in excess. Tightly controlled protein-based metalloregulatory systems are responsible for copper uptake and homeostasis in all cells. Components of these systems are integral membrane transport proteins, which include the Ctr proteins that are solely responsible for copper uptake into eukaryotic cells. This project aims to define the molecular mechani ....Molecular mechanisms for copper trafficking across membranes. Copper is a trace metal that is essential for all forms of life, however it is toxic in excess. Tightly controlled protein-based metalloregulatory systems are responsible for copper uptake and homeostasis in all cells. Components of these systems are integral membrane transport proteins, which include the Ctr proteins that are solely responsible for copper uptake into eukaryotic cells. This project aims to define the molecular mechanisms by which the Ctr proteins transport copper across eukaryotic cell membranes, by solving their three-dimensional structures by X-ray crystallography.Read moreRead less
Biologically inert probes to unravel nutrient directed cellular processing . In this project we will develop novel compounds that can act as probes of the pathways present in cells for the uptake of nutrients and other essential molecules and show how to generate new agents for identifying and targeting specific populations of cells. The project will generate new tools for understanding biological processes including cell transport and processing. The insights gained from this work are expected ....Biologically inert probes to unravel nutrient directed cellular processing . In this project we will develop novel compounds that can act as probes of the pathways present in cells for the uptake of nutrients and other essential molecules and show how to generate new agents for identifying and targeting specific populations of cells. The project will generate new tools for understanding biological processes including cell transport and processing. The insights gained from this work are expected to help guide the development of new agents for selectively delivering imaging and biologically active agents to cells.Read moreRead less
Development of Solar-induced, Dark-active Photocatalytic Membranes for Water Disinfection. Stormwater is one of the last freshwater resources that has not been utilised to its full potential. However, large amount of faecal pathogens in stormwater limit its harvesting practice.This project aims at addressing this significant problem by developing the next generation of photocatalytic membranes for stormwater disinfection. The proposed membranes not only are passive water treatment technology whi ....Development of Solar-induced, Dark-active Photocatalytic Membranes for Water Disinfection. Stormwater is one of the last freshwater resources that has not been utilised to its full potential. However, large amount of faecal pathogens in stormwater limit its harvesting practice.This project aims at addressing this significant problem by developing the next generation of photocatalytic membranes for stormwater disinfection. The proposed membranes not only are passive water treatment technology which only utilises solar energy, but also are operated regardless of weather, even at night. The results will provide new insights on development of future water treatment technologies. This project will also raise Australia’s credibility and competitiveness in the water and membrane industries.Read moreRead less
In depth characterisation of the gamma delta T cell immune synapse. This project aims to comprehensively characterise the activation principles of gamma delta T cells. These cells have an understudied but central role in vertebrate immunity and development. A missing piece of the puzzle is how gamma delta T cells sense stress and how this signal leads to activation. Expected outcomes include the generation of fundamental knowledge in immunology and structural biology. This proposal uses high-ski ....In depth characterisation of the gamma delta T cell immune synapse. This project aims to comprehensively characterise the activation principles of gamma delta T cells. These cells have an understudied but central role in vertebrate immunity and development. A missing piece of the puzzle is how gamma delta T cells sense stress and how this signal leads to activation. Expected outcomes include the generation of fundamental knowledge in immunology and structural biology. This proposal uses high-skilled techniques, including cryo-electron microscopy and single-molecule imaging and holds ancillary benefits to postgraduate students. Anticipated outcomes include influential publications, building a critical mass of expertise in Australia and fostering international collaborations with Australia at the epicentre.Read moreRead less
How cholesterol optimises ion pump function in animal membranes. This project aims to determine how cholesterol optimises ion pump function in animal membranes and to identify the major effects of cholesterol and its derivatives on membranes’ physical properties. All animal cells need high levels of cholesterol in the plasma membrane for survival. Insufficient cholesterol biosynthesis leads to severe birth defects. The need for cholesterol is likely linked to its acceleration of sodium pump acti ....How cholesterol optimises ion pump function in animal membranes. This project aims to determine how cholesterol optimises ion pump function in animal membranes and to identify the major effects of cholesterol and its derivatives on membranes’ physical properties. All animal cells need high levels of cholesterol in the plasma membrane for survival. Insufficient cholesterol biosynthesis leads to severe birth defects. The need for cholesterol is likely linked to its acceleration of sodium pump activity, essential to physiological processes including cell division, nerve, muscle and kidney activity. An expected benefit of the project is knowledge on the molecular origin of diseases associated with inhibition of cholesterol production, and a more complete understanding of the crucial role played by cholesterol via its effect on ion pumping towards the healthy functioning of vital organs, particularly in heart muscle and nerves.Read moreRead less
A balancing act: Resolving coastal wetland water, carbon and solute fluxes. Coastal wetlands offer an impressive capacity to regulate the Earth’s climate by altering the way carbon dioxide is extracted from the atmosphere and stored while simultaneously influencing the water cycle, thus providing ecosystem services such as carbon storage, abating flood waters, improving water quality and protecting the coastline from sea level rise. This project aims to address the current gaps in understanding .... A balancing act: Resolving coastal wetland water, carbon and solute fluxes. Coastal wetlands offer an impressive capacity to regulate the Earth’s climate by altering the way carbon dioxide is extracted from the atmosphere and stored while simultaneously influencing the water cycle, thus providing ecosystem services such as carbon storage, abating flood waters, improving water quality and protecting the coastline from sea level rise. This project aims to address the current gaps in understanding the critical exchanges of water and greenhouse gases (GHGs) combining field methodologies and hydrological models, under different climatic conditions. The intended outcomes will benefit management of GHG emissions, coastal flooding and vulnerable groundwater dependent habitats.Read moreRead less