Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0561161
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$110,000.00
Summary
Joint Facility for Genome Analysis of Nutrient Transport Proteins. The joint facility for genome analysis of nutrient transport proteins is a new initiative between the University of Adelaide, the Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics, and the University of Western Australia to use a high throughput Xenopus oocyte expression system to screen plant cDNA/cRNA collections for genes encoding nutrient transport proteins. The facility will also provide a platform to rapidly accelerate our p ....Joint Facility for Genome Analysis of Nutrient Transport Proteins. The joint facility for genome analysis of nutrient transport proteins is a new initiative between the University of Adelaide, the Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics, and the University of Western Australia to use a high throughput Xenopus oocyte expression system to screen plant cDNA/cRNA collections for genes encoding nutrient transport proteins. The facility will also provide a platform to rapidly accelerate our present capacity for Xenopus oocyte expression analysis of nutrient transport proteins. This facility will greatly aid our current research quantum in this field and allow for new discoveries related to nutrient transport in plants.Read moreRead less
Why is the peribacteroid membrane transcription factor SAT1 required for legume nitrogen fixation and what is its role in other symbiotic systems? This project will investigate the functional activity of the plant membrane bound basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor SAT1 in both nitrogen fixing (Rhizobia) and phosphorus acquiring (Arbuscular Mycorrhizal) symbioses found in plants. The project will identify its regulation and downstream activities across both symbiosis using selected ....Why is the peribacteroid membrane transcription factor SAT1 required for legume nitrogen fixation and what is its role in other symbiotic systems? This project will investigate the functional activity of the plant membrane bound basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor SAT1 in both nitrogen fixing (Rhizobia) and phosphorus acquiring (Arbuscular Mycorrhizal) symbioses found in plants. The project will identify its regulation and downstream activities across both symbiosis using selected legumes and or cereals.Read moreRead less
Pharmacological probes to facilitate preclinical development of modulators of a6 subunit containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Allosteric modulators of alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors have a promising future as drugs targeting attention deficits in Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia but the mechanisms underlying modulation are poorly understood. This project aims to determine its binding site and develop a radioactive labelled compound that competes with its binding. The radi ....Pharmacological probes to facilitate preclinical development of modulators of a6 subunit containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Allosteric modulators of alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors have a promising future as drugs targeting attention deficits in Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia but the mechanisms underlying modulation are poorly understood. This project aims to determine its binding site and develop a radioactive labelled compound that competes with its binding. The radiolabelled compound and a deeper insight into the mode of action will enable development of ligands for positron emission tomography (PET) which will aid in the development of BNC375 as well as other alpha7 modulators.Read moreRead less
Long Chain Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Heart Health in Humans. The primary aims of the project is to assess the effect of DHA rich tuna oil on cholesterol carrying lipoproteins and to determine a quicker method in assessing someone's omega-3 status. The expected outcomes include the determination of: 1) the most appropriate blood sample and a rapid test and for evaluating the omega-3 status; 2) the minimum dose of tuna oil required which will not only improve a person's omega-3 statu ....Long Chain Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Heart Health in Humans. The primary aims of the project is to assess the effect of DHA rich tuna oil on cholesterol carrying lipoproteins and to determine a quicker method in assessing someone's omega-3 status. The expected outcomes include the determination of: 1) the most appropriate blood sample and a rapid test and for evaluating the omega-3 status; 2) the minimum dose of tuna oil required which will not only improve a person's omega-3 status but also improve their plasma lipid profile and hence reduce their overall risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD); and 3) the use of the Omega-3 Index by medical practitioners. The significance is the increased knowledge of the health benefits of DHA rich tuna oil and that a new CVD risk marker will be generally accepted.Read moreRead less
The effect of aerial spraying of two pesticides on semi-arid grasslands. The project will investigate how two pesticides, fipronil and metarrhizium, used to control locusts, affect semi-arid ecosystems by examining impacts on invertebrates, their predators, lizards and soil processes. The effects will be followed through time in a large scale experiment to determine recovery and compare each pesticide.
Keystone microbes and planktonic guilds in Australia's oceans. This project aims to unveil the ocean’s hidden sentinels, “keystone microbes” that underpin precious ecosystem services, and which can be used to monitor and model changes in ocean function. Marine microbes account for 90 per cent of oceanic biomass and every litre of seawater contains ~20,000 different species, but it is not known which species control ocean health and productivity. This project intends to provide definitive evidenc ....Keystone microbes and planktonic guilds in Australia's oceans. This project aims to unveil the ocean’s hidden sentinels, “keystone microbes” that underpin precious ecosystem services, and which can be used to monitor and model changes in ocean function. Marine microbes account for 90 per cent of oceanic biomass and every litre of seawater contains ~20,000 different species, but it is not known which species control ocean health and productivity. This project intends to provide definitive evidence of these keystones’ cellular level biogeochemical and metabolic capacity. Ultimately, this knowledge is expected to predict the resilience of ocean ecosystems and their response to change. The capacity to predict their dynamics will help provide investment clarity and increase healthy outcomes from activities involving human-ocean interactions such as recreation, food production and tourism.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE130100119
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$420,000.00
Summary
Materials characterisation facility for a sustainable future. Sustainable development will require access to large-scale carbon-neutral energy production. The tools provided through this project will enable the development of new knowledge and novel materials and processes technologies that will deliver this carbon-neutral energy.
Quantitative metrics for determining aquifer ecosystem state. Clean groundwater comes from dirty surface water by way of biological purification. This project will develop quantitative ways to assess groundwater ecosystems to ensure the sustainable extraction of water and maintenance of these crucial ecosystems.
Bad tastes, odours and toxins in our drinking water reservoirs: are benthic cyanobacteria the culprits? Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) produce toxins and bad tastes that contaminate drinking water sources, cause public concern about water quality. This project will address a critical knowledge gap by investigating species that grow on the sediments of reservoirs, thus providing more comprehensive management solutions to the water industry.