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
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120102263
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Export of effector proteins by P. falciparum to the infected red blood cell. Infection by the malaria parasite has lethal consequences for humans. The parasite exports hundreds of proteins via a translocon to commandeer the red blood cell. This project aims to determine the function of one of the major translocon components and determine if it is a viable target for anti-malarial drug development.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100575
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,000.00
Summary
Pathogen detection in mammals. This project aims to study the role of a host molecule in immune protection. Multicellular organisms need to recognise pathogens to initiate immune protection. To do this, pathogen-specific molecules are presented to the immune system causing activation. Recently a mode of pathogen recognition was discovered in mammals. As microbes synthesise essential vitamins, they release tell-tale metabolite by-products, which a host molecule called MR1 captures and presents to ....Pathogen detection in mammals. This project aims to study the role of a host molecule in immune protection. Multicellular organisms need to recognise pathogens to initiate immune protection. To do this, pathogen-specific molecules are presented to the immune system causing activation. Recently a mode of pathogen recognition was discovered in mammals. As microbes synthesise essential vitamins, they release tell-tale metabolite by-products, which a host molecule called MR1 captures and presents to white blood cells. However, it is not understood how MR1 accomplishes this, the cellular machinery required, or how the metabolites are guided to MR1. Understanding this process is expected to explain microbial pathogen recognition.Read moreRead less
A mechanism for pathogen detection highly conserved in mammals. This project aims to delineate biochemically how mammals fight pathogens by alerting their immune system to Vitamin B compounds produced by certain bacteria and fungi. The protein MR1 binds the compounds and displays them on the cell surface, activating pathogen-fighting MAIT cells. The MR1-MAIT cell axis is highly conserved in mammals and is thought to defend the host. This project expects to lead to new products to improve veterin ....A mechanism for pathogen detection highly conserved in mammals. This project aims to delineate biochemically how mammals fight pathogens by alerting their immune system to Vitamin B compounds produced by certain bacteria and fungi. The protein MR1 binds the compounds and displays them on the cell surface, activating pathogen-fighting MAIT cells. The MR1-MAIT cell axis is highly conserved in mammals and is thought to defend the host. This project expects to lead to new products to improve veterinary and human health services with new technology developed throughout the project and high-level training which will increase the competitiveness of the strategic biotechnology sector in Australia.Read moreRead less
Molecular machines that drive microbial pathogens. We will provide a comprehensive understanding of molecular machines situated at the surface of bacteria. This ground-breaking research will provide excellent outcomes in the training of research students and staff: this project entails frontier technology, and the transfer of technological capabilities not currently available in Australia. Our study on a non-pathogenic species of bacteria is timely too for National security: related species of b ....Molecular machines that drive microbial pathogens. We will provide a comprehensive understanding of molecular machines situated at the surface of bacteria. This ground-breaking research will provide excellent outcomes in the training of research students and staff: this project entails frontier technology, and the transfer of technological capabilities not currently available in Australia. Our study on a non-pathogenic species of bacteria is timely too for National security: related species of bacteria were amongst the first organisms trialed as biological weapons, and the pathogenic species remain rated as Class 3 organisms by the Centers for Disease Control.Read moreRead less
Mitochondrial biogenesis: the evolution of molecular machines. Benefits from this research program fall into two discrete types. Firstly, excellent outcomes are provided for the training of postgraduate students and research staff. This project entails cutting edge technology, and the development of skills not common in Australia. Secondly, detailed knowledge will be gained of molecular machines and the way in which they may differ in human cells and in the cells of human cell parasites, with im ....Mitochondrial biogenesis: the evolution of molecular machines. Benefits from this research program fall into two discrete types. Firstly, excellent outcomes are provided for the training of postgraduate students and research staff. This project entails cutting edge technology, and the development of skills not common in Australia. Secondly, detailed knowledge will be gained of molecular machines and the way in which they may differ in human cells and in the cells of human cell parasites, with implications for the treatment of human disease.Read moreRead less
Reducible complexity in the molecular machines of humans and bacteria. Firstly, we will provide detailed knowledge of the surface membrane proteins of an important class of bacteria, the alpha-proteobacteria. Secondly, excellent outcomes are provided for the training of postgraduate students and research staff: this project entails frontier technology, and the transfer of technological capabilities not currently available in Australia. Thirdly, our studies on non-pathogenic species of alpha-prot ....Reducible complexity in the molecular machines of humans and bacteria. Firstly, we will provide detailed knowledge of the surface membrane proteins of an important class of bacteria, the alpha-proteobacteria. Secondly, excellent outcomes are provided for the training of postgraduate students and research staff: this project entails frontier technology, and the transfer of technological capabilities not currently available in Australia. Thirdly, our studies on non-pathogenic species of alpha-proteobacteria is timely for National security: species of alpha-proteobacteria were amongst the first organisms trialled as biological weapons by the USA and the former Soviet Union, and these pathogenic species remain rated as Class 3 organisms by the Centers for Disease Control. Read moreRead less
Investigating why malaria parasites have a unique translocon. This project aims to explore the mechanism that enables malaria parasites to thrive in their host cells. Parasites that cause the disease malaria reside inside erythrocytes, a very basic cell that lacks a vesicular trafficking pathway. To survive and thrive in this environment, the parasite has evolved a completely unique cell biological phenomenon termed PTEX to transport its proteins into the host cell. The aim of this project is to ....Investigating why malaria parasites have a unique translocon. This project aims to explore the mechanism that enables malaria parasites to thrive in their host cells. Parasites that cause the disease malaria reside inside erythrocytes, a very basic cell that lacks a vesicular trafficking pathway. To survive and thrive in this environment, the parasite has evolved a completely unique cell biological phenomenon termed PTEX to transport its proteins into the host cell. The aim of this project is to determine how this novel PTEX machinery exports proteins into erythrocytes and whether PTEX is also required for parasite survival during the initial stages of a host infection when malaria reside in hepatocytes.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE120100037
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$350,000.00
Summary
A cellular nano-imaging facility: Probing cellular complexity. Answering the major medical and biotechnology questions of the 21st century will be heavily reliant on the use of advanced imaging techniques. This facility will establish a new and revolutionary microscope which is capable of producing images of living cells in action at high magnification and with the greatest clarity.