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.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE180100157
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$600,000.00
Summary
Confocal and single molecule microscopes for systems microscopy. This project aims to establish Australia’s first system microscopy facility with dedicated live-cell confocal and single-molecule fluorescence microscopes. In systems microscopy, the imaging workflow is automated so that large and unbiased data sets of the spatiotemporal organisation of molecules and cells can be generated. Combined with statistical and bioinformatics analyses, image-derived data provides system-wide information th ....Confocal and single molecule microscopes for systems microscopy. This project aims to establish Australia’s first system microscopy facility with dedicated live-cell confocal and single-molecule fluorescence microscopes. In systems microscopy, the imaging workflow is automated so that large and unbiased data sets of the spatiotemporal organisation of molecules and cells can be generated. Combined with statistical and bioinformatics analyses, image-derived data provides system-wide information that is not easily obtainable with other approaches. The project will enable Australian researchers to image and analyse the full complexity of biological systems, potentially transforming cell biology, drug development and understanding the molecular basis of disease. It will also demonstrate how the capacity of microscopy facilities can be enhanced and bias in imaging data reduced by automating data acquisition and mining of image-based data.Read moreRead less
The role of phosphoinositides in endosomal maturation dynamics. This project aims to investigate the regulation of an intracellular compartment within a cell called endosomes, which plays critical roles in cellular homeostasis, signalling and pathogen entry. New knowledge is expected to be generated in understanding endosome maturation and the signalling events that drive this process using a unique, multidisciplinary approach combining state of the art imaging techniques and high throughput pro ....The role of phosphoinositides in endosomal maturation dynamics. This project aims to investigate the regulation of an intracellular compartment within a cell called endosomes, which plays critical roles in cellular homeostasis, signalling and pathogen entry. New knowledge is expected to be generated in understanding endosome maturation and the signalling events that drive this process using a unique, multidisciplinary approach combining state of the art imaging techniques and high throughput protein analysis. The anticipated outcomes will be to define the molecular steps that govern the membrane-bound machinery on endosomes that directs endosomal maturation. This should provide significant benefits in delineating a process that is linked to almost all aspects of cell life.Read moreRead less
SNARE-mediated perforin and cytokine release in natural killer cells. Cytotoxic cells release toxic granules and cytokine messengers to kill pathogen infected and cancerous cells and to mount immune responses. This project will investigate different SNARE molecules that regulate the secretion of perforin from granules and cytokines from other carriers, assisting in the understanding of complex but essential cellular pathways.
A tale of two genomes: integrating mitochondrial biogenesis into the cell cycle and metabolic control. The human genome is cordoned into two distinct compartments in our cells. Most genes are in the nucleus, while a distinct set of genes are held within our mitochondria. Using yeast as a model organism, this project will provide a holistic view of how expression of the two genomes is coordinated.
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL130100038
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,796,748.00
Summary
Molecular machines and bacterial cell biology. This project will deliver a detailed understanding and visual rendering of molecular machines at work on the surface of bacteria. This ground-breaking research provides unique training opportunities for research students and staff: with projects driving frontier technology, and the transfer of new technological capabilities to Australia.
Formation of the Chlamydial Inclusion Requires Host Trafficking Pathways. Using cellular and biochemical approaches this project aims to examine the membrane trafficking pathways hijacked by the pathogen Chlamydia and to define the key components of these pathways. Chlamydia are obligate intracellular pathogens responsible for a range of human and animal diseases. In order to survive within the host cell, the pathogen hijacks the host's membrane trafficking pathways to engineer an intracellular ....Formation of the Chlamydial Inclusion Requires Host Trafficking Pathways. Using cellular and biochemical approaches this project aims to examine the membrane trafficking pathways hijacked by the pathogen Chlamydia and to define the key components of these pathways. Chlamydia are obligate intracellular pathogens responsible for a range of human and animal diseases. In order to survive within the host cell, the pathogen hijacks the host's membrane trafficking pathways to engineer an intracellular niche called an inclusion. In addition to providing a permissive environment, this strategy also shields the pathogen from the host's immune system.Read moreRead less
Characterisation of membrane protein ubiquitination by MARCH ligases. The goal of the project is to understand how a family of enzymes called MARCHs regulate expression and localisation of immunoregulatory receptors within cells by post-translational addition of a small protein tag called Ubiquitin. The aims are to decipher the ubiquitination patterns produced by the MARCHs; identify the E2 ligases used by the MARCHs to produce distinct Ub codes; and apply a new proteomic pipeline to identify no ....Characterisation of membrane protein ubiquitination by MARCH ligases. The goal of the project is to understand how a family of enzymes called MARCHs regulate expression and localisation of immunoregulatory receptors within cells by post-translational addition of a small protein tag called Ubiquitin. The aims are to decipher the ubiquitination patterns produced by the MARCHs; identify the E2 ligases used by the MARCHs to produce distinct Ub codes; and apply a new proteomic pipeline to identify novel representative MARCH substrates in mice deficient in six different MARCHs. It is anticipated the project will reveal novel insights into a fundamental cell biological process of major significance for regulation of protein expression and trafficking in cells of the immune system.Read moreRead less
Organising Intracellular Compartments by Formation of Transport Carriers. This project aims to investigate the cellular components which generate carriers that transport material between compartments within the cell. The process of sorting proteins and sending them to the right place is a fundamental mechanism critical to understand how individual proteins function as the move around within cells. The generated knowledge about how cells organise themselves through the movement of proteins betwee ....Organising Intracellular Compartments by Formation of Transport Carriers. This project aims to investigate the cellular components which generate carriers that transport material between compartments within the cell. The process of sorting proteins and sending them to the right place is a fundamental mechanism critical to understand how individual proteins function as the move around within cells. The generated knowledge about how cells organise themselves through the movement of proteins between endosomal intracellular compartments will provide significant benefits by enhancing our capacity to understand this conserved cellular pathway which ensures the integrity of all cellular processes including signalling, communication, homeostasis and development.Read moreRead less