Imaging Mass Spectrometry (IMS), a peptide biomarker discovery tool using tissue. Cancer is the second most common cause of death in Australia. The newly developed technology of Imaging Mass Spectrometry for peptides in tissue has the potential to discover biomarkers for early diagnosis of cancer. This new technology could avoid a number of cancer deaths and reduce suffering of patients through earlier and better diagnosis.
Disruptive approaches to biological sensing. Optical fibre-based biosensors have the potential to transform our ability to monitor our environment, protect our nation's assets and safeguard our citizens, and to offer improved clinical diagnostics and food quality control by creating tools that can detect biomolecules in real-time within complex samples. To fulfil this mission, we propose to develop new fibre-based sensing architectures for sensing biomolecules that have the potential to be sensi ....Disruptive approaches to biological sensing. Optical fibre-based biosensors have the potential to transform our ability to monitor our environment, protect our nation's assets and safeguard our citizens, and to offer improved clinical diagnostics and food quality control by creating tools that can detect biomolecules in real-time within complex samples. To fulfil this mission, we propose to develop new fibre-based sensing architectures for sensing biomolecules that have the potential to be sensitive, selective, fast and compact.Read moreRead less
The molecular interactome and functions of circular RNAs. This project aims to identify the functions of circular RNAs, the most contemporary and enigmatic family of RNA molecules. While their abundance suggests they are important, it is unclear how they function at the molecular level. This project aims to delineate circular RNA function by systematically identifying their interacting partners at the DNA, RNA and protein levels, the so-called molecular interactome. This project will reprogram e ....The molecular interactome and functions of circular RNAs. This project aims to identify the functions of circular RNAs, the most contemporary and enigmatic family of RNA molecules. While their abundance suggests they are important, it is unclear how they function at the molecular level. This project aims to delineate circular RNA function by systematically identifying their interacting partners at the DNA, RNA and protein levels, the so-called molecular interactome. This project will reprogram embryonic stem cells to model developmental processes and is designed to validate circular RNA research. Together, the benefits include a higher-quality research workforce by mentoring students, refining fundamental tenets of RNA biology and may extend to improving health in the long-term.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120100390
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Characterisation of collagenous lectins and their roles in ovine infectious diseases. Specific proteins involved in immunity against infections will be studied in sheep to enhance their immune response against specific infections, such as ovine Johne's disease and footrot. This may lead to selective breeding of sheep that are more resistant to disease, minimising production losses and use of medications.
Bacterial poly-histidine triad proteins. The poly-histidine triad (Pht) proteins are a poorly characterised family of surface proteins expressed by the genus Streptococcus and other Gram-positive genera. Recent studies suggest an important role for Pht proteins in survival of these bacteria in low zinc (Zn) environments. The project hypothesis is that Pht proteins specifically recruit Zn from the extracellular environment and somehow make it available to ATP binding cassette (ABC) transport syst ....Bacterial poly-histidine triad proteins. The poly-histidine triad (Pht) proteins are a poorly characterised family of surface proteins expressed by the genus Streptococcus and other Gram-positive genera. Recent studies suggest an important role for Pht proteins in survival of these bacteria in low zinc (Zn) environments. The project hypothesis is that Pht proteins specifically recruit Zn from the extracellular environment and somehow make it available to ATP binding cassette (ABC) transport systems located in the bacterial plasma membrane, beneath the cell wall, facilitating Zn uptake by the bacterium. The aim of this project is to conduct comprehensive molecular characterization of the interactions between Pht proteins, Zn and ABC transporters, and the role of the histidine triad motifs in these interactions.Read moreRead less
Molecular insights into bacterial metal ion homeostasis and toxicity. This project aims to measure bacterial cellular metal concentrations, elucidate mechanisms cells use to adapt to changing extracellular metal concentrations, and reveal the molecular targets of metal toxicity. Metal ions are essential to all forms of life, and half of all proteins use metal ions for cellular chemical processes. However, how cells precisely balance sufficient metal ions for essential cellular chemistry without ....Molecular insights into bacterial metal ion homeostasis and toxicity. This project aims to measure bacterial cellular metal concentrations, elucidate mechanisms cells use to adapt to changing extracellular metal concentrations, and reveal the molecular targets of metal toxicity. Metal ions are essential to all forms of life, and half of all proteins use metal ions for cellular chemical processes. However, how cells precisely balance sufficient metal ions for essential cellular chemistry without accumulating a toxic excess (metal homeostasis) is poorly understood. Discovering the roles of metal ions in bacterial cells will be key to defining the chemical biology of living systems and will provide information essential to understanding how microbes adapt to changing environments.Read moreRead less
TREX-mediated nuclear mRNA export in neuronal differentiation and function. This project aims to study nucleus-to-cytoplasm information flow and the cellular toolbox required for this process. To ensure competitive growth and survival, plant and animal cells have sophisticated mechanisms of information transfer. One such process is efficient export of molecules from the cell nucleus (the coding space) to the cell cytoplasm (the protein synthesis space). This project will use a cell-based system ....TREX-mediated nuclear mRNA export in neuronal differentiation and function. This project aims to study nucleus-to-cytoplasm information flow and the cellular toolbox required for this process. To ensure competitive growth and survival, plant and animal cells have sophisticated mechanisms of information transfer. One such process is efficient export of molecules from the cell nucleus (the coding space) to the cell cytoplasm (the protein synthesis space). This project will use a cell-based system that can precisely control different aspects of the toolbox performance to understand this process. The knowledge and resources generated can be used to develop products or services with tangible economic and health benefits.Read moreRead less
New molecular tools to study the mechanisms of bacterial metal homeostasis. This project aims to provide new insight into how metal ion uptake is regulated. It will precisely measure the cellular concentrations of metal ions, reveal the roles of metal ions in essential cellular processes, and identify the molecular targets of metal toxicity. Metal ions are essential to all forms of life and are used by up to half of all proteins to facilitate cellular chemical processes. The intended outcome of ....New molecular tools to study the mechanisms of bacterial metal homeostasis. This project aims to provide new insight into how metal ion uptake is regulated. It will precisely measure the cellular concentrations of metal ions, reveal the roles of metal ions in essential cellular processes, and identify the molecular targets of metal toxicity. Metal ions are essential to all forms of life and are used by up to half of all proteins to facilitate cellular chemical processes. The intended outcome of the research is to provide new fundamental knowledge of the roles of metal ions in bacterial cells; knowledge that will be key to defining the chemical biology of living systems and will provide information essential to understanding how microbes adapt to changing environments.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE150100163
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$560,000.00
Summary
Single molecule imaging laboratory. Single molecule imaging laboratory: The goal of the project is to establish a single molecule imaging laboratory to close the gap between structural imaging and cellular imaging. Utilising the expertise of the ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, the aim of the project is to design, build and apply three microscopes that go beyond the current commercial solutions for single molecule localisation microscopy such as Photo-Activation Localisati ....Single molecule imaging laboratory. Single molecule imaging laboratory: The goal of the project is to establish a single molecule imaging laboratory to close the gap between structural imaging and cellular imaging. Utilising the expertise of the ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, the aim of the project is to design, build and apply three microscopes that go beyond the current commercial solutions for single molecule localisation microscopy such as Photo-Activation Localisation Microscopy (PALM) and Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy (STORM) and perform single molecule imaging: deep inside cells and tissue.The facility will have a fast acquisition rate to monitor highly dynamic molecular events, and improved precision to image molecules and complexes in intact cells with less than or equal to one nanometre resolution. There is currently no comparable imaging facility in the world.Read moreRead less
Testing co-evolutionary processes driving venom diversity in tiger snakes. Testing co-evolutionary processes driving venom diversity in tiger snakes. This project aims to examine the geographic variation amongst tiger snakes in anatomy, ecology, and life history traits, and the relationship of these factors to venom toxins and production; and to evaluate the true pharmacological potential of tiger snake venom. This project will investigate the role of venom adaptation in long-term animal evoluti ....Testing co-evolutionary processes driving venom diversity in tiger snakes. Testing co-evolutionary processes driving venom diversity in tiger snakes. This project aims to examine the geographic variation amongst tiger snakes in anatomy, ecology, and life history traits, and the relationship of these factors to venom toxins and production; and to evaluate the true pharmacological potential of tiger snake venom. This project will investigate the role of venom adaptation in long-term animal evolution, by identifying rare venom transcripts involved in providing evolutionary potential for adaptation to environmental change. This is essential as continuing climatic and human-induced alteration of our environment affects southern Australia where many people live, work and interact with native wildlife. Anticipated outcomes are maximizing venom harvests and enhanced snakebite treatment capacity.Read moreRead less