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
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120102321
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Exploiting pathogen-host interactions to dissect the mammalian endocytic pathway. Salmonella manipulates the cells of the human body to cause disease. Understanding the molecular machinery that controls this process will provide profound insight into how the bacteria orchestrates this manipulation as well as provide possible avenues for intervention and even cures for diseases like typhoid fever.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160101035
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$369,500.00
Summary
Ion regulation in Apicomplexan parasites. This project aims to determine how Apicomplexan parasites regulate their sodium and chloride levels to support the development of new parasite control measures. Apicomplexan parasites cause devastating animal and human diseases. Little is known about the physiology of these parasites, and options for controlling them are few. Apicomplexan parasites must precisely control their internal ion compositions in order to survive, but how they do so is not under ....Ion regulation in Apicomplexan parasites. This project aims to determine how Apicomplexan parasites regulate their sodium and chloride levels to support the development of new parasite control measures. Apicomplexan parasites cause devastating animal and human diseases. Little is known about the physiology of these parasites, and options for controlling them are few. Apicomplexan parasites must precisely control their internal ion compositions in order to survive, but how they do so is not understood. Recent work has identified a unique Apicomplexan sodium transporter and revealed a number of chloride transporter candidates. Using a combination of molecular biology and physiological techniques, this project aims to characterise the Apicomplexan sodium transporter in detail and elucidate the molecular mechanisms of chloride transport.Read moreRead less
Regulating nutrient uptake in intracellular parasites. Parasites impose a major economic and medical burden on human societies. In order to grow and reproduce, parasites scavenge nutrients from their animal or human hosts. As they move within and between hosts they encounter different levels of nutrients; how they adapt to these differences is poorly understood. This project aims to investigate the mechanisms by which the model parasite Toxoplasma senses and responds to the nutrients in its envi ....Regulating nutrient uptake in intracellular parasites. Parasites impose a major economic and medical burden on human societies. In order to grow and reproduce, parasites scavenge nutrients from their animal or human hosts. As they move within and between hosts they encounter different levels of nutrients; how they adapt to these differences is poorly understood. This project aims to investigate the mechanisms by which the model parasite Toxoplasma senses and responds to the nutrients in its environment, thereby shedding light on how they adapt to the different environments that they inhabit and, in the longer term, informing novel treatment strategies that aim to limit the parasites’ nutrient supply.Read moreRead less
The natural function and evolution of an essential parasite transporter. This project aims to resolve the natural function and evolution of a transporter essential to the survival of malaria and other parasites. Malaria and its sibling Apicomplexan parasites cause devastating diseases in humans and livestock across the world. Much remains to be understood about these parasites, and options for controlling them are diminishing. The project will interrogate the functions of the transporter protein ....The natural function and evolution of an essential parasite transporter. This project aims to resolve the natural function and evolution of a transporter essential to the survival of malaria and other parasites. Malaria and its sibling Apicomplexan parasites cause devastating diseases in humans and livestock across the world. Much remains to be understood about these parasites, and options for controlling them are diminishing. The project will interrogate the functions of the transporter proteins. The knowledge gained might help to combat Apicomplexan parasites by targeting these transporters’ native functions.Read moreRead less
A novel family of amino acid transporters in Apicomplexan parasites. Apicomplexan parasites are single celled organisms that are the causative agents of major diseases in livestock and humans. However, the basic biochemistry of these intracellular parasites is poorly understood, and there are limited treatments available for the diseases these parasites cause. The project hypothesis is that a novel family of proteins that are unique to apicomplexan parasites play a key role in the uptake of esse ....A novel family of amino acid transporters in Apicomplexan parasites. Apicomplexan parasites are single celled organisms that are the causative agents of major diseases in livestock and humans. However, the basic biochemistry of these intracellular parasites is poorly understood, and there are limited treatments available for the diseases these parasites cause. The project hypothesis is that a novel family of proteins that are unique to apicomplexan parasites play a key role in the uptake of essential nutrients (amino acids) into these organisms. This project aims to use a combination of genetic, biochemical and physiological methods to understand the function of these proteins, the role(s) that they play in apicomplexan biology, and their importance for parasite survival.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.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE120100022
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$480,000.00
Summary
A 700 MHz Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectrometer for the Melbourne Biomolecular NMR Network: A high throughput resource. The Melbourne Biomolecular Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Network will enable NMR experiments aimed at discovering new molecules for diagnosing, treating and preventing disease, and identifying and eradicating pests. The new equipment will allow researchers to work with large numbers of samples, to identify the biomarkers of disease and to find new drug candidates qui ....A 700 MHz Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectrometer for the Melbourne Biomolecular NMR Network: A high throughput resource. The Melbourne Biomolecular Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Network will enable NMR experiments aimed at discovering new molecules for diagnosing, treating and preventing disease, and identifying and eradicating pests. The new equipment will allow researchers to work with large numbers of samples, to identify the biomarkers of disease and to find new drug candidates quickly.Read moreRead less