Nutritional properties of mango fruits: linking plant genomics to cellular bioactivities. Mango fruits are prized for their sensorial properties, but little information is available on potential nutritional benefits. By using a broad-based bioactivity screen, followed up with specific bio-activity assays, molecular components within mango fruits that have the potential to deliver nutritional health benefits will be identified. This information will be used both to provide information on the prop ....Nutritional properties of mango fruits: linking plant genomics to cellular bioactivities. Mango fruits are prized for their sensorial properties, but little information is available on potential nutritional benefits. By using a broad-based bioactivity screen, followed up with specific bio-activity assays, molecular components within mango fruits that have the potential to deliver nutritional health benefits will be identified. This information will be used both to provide information on the properties of current mango varieties and to develop breeding tools for enhancing nutritional properties in future varieties.Read moreRead less
Identification of nutritional bioactives in tropical fruit. Information on the nutritional properties of tropical fruits is currently limited to chemical analysis of vitamins, minerals and fibre. This project aims to identify additional nutritional components within tropical fruits by assessing activities against a range of cell-based assays. Selected assays will represent cellular processes relating to e.g. lipid metabolism, cancer prevention, and antioxidant effects. Assay-based fractionation ....Identification of nutritional bioactives in tropical fruit. Information on the nutritional properties of tropical fruits is currently limited to chemical analysis of vitamins, minerals and fibre. This project aims to identify additional nutritional components within tropical fruits by assessing activities against a range of cell-based assays. Selected assays will represent cellular processes relating to e.g. lipid metabolism, cancer prevention, and antioxidant effects. Assay-based fractionation approaches will be used to identify molecular bioactives acting either alone or synergistically with other components. Results will be used in public health and/or marketing communication, and will provide targets for breeding and varietal selection programmes.Read moreRead less
Identification of structural proteins in the tissue cyst wall of Toxoplasma gondii. Most infections with Toxoplasma gondii are asymptomatic, however, infection during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage or blindness, deafness and mental retardation in the developing baby. Furthermore, in AIDS patients, toxoplasmosis is the leading cause of fatal encephalitis as the normally dormant tissue cysts are reactivated in the absence of an effective immune system. In Australia, it has been estimated that ~ ....Identification of structural proteins in the tissue cyst wall of Toxoplasma gondii. Most infections with Toxoplasma gondii are asymptomatic, however, infection during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage or blindness, deafness and mental retardation in the developing baby. Furthermore, in AIDS patients, toxoplasmosis is the leading cause of fatal encephalitis as the normally dormant tissue cysts are reactivated in the absence of an effective immune system. In Australia, it has been estimated that ~30% of the population is infected with T. gondii and the occurrence of congenital toxoplasmosis is 0.2% of live births, which translates to roughly 500 cases/year. Our research will identify structural proteins in Toxoplasma cyst walls that will lead to the design of new strategies to control the diseases caused by these parasites.Read moreRead less
Uncovering novel metabolic processes in eukaryotic cells. This project aims to investigate the origin and function of the large number of chemically undefined metabolites that occur in all cells. The project will utilise advanced analytical techniques, as well as computational and genetic approaches, to characterise the chemical structures of these metabolites and identity the enzymes involved in their synthesis and degradation. It will provide new information on the metabolic capacity of eukary ....Uncovering novel metabolic processes in eukaryotic cells. This project aims to investigate the origin and function of the large number of chemically undefined metabolites that occur in all cells. The project will utilise advanced analytical techniques, as well as computational and genetic approaches, to characterise the chemical structures of these metabolites and identity the enzymes involved in their synthesis and degradation. It will provide new information on the metabolic capacity of eukaryotic cells and allow the generation of more accurate models of metabolism. These outcomes have important biotechnology applications and will identify metabolic processes that underpin normal and disease states in animals and human cells.Read moreRead less