Projects
Molecular simulations of immune re3ceptors to understand and treat autoimmune disease
Theme
- Infection and immunity
- Membrane transporters and channels
Advances in malaria research are hindered by the limited inventory of available molecular tools. Culturing and genetic manipulation are quite demanding and cumbersome in comparison to other organisms. Major discoveries very often go hand in hand with the application and development of new techniques. We strive to make a contribution to the repertoire of available techniques.
Theme
- Host-microbe biology
- Parasitology
Student intake
Open for Bachelor, Honours, Master, PhD students
Status
Current
People
- Alexander Maier, Supervisor
Functional genomics of C. elegans to identify and validate new antinematode drug targets.
Theme
- Host-microbe biology
- Parasitology
The malaria parasite has an active metabolism, importing nutrients, exporting metabolic wastes and generating a wide range of metabolic intermediates.
Theme
- Host-microbe biology
- Membrane transporters and channels
- Parasitology
- Photosynthesis and plant energy biology
The role of solute and ion transporters in apicomplexan biology
Theme
- Evolutionary genetics and genomics
- Host-microbe biology
- Membrane transporters and channels
- Parasitology
Student intake
Open for Bachelor, Honours, Master, PhD students
Status
Current
People
- Adele Lehane, Supervisor
- Giel van Dooren, Supervisor
- Kiaran Kirk, Collaborator
This project is a collaboration with Drs Stephen Trowell and Alisha Anderson (CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences). Using C. elegans as a model we are exploring olfaction in nematodes.
Theme
- Membrane transporters and channels
The intracellular life-style of Plasmodium poses particular challenges for meeting the parasite's demand for lipids. The roles of lipids include membrane components, energy storage and signalling. In this project we will use cutting-edge bioinformatic to model the lipid flow and biochemical, imaging and genetic approaches to identify, characterise and validate malaria lipids as novel drug targets.
Theme
- Membrane transporters and channels
- Parasitology
This project will examine the structures and folding behaviour of autotransporter proteins and reengineered derivatives fused to target heterologous proteins. This will provide insights into factors that dictate their folding and enhance the production of recombinant proteins for research and commercial needs.
Theme
- Infection and immunity
- Membrane transporters and channels
Student intake
Open for Bachelor, Honours, Master, PhD students
Status
Current
People
- Denisse Leyton, Supervisor
S. flexneri is subtyped into serotypes based on the combinations of antigenic determinants in the O-antigen. Addition of a glucosyl, O-acetyl or phosphoethanolamine residue to the O-antigen results in serotype conversion. We are investigating the genetic basis of the emergence and diversity of S. flexneri serotypes.
Theme
- Host-microbe biology
- Infection and immunity
Each year there are approximately 190 million cases of shigellosis throughout the world causing 70,000 deaths in children. My group is identifying novel virulence factors of S. flexneri and studying their potential as vaccine targets for the development of both live and subunit vaccines against shigellosis.
Theme
- Host-microbe biology
- Infection and immunity
Calcium carbonate skeletal elements produced by marine animals range from microscopic to massive, can be stunningly beautiful and often have immense ecological importance.
Theme
- Behavioural, evolutionary and physiological ecology
- Evolutionary genetics and genomics
Student intake
Open for Honours, PhD students
Status
Current
People
- Maja Adamska, Supervisor
- Marcin Adamski, Collaborator
This project aims to develop and test ecological and evolutionary models of microbiomes across sponge and coral species. The computational models will incorporate ecological and evolutionary factors that operate in sponge and coral microbiomes and will be tested by field- and lab-based experiments.
Theme
- Behavioural, evolutionary and physiological ecology
- Bioinformatics and bio-mathematical modelling
- Evolutionary genetics and genomics
The best treatment for Malaria is currently via the combination of the drugs Artemisin and Piperaquine, but emerging resistance to both of these front-line antimalarial drugs means there is an urgent need for new treatment options and a better understanding of resistance mechanisms.
Theme
- Parasitology
- Membrane transporters and channels
- Host-microbe biology
Student intake
Open for Bachelor, Honours, Master, PhD students
Status
Current
People
- Joseph Brock, Principal investigator
The cells of our organs must form tight barriers with each other in order to differentiate themselves and perform their function. These cellular junctions and attachments display exquisite mechanical and chemical sensitivity that if perturbed, often leads to disease states within the body.
Theme
- Membrane transporters and channels
Student intake
Open for Bachelor, Honours, Master, PhD students
Status
Current
People
- Joseph Brock, Principal investigator
Understanding how Resolvin signalling is mediated by this mechanism has therapeutic implications for all diseases where a state of chronic inflammation is involved, from arthritis to depression.
The Altin group on tumour immunology and liposome targeting.
Theme
- Infection and immunity
We use modern tools like golden gate cloning and CRISPR to design and build living biosensors.
Theme
- Membrane transporters and channels
- Bioinformatics and bio-mathematical modelling
- Host-microbe biology
Student intake
Open for Bachelor, Honours, Master, PhD students
Status
Current
People
- Joseph Brock, Supervisor
Malaria parasite proteins involved in ion homeostasis show promise as much-needed new drug targets.
Theme
- Host-microbe biology
- Membrane transporters and channels
- Parasitology
Student intake
Open for PhD students
Status
Current
People
- Adele Lehane, Supervisor
- Giel van Dooren, Supervisor
- Kiaran Kirk, Collaborator
Elucidating mitochondrial biology in apicomplexan parasites
Theme
- Evolutionary genetics and genomics
- Host-microbe biology
- Membrane transporters and channels
- Parasitology
Student intake
Open for Bachelor, Honours, Master, PhD students
Status
Current
People
- Giel van Dooren, Supervisor
Autotransporters are synthesised in the cytoplasm with a specific domain architecture that confers a unique transmembrane topology once assembled into bacterial outer membranes.
Theme
- Infection and immunity
- Membrane transporters and channels
Student intake
Open for Honours, Master, PhD students
Status
Current
People
- Denisse Leyton, Supervisor