A5042611972- Malaria Research and Control
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Advanced Electron Microscopy Techniques and Applications
- Connective tissue disorders research
- Complement system in diseases
- Electron and X-Ray Spectroscopy Techniques
- Lipid Membrane Structure and Behavior
- Research on Leishmaniasis Studies
- Trypanosoma species research and implications
- Advanced X-ray Imaging Techniques
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Extracellular vesicles in disease
- Cardiovascular Function and Risk Factors
- Ubiquitin and proteasome pathways
- Cell Adhesion Molecules Research
- Peptidase Inhibition and Analysis
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Protease and Inhibitor Mechanisms
- Advanced MRI Techniques and Applications
- Cell Image Analysis Techniques
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- Mitochondrial Function and Pathology
- Drug Transport and Resistance Mechanisms
- RNA Research and Splicing
- HIV Research and Treatment
The University of Melbourne
2016-2025
ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging
2019-2024
Biotechnology Institute
2012-2024
Australian Cancer Research Foundation
2023
The Royal Melbourne Hospital
2019
National Imaging Facility
2018
Australian Research Council
2012-2014
ARC Centre of Excellence for Coherent X-ray Science
2007-2013
La Trobe University
2006-2011
Electron (Ukraine)
2011
Abstract Solution-processed organic photovoltaic cells (OPVs) hold great promise to enable roll-to-roll printing of environmentally friendly, mechanically flexible and cost-effective devices. Nevertheless, many high-performing systems show best power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) with a thin active layer (thickness is ~100 nm) that difficult translate processing high reproducibility. Here we report new molecular donor, benzodithiophene terthiophene rhodanine (BTR), which exhibits good...
Malaria inflicts an enormous burden on global human health. The emergence of parasite resistance to front-line drugs has prompted a renewed focus the repositioning clinically approved as potential anti-malarial therapies. Antibiotics that inhibit protein translation are promising candidates for repositioning. We have solved cryo-EM structure cytoplasmic ribosome from malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, in complex with emetine at 3.2 Å resolution. Emetine is anti-protozoan drug used...
Abstract It is commonly accepted that nanoparticles (NPs) can kill bacteria; however, the mechanism of antimicrobial action remains obscure for large NPs cannot translocate bacterial cell wall. demonstrated increase in membrane tension caused by adsorption responsible mechanical deformation, leading to rupture and death. A biophysical model NP–membrane interactions presented which suggests adsorbed cause stretching squeezing. This general phenomenon experimentally using both membranes...
The mechano-bactericidal activity of nanostructured surfaces has become the focus intensive research toward development a new generation antibacterial surfaces, particularly in current era emerging antibiotic resistance. This work demonstrates effects an incremental increase nanopillar height on nanostructure-induced bacterial cell death. We propose that mechanical lysis cells can be influenced by degree elasticity and clustering highly ordered silicon arrays. Herein, arrays with diameter 35...
The digestive vacuole of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum is site haemoglobin digestion and haem detoxification, target chloroquine other antimalarials. mechanisms for genesis transfer from host cytoplasm are still debated. Here, we use live-cell imaging photobleaching to monitor uptake pH-sensitive fluorescent tracer SNARF-1-dextran erythrocyte in ring-stage trophozoite-stage parasites. We compare these results with electron tomography serial sections parasites at different stages...
The formation of fetuin-A-containing calciprotein particles (CPP) may facilitate the clearance calcium phosphate nanocrystals from extracellular fluid. These crystals otherwise seed extra-osseous mineralization. Fetuin-A is a partially phosphorylated glycoprotein that plays critical role in stabilizing these particles, inhibiting crystal growth and aggregation. CPP removal thought to be predominantly mediated by cells reticuloendothelial system via type I II class A scavenger receptor...
Exosomes are small membrane-bound vesicles released from cells and found in vivo most biological fluids. Functions reported for exosomes include cell–cell communication, roles modulating immune responses, the transfer of pathogens such as prions. Here we investigated molecular characteristics structure that harbor prion infectivity to determine native whether infected have a distinct structure. Cryo-electron tomography revealed previously unidentified ultrastructural detail with high...
The threat of a global rise in the number untreatable infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria calls for design and fabrication new generation bactericidal materials. Here, we report concept antibacterial surfaces, whereby cell death results from ability nanofeatures to deflect when contact with attaching cells. We show, using three-dimensional transmission electron microscopy, that exceptionally high aspect ratio (100–3000) vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VACNTs) imparts...
We demonstrate highly-efficient, solution-processed small molecule solar cells with the best power conversion efficiency (PCE) of more than 5%. The active layer consists a diketopyrrolopyrrole-based donor (DPP(TBFu)2) and fullerene derivative (PC71BM) that is spin cast subsequently treated solvent vapor annealing (SVA) in air. find not all vapors lead to PCE. Solvents high pressures medium solubilities, such as tetrahydrofuran or carbon disulfide, are most suitable for SVA context organic...
Mesoporous metal–organic networks have attracted widespread interest owing to their potential applications in diverse fields including gas storage, separations, catalysis, and drug delivery. Despite recent advances, the synthesis of with large ordered mesochannels (>20 nm), which are important for loading, separating, releasing macromolecules, remains a challenge. Herein, we report templating strategy using sacrificial double cubic network polymer cubosomes (Im3̅m) synthesize mesoporous...
The most virulent of the human malaria parasites, Plasmodium falciparum, undergoes a remarkable morphological transformation as it prepares itself for sexual reproduction and transmission via mosquitoes. Indeed P. falciparum is named unique falciform or crescent shape mature stages. Once metamorphosis completed gametocyte releases from sequestration sites enters circulation making accessible to feeding Early ultrastructural studies showed that elongation driven by assembly system flattened...
The apical complex is the definitive cell structure of phylum Apicomplexa, and focus events host penetration establishment intracellular parasitism. Despite importance this structure, its molecular composition relatively poorly known few studies have experimentally tested functions. We characterized a novel Toxoplasma gondii protein, RNG2, that located at polar ring—the common structural element complexes. During division, RNG2 first recruited to centrosomes immediately after their...
Current first-line artemisinin antimalarials are threatened by the emergence of resistant Plasmodium falciparum. Decreased sensitivity is evident in initial (early ring) stage intraerythrocytic development, making it critical to understand action artemisinins at this stage. We examined roles iron and haem activation early rings using chelators a specific haemoglobinase inhibitor (E64d). Quantitative modelling antagonism accounted for its complex dependence on chemical features drug exposure...
Apicomplexan parasites possess a plastid organelle called the apicoplast. Inhibitors that selectively target apicoplast housekeeping functions, including DNA replication and protein translation, are lethal for parasite, several (doxycycline, clindamycin, azithromycin) in clinical use as antimalarials. A major limitation of such drugs is treated only arrest one intraerythrocytic development cycle (approximately 48 hours) after treatment commences, phenotype known 'delayed death' effect. The...
Human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP, or amylin) forms deposits in the islets of Langerhans, a phenomenon that is associated with type-2 diabetes impacting millions people worldwide. Accordingly, strategies against hIAPP aggregation are essential for prevention and eventual treatment disease. Here, it shown generation-3 OH-terminated poly(amidoamine) dendrimer, polymeric nanoparticle, can effectively halt shut down toxicity pancreatic MIN6 NIT-1 cells as well mouse islets. This finding...
The blood stage malaria parasite, the merozoite, has a small window of opportunity during which it must successfully target and invade human erythrocyte. process invasion is nonetheless remarkably rapid. To date, mechanistic models have focused predominantly on parasite actomyosin motor contribution to energetics entry. Here, we conducted numerical analysis using dimensions for an archetypal merozoite predict respective contributions host-parasite interactions invasion, in particular role...
Exosomes are promising disease diagnostic markers and drug delivery vehicles, although their use in practice is limited by insufficient homogeneous quantities that can be produced. We reveal exposing cells to high frequency acoustic irradiation stimulates generation without detriment cell viability exploiting innate membrane repair mechanism, wherein the enhanced recruitment of calcium ions from extracellular milieu into triggers an ESCRT pathway known orchestrate exosomal production. Given...
Chondrocytes and osteoblasts differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) will provide insights into skeletal development genetic disorders generate for regenerative medicine applications. Here, we describe a method that directs iPSC-derived sclerotome to chondroprogenitors in 3D pellet culture then articular chondrocytes or, alternatively, along the growth plate cartilage pathway become hypertrophic can transition osteoblasts. Osteogenic organoids deposit mineralize collagen I...
The interactions of the dermatan sulfate proteoglycans biglycan and decorin have been investigated with elastic fiber components, tropoelastin, fibrillin-containing microfibrils, microfibril-associated glycoproteins (MAGP) 1 2. Both were found to bind tropoelastin microfibrils but not MAGPs 2 in solid phase binding assays. specificity was confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation experiments blocking elastin-derived peptides. Isolated core proteins from bound more strongly than intact...
ABSTRACT Artermisinin and its derivatives are now the mainstays of antimalarial treatment; however, their mechanism action is only poorly understood. We report on synthesis a novel series epoxy-endoperoxides that can be prepared in high yields from simple starting materials. Endoperoxides disubstituted with alkyl or benzyl side chains show efficient inhibition growth both chloroquine-sensitive -resistant strains Plasmodium falciparum . A trans -epoxide respect to peroxide linkage increases...
Summary During the intra‐erythrocytic development of Plasmodium falciparum , parasite modifies host cell surface by exporting proteins that interact with or insert into erythrocyte membrane. These include principal mediator cytoadherence, P. membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1). To implement these changes, establishes a protein‐trafficking system beyond its confines. Membrane‐bound structures called Maurer's clefts are intermediate trafficking compartments for destined We disrupted gene...