A5078336817- Biofuel production and bioconversion
- Microbial Metabolic Engineering and Bioproduction
- Advanced Cellulose Research Studies
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Enzyme Catalysis and Immobilization
- Insect Pest Control Strategies
- Lipid metabolism and biosynthesis
- Silk-based biomaterials and applications
- Proteins in Food Systems
- Biochemical and Structural Characterization
- Plant biochemistry and biosynthesis
- Catalysis for Biomass Conversion
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
- Enzyme function and inhibition
- Food composition and properties
- Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
- Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities
- Supramolecular Self-Assembly in Materials
- Pharmacogenetics and Drug Metabolism
- Microbial metabolism and enzyme function
- Fermentation and Sensory Analysis
- Electrospun Nanofibers in Biomedical Applications
Monash University
2016-2025
Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute
2018-2023
Institute of Chemical Engineering
2019
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
2006-2015
ACT Government
2006-2015
Ecosystem Sciences
2012-2015
Materials Science & Engineering
2008
Australian National University
2007
RMIT University
1993-2000
The University of Adelaide
1994
Lentils and mungbean proteins are under-researched compared to pea soybean. (green, red black-lentils), yellow protein isolates were obtained by alkaline extraction (pH 9)-isoelectric precipitation 4.5) investigated for molecular higher-order structures using complementary novel approaches. These extracted showed comparable content but significantly greater nitrogen solubility index (NSI > 85 %) than commercial soy < 60 %). Based on weight estimations from sodium dodecyl...
The molecular structure and conformation of the plant-based proteins dominate their gelation behaviour. These aspects have been mostly overlooked for underutilised pulse such as lentils mungbean that differ structurally with soy pea proteins. Rheological textural properties heat-induced gels (LPIs) (green, red black lentils), (MBPI) yellow (YPPI) were compared commercial (CSPI) (CPPI) protein isolates. On investigation dynamic rheological parameters, critical concentration (CPC) MBPI was...
Abstract Enzymes expressed by highly salt-tolerant organisms show many modifications compared with salt-affected counterparts including biased amino acid and lower α-helix content, solvent accessibility negative surface charge. Here, we that halotolerance can be generated in an enzyme solely modifying residues. Rational design of carbonic anhydrase II is undertaken three stages replacing 18 residues total, crystal structures confirm changes are confined to Catalytic activities thermal...
The waning pipeline of the useful antibacterial arsenal has necessitated urgent development more effective strategies with distinct mechanisms to rival continuing emergence resistant pathogens, particularly Gram-negative bacteria, due their explicit drug-impermeable, two-membrane-sandwiched cell wall envelope. Herein, we have developed multicomponent coassembled nanoparticles strong bactericidal activity and simultaneous bacterial envelope targeting using a peptide coassembly strategy....
Silks are strong protein fibers produced by a broad array of spiders and insects. The vast majority known silks large, repetitive proteins assembled into extended β-sheet structures. Honeybees, however, have found radically different evolutionary solution to the need for building material. 4 fibrous honeybee silk small (∼30 kDa each) nonrepetitive adopt coiled coil structure. We examined from 3 superfamilies Aculeata (Hymenoptera: Apocrita) infrared spectroscopy structure in bees (Apoidea)...
Abstract Levulinic acid (LA) was used as a catalyst for the first time to produce 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (5‐HMF) and furfural (FAL) from pinewood eucalyptus sawdust in mono‐ or biphasic solvent system. 2‐Methyltetrahydrofuran co‐solvent with water different ratios temperatures (140–200 °C). Highest yields of 5‐HMF FAL were obtained at 180 °C 2 h reaction time; however, 160 °C, high C 6 5 sugars obtained. Both hydrolysis dehydration steps accelerated MTHF/water system compared pure aqueous...
Enzyme-based processes have shown promise as a sustainable alternative to amine-based for carbon dioxide capture. In this work, we engineered carbonic anhydrase nanoparticles that retain 98% of hydratase activity in comparison their free counterparts. Carbonic was fused with self-assembling peptide facilitates the noncovalent assembly particle and together were recombinantly expressed from single gene construct Escherichia coli. The purified enzymes, when subjected reduced pH, form 50–200 nm...
Hydration, a crucial preliminary stage of dried bean processing is mostly performed as slow, batch-wise process. Here we investigated the effect thermal and pulsed electric field (PEF)-assisted hydration two common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) on behaviour, mass loss leaching bioactive components. Beans were hydrated in media either using process (30–80 °C, 10 °C intervals) until equilibrium moisture content (EMC) was reached or to 40 g/100 g dry basis at 45 then PEF-treated an intensity 4...
Cycloalkanes have broad applications as specialty fuels, lubricants, and pharmaceuticals but are not currently available from renewable sources, whereas, production of microbial cycloalkanes such cyclopropane fatty acids (CFA) has bottlenecks. Here, a systematic investigation was undertaken into the biosynthesis CFA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae heterologously expressing bacterial synthase. The enzyme catalyzes formation 3-membered ring unsaturated acids. Monounsaturated phospholipids (PL)...
The pupal cocoon of the domesticated silk moth Bombyx mori is best known and most extensively studied insect silk. It not widely that Apis mellifera larvae also produce We have used a combination genomic proteomic techniques to identify four honey bee fiber genes (AmelFibroin1-4) two silk-associated (AmelSA1 2). are small, comprise single exon each, clustered on short region where open reading frames GC-rich amid low GC intergenic regions. encode similar proteins highly helical predicted...
We report the first isolation and characterization of insect fatty acid Delta12-desaturase genes, AdD12Des from house cricket (Acheta domesticus) TcD12Des red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum), responsible for production linoleic oleic acid. Sequence analysis shows genes have evolved independently all previously known Delta12-desaturases are much more closely related to archetypal stearoyl-Coenzyme A-acting desaturase rat than phospholipid-acting widely reported in plants. Phylogenetic...
Biodiesel is a valuable renewable fuel made from derivatized fatty acids produced in plants, animals, and oleaginous microbes. Of the latter, yeasts are of special interest due to their wide use biotechnology, ability synthesize store large amounts triacylglycerols while utilizing non-food carbon sources. While yeast efficiently produce lipids, genetic modification indeed, lipid pathway metabolic engineering, usually required for cost-effective production. Traditionally, gas chromatography...