Research Centre for Molecular Biology (RCMB)
Contents
About Us
The focus of the Centre is the use of molecular biology to study areas of importance to human health, agriculture and industry. The goals are to develop and maintain high quality, outside-funded research projects, to train graduate students, and to strengthen undergraduate teaching in this area. Molecular techniques are being used to investigate a range of biological aspects: from bone biology and homeostasis to auxin production in rice and microbial interactions. Microorganisms under study include the anaerobic bacterium Dichelobacter nodosus, which causes footrot in sheep, filamentous fungi from the genus Aspergillus, and the fungus Thielaviopsis basicola, which causes black root rot in plants, Azospirillum, plant growth promoting soil bacteria and both pathogens and probiotic species associated with lobster aquaculture.
Staff researchers
Ian Cassady
Margaret Katz
Heather M. Nonhebel
Lily Pereg (Chair)
Associated researchers:
David Backhouse
Joelle Coumans-Moens
Brian Cheetham (retired)
Available projects for research students
I. Cassady Laboratory
My research interests centre on gene regulation in bone-resorbing osteoclasts and the role of these cells more generally in bone biology and homeostasis. In particular the analysis of the Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase (TRAP) gene has led me to investigate osteoclasts as both a model of a specific differentiation program that can be generally informative of cellular differentiation by comparison with the related but distinctly different pattern of macrophage differentiation. Bone is a dynamic organ that not only provides structural support for the body but also acts a sink and source of calcium and inorganic phosphate to maintain serum mineral homeostasis. A precise balance is required between the bone synthetic activity of osteoblasts and the bone resorptive activity of osteoclasts. Dysregulation of either arm of these activities can result in bone diseases such as osteoporosis, a disease characterized by weak bones that afflicts a large number of the elderly. Osteoclasts occupy a central role in bone homeostasis because they are the principal effector cells of bone turnover and as such have been the target of therapeutic intervention. In spite of their importance, the biology of osteoclasts remains poorly understood. To address this deficiency I have established a number of projects either directly in this laboratory or by collaboration with other groups to focus on the following areas:
- Gene regulation during osteoclastogenesis;
- Comparative promoter analysis of osteoclast marker genes;
- Production of new tools to permit specific gene expression in osteoclasts with therapeutic objectives;
- Characterization of the functional role of TRAP in osteoclasts and in bone biology;
- Osteoclast and macrophage activity towards novel bone biomaterials.
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Figures from Current Research Top left: multinucleated osteoclasts stained for actin. |
The overarching aims of these approaches is to (i) identify the regulation of the osteoclast differentiation program; (ii) to determine the role of specific osteoclast gene products and their mode of action; (iii) to develop tools to utilize this knowledge in developing novel therapies for bone diseases.
M. Katz Laboratory
In the Katz laboratory, we have identified two new types of regulatory protein which play a role in the response to starvation and programmed cell death in fungi. We are studying the function of these proteins using a functional genomic approach. Some of the proteins may be useful as targets for anti-fungal drugs. This project involves the use of many different genetic, molecular biological and functional genomic techniques.
Potential projects include:
1) Identification of the DNA binding sites for regulatory proteins.
2) Isolation and genetic analysis of mutants that are altered in the programmed cell death pathway
3) Investigation of whether the putative regulatory proteins are required for virulence by creating a gene knockout in a fungal pathogen.
4) Insertion of a putative regulatory gene into an expression vector and purification of the protein.
5) Identification of proteins that interact with the new regulatory proteins.
6) Subcellular localisation of a regulatory protein using fluorescent tags.
7) Investigation of the role of the regulatory proteins in triggering programmed cell death.
Past Projects:
Footrot research programme (M. Katz). The aim of this programme is to investigate genes involved in the virulence of Dichelobacter nodosus, the anaerobic bacterium which causes footrot in sheep. This knowledge has been applied to the development of an improved diagnostic test for footrot, which has now been introduced by DPI, NSW.
Current Projects:
Aspergillus research programme (contact M. Katz). This project uses molecular genetics and functional genomics to study the production of enzymes (proteases) in response to starvation and during programmed cell death. These enzymes are important virulence determinants in fungal pathogens. Collaborators include Joan Kelly, University of Adelaide, and Matthias Brock, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology.
Botrytis research programme (contact M. Katz). Botrytis cinerea is being used as a model plant pathogen to test the role in pathogenicity of regulatory genes discovered in the Aspergillus programme.
H. Nonhebel Laboratory
The biochemistry of auxin metabolism and its relationship to yield of cereal crops.
Auxin was the first plant hormone to be discovered and plays a key role in yield-related aspects of plant/crop development including pollen development, grain-fill, tillering and root architecture. However despite at least 40 years of work, knowledge of the biosynthetic pathway and identification of genes controlling auxin production is incomplete. My group is investigating auxin synthesis and its role in regulating grain-fill in developing cereal grains. Most work to date has focussed on rice due to the availability of full genome sequence as well as cDNA clones. However we are now in a position to extend this work to wheat or sorghum.
Work carried out with previous students has measured a 200-fold increase in auxin concentration of rice grains from days 4-14 after pollination. The increase in hormone content correlated closely with the major starch deposition stage of grain development. In addition we have identified two grain-specific auxin synthesis genes whose expression appears to be responsible for the large increase in auxin. The grain specific “YUCCA” genes were found to be co-expressed with another auxin biosynthesis gene, previously proposed to be in separate biosynthetic pathway. We are currently working on the hypothesis that all three genes are involved in the same pathway.
Several projects are available to extend this work:
- The role of auxin transport and catabolism in regulating cereal grain-fill.
- Investigating the catalytic activity of YUCCA flavin monooxygenases and the relationship between YUCCA and tryptophan aminotransferase in auxin biosynthesis.
- The relationship between auxin and glucose signalling in developing cereal grains.
- The role of auxin and abscisic acid in mediating the response of developing grains to salt, drought and heat stress.
Students working on any of these projects will be eligible to apply for funding from GRDC http://www.grdc.com.au/director/apply/traveltrainingawards/Grains%20Industry%20Research%20Scholarships%20%28GRS%29
Past Projects:
- Are aldehyde oxidases of developing cereal grains involved in synthesis of auxin, abscisic acid or both?
- Do plants have an indole-3-pyruvate decarboxylase?
- Characterisation of the tryptamine pathway of auxin biosynthesis in developing rice grains
L. Pereg Laboratory
My research interests are in the area of microbial interactions with higher organisms and its regulation and span both terrestrial and marine environments.
Plant-microbe interactions
1) Molecular factors in the associations of the fungus Thielaviopsis basicola with plants, leading to Black Root Rot disease (CRDC/CCC-CRC funded project - prospects for Honours/PhD funding).
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Clamydospores of Thielaviopsis basicola (photo by S. Al-Jaaidi) |
Black root rot presents a substantial threat to crops, such as cotton, tobacco, pansy, red clover, carrots strawberries and cucumbers. The disease, caused by the fungal pathogen Thielaviopsis basicola, affects crops in Australia, especially in cooler areas and seasons. We are a group of scientists from UNE and other institutes working together to study different aspects of the fungal disease. We have made progress in the development of tools to study plant and fungal proteins as well as in the genetic manipulation of the fungal pathogen.
2) Signal Transduction Systems involved in Azospirillum-plant interactions
Bacterial survival depends upon constant monitoring of surrounding conditions and rapid adjustment to environmental changes. Azospirillum, an important genus of soil bacteria, is used as a model in the study of plant growth promotion. In A. brasilense the response-regulatory protein FlcA controls cell differentiation from vegetative into cyst forms and attachment to plant roots in response to environmental stimuli. It is involved in controlling the production of arabinose, a component of the extra-cellular polysaccharide layer surrounding the cell. The protein FlcA belongs to a family of two-component transcriptional regulators involved in signal transduction.
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Azospirillum brasilense on wheat root, site of lateral root emergence (photo by L. Pereg) |
The aim of the project is to study the effects of external and cellular signals on the expression and activity of FlcA and study the involvement of such factors in bacterial differentiation and in interactions with plants. Another aim is to study structural motives of the FlcA protein and their involvement in the process of signal transduction.
Marine Microbiology
1) Microbial probiotics in the aquaculture industry
Bacterial diseases are a major limiting factor in developing cultivation systems of ornate spiny lobster (Panulirus ornatus). Opportunistic pathogens cause infections as early as at the larval stages. A study at AIMS, in collaboration with the lobster industry, is aimed at identifying potential pathogens and biocontrol agents. At UNE, we look at finding probiotic bacterial species that may suppress the growth of the larval pathogen.
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GFP-tagged pathogen cells in larval gastrointestinal tract (photo by E. Goulden) |
Molecular tools are in used in analyzing the mechanisms involved in pathogen suppression by probiotic candidates.
2) Microbial distribution and microbial processes in the marine benthos and its relation to aquatic organism survival or diseases
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Coral reef (Photo by L. Pereg) |
The marine benthos includes any organisms and systems in the bottom of the sea. It may include corals, benthic algae, seagrasses, marine sediment and many organisms associating with these systems, such as benthic fish, crabs, shrimps, microorganisms, etc. Many microbial processes, such as the nitrogen cycle, are essential for survival of marine organisms, in particular in nutrient-poor systems.
Novel microbial diseases of reef-building corals have altered total abundance and species diversity in reef communities, causing serious environmental and heritage damages and affecting regional tourism industries. Associative microorganisms play vital role in the survival of some marine species. If you are interested in any of such marine microbial associations, whether pathogenic or beneficial, you may contact me to discuss a suitable project.
Introducing the centre’s associate researchers
Dr David Backhouse
David’s main research interests are in the ecology of soil fungi and in the epidemiology and management of plant diseases caused by soilborne fungi. David did my PhD on the biology of Botrytis species. This was followed by a postdoc at the University of Auckland working on biological control of onion white rot, and another postdoc at the University of Sydney working on the effects of farming practices on the health of wheat root systems. Since joining UNE in 1998 David has had funded research and supervised postgraduate projects on topics including:
Epidemiology and management of crown rot of wheat
Population genetics of Fusarium species from cereals
Effects of climate on the geographical distribution of fungi and plant diseases
Fungal-plant interactions in soilborne diseases
Biological control of soilborne diseases
Dr Joelle Coumans-Moens
My interest resides in the regulation of protein expression in response to external cues. Currently, my goal is to enhance short- and long-term plant disease management strategies through an understanding of cotton resistance mechanisms towards a soil-borne fungal pathogen Thielaviopsis basicola. We have found that cotton plants activate diverse defence responses following infection with T. basicola and we are currently investigating the possibility of triggering these responses through the application of plant defence elicitors. Defence can be induced through two regulatory pathways; the salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA)-dependent pathway. SA defence responses are often efficient against biotrophic pathogens, whereas the JA response is mostly effective against necrotrophic pathogens and insects. However, extensive cross-talk between the different signalling pathways is believed to fine-tune this inducible defence response leading to the most favourable response to the invader encountered. Using a proteomic approach, we anticipate identifying proteins expressed in cotton root following treatment with different elicitors providing a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which these elicitors protect plants against pathogens.
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Two-dimensional electrophoresis gel of proteins extracted from cotton root harvested after inoculation with Thielaviopsis basicola. Labelled proteins were found to be up-regulated following inoculation with the fungi. |
Farewell to Associate Professor Brian Cheetham
Associate Professor Brian Cheetham retired from UNE and from chairing the Research Centre in 2010. A/Prof Cheetham, a molecular microbiologist, had active research programs in the molecular bacteriology of Dichelobacter nodosus, gene regulation in Aspergillus nidulans and the use of molecular methods for the diagnosis of Marek’s disease in chickens. He was leading a successful research program at UNE, focusing on footrot in sheep, which is caused by infection of the hooves with the anaerobic bacterium Dichlobacter nodosus, pictured below.
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Dichelobacter nodosus cells seen under the microscope |
The studies on DNA sequences found in virulent strains of D. nodosus, but absent from benign strains, led them to demonstrate that the vap region of the D. nodosus genome arose by the integration of a genetic element into a tRNA gene in the chromosome.
This work was published in 1995 (Gene 162:53-58) and attracted international attention, with an invitation to write a review for the leading journal in this field, Molecular Microbiology (Cheetham, B.F. and Katz, M.E., 1995, Mol. Microbiol. 18: 201-20). At about this time, it was discovered that, in several different bacteria, genes associated with virulence were located on genetic elements integrated into tRNA genes, and the concept of “Pathogenicity Islands” was proposed. They were subsequently invited to present their work at the 12 European Meeting on Bacterial Gene Transfer and Expression, in Siena, Italy, September, 1996, and to write a chapter for a book on Pathogenicity Islands and Other Mobile Virulence Elements (Publications, 1). The Molecular Microbiology review was cited 122 times in the period 1997-2004 (Science Citation Index). One aspect of the work was adapted for the improved diagnosis of footrot, and they have then filed a full patent application, and have received substantial industry funding to evaluate their new diagnostic test for which accreditation had been sought from SCAHLS in 2005/2006.
In the area of gene regulation in Aspergillus nidulans, A/Prof Cheetham had used his molecular biology expertise to contribute to a substantial number of publications concerning the regulation of protease gene expression in Aspergillus nidulans and the molecular characterisation of isolates of Aspergillus fumigatus. The latter work has explored methods for the diagnosis of aspergillosis in ostriches and has proposed the existence of new species of the genus Aspergillus. A/Prof Cheetham also joined a team working on Marek’s disease infection of chickens, and had contributed to the development of new diagnostic methods using real-time PCR, and to the development of methods for measuring viral load in poultry dust.
A/Prof Cheetham is currently happy with going back to his long-term hobby; agriculture. We see the products of his magnificent garden in our tea-room year round. We wish him all the best for the future.
Postgraduate students supervised by RCMB members
Past PhD Students (year PhD awarded-from 2006)
- Lisa Kidd (2008) Investigation of activated remodelling in the healing of experimental stress fractures and the influence of anti-inflammatory treatments (Cassady)
- Simon Smart (2008) Carbon nanotube/thermoplastic polyurethane nanocomposites (Cassady)
- Eleanor Leung (2008) Structure-function relationships in metal dependent enzymes (Cassady)
- Arjuna Kumarasuriyar (2007) Exploring novel bioactive bone repair strategies (Cassady)
- Andy Wu (2007) In vitro and in vivo characterization of cellular responses to PHBV and hydroxyapatite/PHBV composites as bone biomaterials (Cassady)
- Nicholas Meadows (2006) The role of microphthalmia transcription factor (Mitf) in osteoclast gene regulation (Cassady)
- Kapil Chousalkar (2008) Effects of infectious bronchitis virus on the oviduct of laying hens (Roberts/Walkden-Brown/Cheetham)
- Katrin Renz (2008) In vitro and in vivo characterization of selected Australian isolates of Marek's disease virus (Wlakden-Brown/Islam/ Cheetham)
- Suresh Kumar (2007) Molecular analysis of the role of polynucleotide phosphorylase in the virulence of Dichelobacter nodosus (Cheetham /Katz)
- Aminul Islam (2006) Molecular detection and quantitative surveillance of Marek's disease viruses in broiler chickens and their environment (Walkden-Brown/Cheetham)
- Elizabeth Farrell (2008) The biological and genetic variation amongst 25 Australian isolates of the nematophagous fungus Duddingtonia flagrans (Katz/Knox)
- Yousef Abu Zaitoon (2010) Characterisation of the tryptamine pathway of auxin biosynthesis in developing rice grains (Nonhebel)
- Siamak Rahmanpour, 2008 (Nonhebel/Backhouse)
- Steve Dalton (2010) Stressors of Eastern Australian subtropical corals: Australian subtropical white syndrome and coral bleaching (Pereg)
- Xingsheng Hou (2009) FlcA regulation of metabolism and stress response in Azospirillum brasilense Sp7 (Pereg)
- Jason Moulynox (2009) Biocontrol agents for managing black root rot in Australian cotton (Pereg)
- Amar Padney (2009) Microbiological and molecular factors involved in the interactions of disease suppressive bacteria Pantoea, Exigubacterium and Microbacterium with wheat (Backhouse/Pereg)
- Scott Godwin (2008) The Pathology and Bacterial Ecology of Subtropical White Syndrome: A Disease of Scleractinian Corals in Subtropical Eastern Australia (Pereg)
- Samiya Al-Jaaidi (2007) Transformation of Thielaviopsis basicola to study host-pathogen interactions (Pereg/Katz/Backhouse)
Current PhD Students
- Aimee Grant, Investigation of methods for non-viral transformation of bovine cells to induce pluripotency (Cassady)
- João Fidalgo, Characterization of the Role of Peroxisome Proliferator Activator Receptor (PPAR)-Delta in Osteoclast Biology (Cassady)
- Salih Wajid (Katz/Walkden-Brown/Renz)
- Evan Goulden, Potential use of probiotics in ornate spiny lobster (Panulirus ornatus) larviculture (Pereg)
- Getachew Mohammed Ali, Genetic factors involved in the pathogenicity of Thielaviopsis basicola towards cotton (Pereg/Katz/Backhouse)
- Blkeas Jawad, Molecular Factors Involved in Pathogen Suppression by probiotic Bacteria (Pereg)
- Ganisan Krishnen, Molecular interactions between plant growth promoting organisms and rice, submitted (Pereg with USYD)
- Khanok-on Amprayn, Quantifying plant response to plant-growth promoting (PGP) organisms (Pereg with USYD)
Current Honours Students
- Rebecca Buckland (Katz)
- Sarah Cooper (Katz)
- Karina Bennet (Nonhebel)
- Robert Gentile, Fungal genetic transformation (Pereg)
Publications by RCMB members (last five years)
Book Chapters
Cheetham, B.F., Whittle, G., Ting, M., and Katz, M.E. (2010) Interactions between bacteriophage DinoHI and a network of integrated elements which control virulence in Dichelobacter nodosus, the causative agent of ovine footrot. In: Biocommunication of soil bacteria. Soil Biology Vol. 23. Witzany, G., Ed, Springer Publishing, New York, NY, Chapter 9, pp. 237-253.
Dalton, S. J., Harrison, M., Carroll, A. G., Smith, S. D. A., and Pereg, L. (2010). Spatial and temporal patterns of Australian subtropical white syndrome at eastern Australian reefs: host range, prevalence and progression of tissue necrosis. In 'Emerging infectious diseases: global trends, surveillance and eradication' (Ed. F. Columbus). Nova Science Publishers Inc: New York.
Katz, M.E. and Kelly, J.M. (2010) Glucose. In: Cellular and Molecular Biology of Filamentous Fungi. Borkovich, K. and Ebbole, D., Eds, American Society for Microbiology Press, Herndon, VA, Chapter 21, pp. 291-311.
Katz, M.E. and Cheetham, B.F. (2009) Isolation of nucleic acids from filamentous fungi. In: Handbook of Nucleic Acid Purification, Liu, D., Ed., CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, Chapter 10, pp. 189-207
Refereed Journal Articles
Coumans J.V.F., Harvey J., Backhouse D.,Poljak A., Raftery M.J., Nehl D., Katz M.E., Pereg L. Proteomic assessment of host-associated microevolution in the fungus Thielaviopsis basicola, Environmental Microbiology, published on-line in advance of print, DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2010.02358.x.
Nonhebel, H.,Yuan, Y., Al-Amier, H., Pieck, M., Akor, E., Ahamed, A., Cohen, J. D., Celenza, J. L., Normanly, J. (2011) Redirection of tryptophan metabolism in tobacco by ectopic expression of an Arabidopsis indolic glucosinolate biosynthetic gene. Phytochemistry 72:37-48.
Coumans, P. D. J. Moens, A. Poljak, L. Pereg and M. J. Raftery (2010). Plant extract induced changes in the proteome of the soilborne pathogenic fungus Thielaviopsis basicola. Molecular and Cellular Proteomics, 10:1573-1591.
Endo-Munoz L, Cumming A, Rickwood D, Wilson D, Cueva C, Ng C, Strutton G, Cassady AI, Evdokiou A, Sommerville S, Dickinson I, Guminski A & Saunders NA. (2010) Loss of osteoclasts contributes to development of osteosarcoma pulmonary metastases. Cancer Research. 15:7063-7072.
Dalton, S. J., Godwin, S., Smith, S. D. A., and Pereg, L. (2010). Australian subtropical white syndrome: A transmissible, temperature-dependent coral disease. Marine and Freshwater Research, 61:342-350.
Rahmanpour, S., Backhouse, D., & Nonhebel, H. M. (2010). Reaction of glucosinolate-myrosinase defence system in Brassica plants to pathogenicity factor of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. European Journal of Plant Pathology, 128(4), 429-433.
Palanisamy, S. K.A., Fletcher, C., Tanjung, L., Katz, M.E., and Cheetham, B.F. (2010) Deletion of the C-terminus of polynucleotide phosphorylase increases twitching motility, a virulence characteristic of the anaerobic bacterial pathogen Dichelobacter nodosus. FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 302: 39-45.
Coumans, A. Poljak, M.J. Raftery, D. Backhouse and L. Pereg-Gerk (2009) Analysis of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) root proteomes during a compatible interaction with the black root rot fungus Thielaviopsis basicola. Proteomics 9(2): 335-349.
Way K, Dinh H, Keene M, White K, Clanchy F, Lusby P, Roiniotis J, Cook A, Cassady AI, Curtis D & Hamilton J. (2009) The generation and properties of human macrophage populations from hemopoietic stem cells. Journal of Leukocyte Biology. 85:766-778.
Wu CKA, Pettit, AR., Toulson, S, Mackie EJ, Grøndahl L & Cassady AI. (2009) Analysis of in vivo responses to purified PHBV implanted in a murine tibial defect. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A. 91:845-854.
Rahmanpour, S., Backhouse, D., & Nonhebel, H. M. (2009). Induced tolerance of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum to isothiocyanates and toxic volatiles from Brassica species. Plant Pathology, 58(3), 479-486.
Katz, M.E., Evans, C.J., Heagney, E.E., vanKuyk, P.A., Kelly, J.M., and Cheetham, B.F. (2009) Mutations in genes encoding sorting nexins alter production of intracellular and extracellular proteases in Aspergillus nidulans. Genetics 181: 1239-1247.
Tanjung, L.R., Whittle, G., Shaw, B.E., Bloomfield, G.A., Katz, M.E. and Cheetham, B.F. (2009). The intD mobile genetic element from Dichelobacter nodosus, the causative agent of ovine footrot, is associated with the benign phenotype. Anaerobe 15: 219-224.
Lång P, van Harmelen V, Rydén M, Kaaman, M, Carneheim C, Cassady AI, Hume DA, Andersson G & Arner P. (2008) Macrophages promote adipogenesis and obesity through secretion of monomeric tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP). Plos One. 3(3):e1713.
Ripoll VM, Meadows NM, Raggatt LJ, Chang MK, Cassady AI & Hume DA. (2008) Microphthalmia Transcription Factor Regulates the Expression of the Novel Osteoclast Factor GPNMB. Gene. 413:32-41.
Hadler KS, Huber T, Cassady AI, Weber JE, Robinson J, Burrows A, Guddat LW, Hume D, Schenk, G & Flanagan J. (2008) Identification of a putative non-purple binuclear metalloesterase distantly related to plant purple acid phosphatases. BMC Research Notes. 1:78.
Katz, M. E., S. M. Bernardo, and B. F. Cheetham. (2008) The interaction of induction, repression and starvation in the regulation of extracellular proteases in Aspergillus nidulans: evidence for a role for CreA in the response to carbon starvation. Current Genetics 54: 47-55.
Cheetham, B.F., Parker, D., Bloomfield, G.A., Shaw, B.E., Sutherland, M., Hyman, J.A., Druitt, J., Kennan, R.M., Rood, J.I. and Katz, M.E. (2008). Isolation of the bacteriophage DinoHI from Dichelobacter nodosus and its interactions with other integrated genetic elements. Open Microbiol. J. 2:1-9.
Cool SM, Kenny B, Wu A, Nurcombe V, Trau M, Cassady AI & Grøndahl L. (2007) Composite biomaterials for bone tissue regeneration: In vitro performance assessed by osteoblast proliferation, osteoclast adhesion and resorption and macrophage pro-inflammatory response. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A. 82:599-610.
Meadows N, Sharma SM, Faulkner G, Ostrowski MC, Hume DA & Cassady AI. (2007) The expression of chloride channel 7 (CLCN7) and ostm1 in osteoclasts is co-regulated by microphthalmia transcription factor. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 282:1891–1904.
Bernardo, S.M.H., Gray, K.A., Todd, R.B., Cheetham, B.F. and Katz, M.E. (2007) Characterization of regulatory non-catalytic hexokinases in Aspergillus nidulans, Molec. Genet. Genomics 277: 519-532.
Katz, M.E., Gray, K.-A, and Cheetham, B.F. (2006) The Aspergillus nidulans xprG (phoG) gene encodes a putative transcriptional activator involved in the response to nutrient limitation. Fungal Genet. Biol., 43: 190-199.
Cheetham, B.F., Tanjung, L.R., Sutherland, M., Druitt, J., Green, G., McFarlane, J., Bailey, G.D., Seaman J.T, and Katz, M.E. (2006). Improved diagnosis of virulent ovine footrot using the intA gene. Vet. Microbiol., 116:166-174.
Flanagan JU, Cassady AI, Schenk G, Guddat LW & Hume DA. (2006) Identification and molecular modeling of a novel, plant-like, human purple acid phosphatase. Gene. 377:12-20.
Sharma SM, Hu R, Bronisz A, Meadows N, Lusby P, Fletcher B, Hume DA, Cassady AI, & Ostrowski MC. (2006) Genetics and Genomics of Osteoclast Differentiation: Integrating Cell Signaling Pathways and Gene Networks. Critical Reviews in Eukaryotic Gene Expression. 16:253-278.
Wu ACK, Grøndahl L, Jack KS, Foo MX, Trau M, Hume DA & Cassady AI. (2006) Reduction of the in vitro pro-inflammatory response by macrophages to poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate). Biomaterials. 27:4715-4725.
Grants (only external grants listed)
Pereg-Gerk, L., Backhouse, D., Katz, M., Nehl, D and Driessen, S. (2007-2011) Linking cotton-pathogen molecular interactions and black root rot management. Cotton Research and Development Corp. $476,405.
Cheetham, B.F. and Katz, M.E. (2005-2008) Commercialisation of improved footrot diagnosis. Australian Wool Innovation, $441,161.
Pereg-Gerk, L., Backhouse, D, Katz, M. and Nehl, D.. (2004-2007) Molecular Factors determining Thielaviopsis basicola-cotton interactions leading to Black Root Rot disease. Cotton Research and Development Corp. $181,119
Forwood MR & Cassady AI. (2004-2006) Investigation of COX-2 regulation of bone turnover and mechanically induced bone formation by genetic overexpression in mice. NHMRC $432,500.
Cassady AI. (2005) Biocompatibility assessment of libraries of oral drug candidates capable of regulating osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Bone Medical Ltd. $88,000.
Contact us
For all general inquiries contact:
Dr. Lily Pereg lily.pereg@une.edu.au (02) 6773 2708
Contact information on specific projects:
Dr. Ian Cassady, acassady@une.edu.au (02) 6773 3394
Associate Professor Margaret Katz, mkatz@une.edu.au (02) 6773 3016
Dr. Heather M. Nonhebel, hnonheb2@une.edu.au 02 6773 2083
Dr. Lily Pereg lily.pereg@une.edu.au (02) 67732708
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