biological sciences HONOURs 2014 - The University of Sydney

More documents

Recommendations

Info

36 PLANT CELL BIOLOGY Research Interests My research in plant cell biology focuses on the plant cytoskeleton and plasmodesmata, the channels responsible for intercellular communication. Plasmodesmata transport water, minerals, metabolites, transcription factors and RNAs throughout plants. We are trying to understand the details of transport through plasmodesmata, what molecular interactions are involved, how is it regulated, what pathway it takes and how viral “movement proteins” modify it. We use highresolution microscopy, immuno-cytochemistry, expression of fluorescently tagged proteins and micro-injection. The plant cytoskeleton is involved in targeting and transport of components within cells, cell division and directing cell wall deposition to generate plant cell shape. We are studying the role of the cytoskeleton in intercellular transport and in the generation of plant cell shape, such as in the jig-saw shaped “pavement” cells found in the epidermis of some leaves. Honours projects I develop a project topic in collaboration with potential Honours student so that it can be tailored to their particular strengths and interests. Please feel free to contact me for a chat. Professor Robyn Overall Room 510, Carslaw Building F07 T: (02) 9351 2848 E: robyn.overall@sydney. edu.au 1. Building a functional model of plasmodesma macro-molecular architecture. This project aims to develop a 3D model of the structure of plasmodesmata with the molecular identity of the structures identified. To generate an accurate image of the structure, the project will use electron tomography of material prepared by high-pressure freeze-substitution. 2. Modification of plasmodesmata by viruses. Plant viruses hijack plasmodesmata to move throughout the plant. In collaboration with Peter Waterhouse’s lab, we have recently identified a marker for the precise timing of the very first entrance of the virus into uninfected cells. This project aims to exploit this indicator to identify if the virus modifies the structure of plasmodesmata as it moves through them. It will image live tissue in which the invading virus and this indicator are fluorescently tagged and electron microscopy to see if there are changes in structure at high resolution. 3. High-resolution imaging of the cytoskeleton and cell wall in pavement cells. Microtubules, a component of the cytoskeleton, play an important role in the development of the complex jigsaw shape of pavement cells. This project will use high resolution scanning electron microscopy to investigate the microtubules by imaging the orientation of the most recently deposited cellulose microfibrils in these pavement cells and to determine the effect of disrupting the microtubules on the microfibril orientation and plant cell shape.
NUTRITION, INFECTION AND HOST-FITNESS 37 Research Interests I am a parasitologist. Upon joining Professor Stephen Simpson’s laboratory in 2007, I developed a new axis of research that aimed to describe the network of interactions that defines the relationships between nutrition, infection and host fitness. Using a multidicsciplinary approach (from behavioural assays to molecular biology), I focus my research on better understanding the links between nutrition, gut microbiota, disease and immunity in insects to provide a more comprehensive and robust understanding of the key determinants of the outcome of host–pathogen interactions. Honours projects 1. Nutrition and the innate immune system. How diet affects the expression of innate immune genes. 2. Nutrition and viruses. How diet affects susceptibility to viral infections 3. Nutrition and the composition of the gut microbiota. Links and relationships between dietary macronutrients and the composition of the gut microbiota. Dr Fleur Ponton Room 322, Heydon- Laurence Building A08 T: (02) 9036 6262 E: fleur.ponton@sydney. edu.au
Page 1 and 2: iological sciences HONOURs 2014 sci
Page 3 and 4: BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES Honours Coordin
Page 5 and 6: Why do Honours? 5 Flesh fly by Jess
Page 7 and 8: When does Honours begin? 7 You can
Page 9 and 10: 9 How do I apply? Photo courtesy Di
Page 11 and 12: 11 27 Eddie Holmes Evolutionary gen
Page 13 and 14: BEHAVIOUR AND GENETICS OF SOCIAL IN
Page 15 and 16: REGULATION OF PLANT DEVELOPMENT 15
Page 17 and 18: NUTRIENT BALANCING AND LOCUST PHYSI
Page 19 and 20: TERRESTRIAL ECOLOGY 19 Research Int
Page 21 and 22: MOLECULAR GENETICS 21 Research Inte
Page 23 and 24: PLANT SYSTEMATICS 23 Research Inter
Page 25: ECOLOGY OF TERRESTRIAL ARTHROPODS 2
Page 28 and 29: 28 GROUP BEHAVIOUR AND SWARM INTELL
Page 30 and 31: 30 MICROBIAL ECOLOGY Research Inter
Page 32 and 33: 32 ANIMAL-PLANT INTERACTIONS Resear
Page 34: 34 REPTILE EVOLUTION AND BEHAVIOURA
Page 39: EVOLUTIONARY AND ECOLOGICAL PHYSIOL
Page 42 and 43: 42 PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY Research
Page 44 and 45: 44 URBAN ECOLOGY AND BIODIVERSITY E
Page 46 and 47: 46 ANIMAL DEVELOPMENT AND STRESS Re
Page 48 and 49: 48 PLANT AND ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIon Res
Page 50 and 51: 50 CARNIVORE ECOLOGY, EVOLUTION AND
Page 52: School of Biological Sciences T +61

biological sciences HONOURs 2014 - The University of Sydney

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?