Primary research interest

Molecular genetics of gene expression and development

About me

I was a Postdoctoral Fellow and a Research Fellow at ANU, and then a Higher Scientific Officer in The Sainsbury Laboratory, John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK. I was appointed to a senior lectureship at the University of Queensland in 1993, initially in School of Land & Food Sciences, and then relocated my lab to School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences in 1997.

Research focus and collaborations

My laboratory focuses on using plants as model genetic organisms. The research themes of my laboratory are the role of RNA interference and epigenetics in regulation of gene expression, and plant development. We are particularly interested in genes involved in intercellular RNA signaling, and how these affect plant development and plant defence against viruses and transposons. We are also investigating in the role of intron splicing in regulation of gene silencing and gene expression, and the role of epigenetics in pollen development. Most recently, we have designed and optimised protein-coated nanoparticles for active uptake and systemic expression of synthetic mRNA and plasmid-encoded genes in plants.

Projects and patents

Funded projects

  • ARC Discovery Project 2025-2027, Nanoclay delivered mobile RNA for plant gene editing and crop improvement, B Carroll, L Li, N Mitter, A Sawyer, C Brosnan, A Eamens, ZP Xu, F Kragler, Total value of grant: $653,891
  • ARC Research Hub for Sustainable Crop Protection 2020-2024. N Mitter, ZP Xu, M Pointon, A Ashworth, R Ford, B Carroll et al., Total value of grant: $4,787,259
  • ARC Discovery Project 2019-2021, Clay nanoparticle-facilitated RNAi for non-transgenic modification of crops, ZP Xu, B Carroll, N Mitter, Total value of grant: $450,000
  • ARC Discovery Project 2015-2017, Systematic gene silencing in Arabdiposis and relevance to plant biology, B Carroll, K Kazan, D Jackson, Total value of grant: $355,100
  • Queensland Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry 2013-2017, Transforming subtropical/tropical tree crop productivity, J Wilkie et al., Total value of grant: $1,570,656
  • DIISR AISRF Grand Challenge Program 2012-2016, Crop plants which remove their own major biotic constraints, P Bhalla, D Russell, M Singh, C Robin, J Golz, O Edwards, B Carroll, Total value of grant: $2,930,000
  • ARC- Linkage Project 2013-2015, Strength in uniformity - novel clonal technologies for a more productive avocado industry, N Mitter, C Beveridge, B Carroll, Total value of grant: $626,370
  • ARC Discovery Project 2002-2014, Intron splicing regulates gene silencing in Arabidopsis, B Carroll, S Sureshkumar, Total value of grant: $340,000
  • DIISR AISRF Bio-technology Fund 2011-2014, Discovery and manipulation of microRNAs involved in high temperature tolerance in crop plants, B. Carroll, S. Balasubramanian, N. Mitter, Total value of grant: $300,000
  • ARC Discovery Project 2009-2011, Genetic and molecular analysis of long-distance gene silencing in Arabidopsis, B Carroll, Total value of grant: $240,000
  • ARC Linkage Project 2008-2010, Understanding and avoiding transgene silencing in sugarcane, R Birch, M Graham, B Carroll, D Schlebs, P Collins, Total value of Grant: $900,000

Patents

  • Xu, Z.P., Carroll, B., Yong, J., Mitter, N., Xu, W. (2024) Protein coated LDH nanoparticles as nanocarriers in plants. PCT patent PAT-02466-WO-01.
  • Kragler, F., Kadam, U. and Carroll B. (2021) CircRNAs for gene silencing. European patent EP21175600.
  • Carroll, B., Harrison, D. and Aung, H. (2003) Detection of DNA methylation. World patent no. WO 03/025215.
  • Carroll, B. (1999) Phenotype modifying genetic sequences. World patent no. WO09963068.
  • Carroll, B., McNeil, D. and Gresshoff, P. (1985) Supernodulating soybeans. US patent application no. 618639, Republic of Argentina patent application no. 300.612 and Peoples Republic of China patent application no. 85106041.

Student supervision

  • PhD: Principal Advisor 2; Associate Advisor 4
  • MPhil: Principal Advisor 1

Teaching interests

  • Molecular Genetics, Molecular Technologies and Biotechnology

Achievements and awards

  • Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship (1998)

Featured publications

  • Yong, Jiaxi, Xu, Wang, Wu, Miaomiao, Zhang, Run, Mann, Christopher W. G., Liu, Guoquan, Brosnan, Christopher A., Mitter, Neena, Carroll, Bernard J. (joint corresponding author) and Xu, Zhi Ping (2025). Lysozyme-coated nanoparticles for active uptake and delivery of synthetic RNA and plasmid-encoded genes in plants. Nature Plants 11 (1) e2106945 131-144. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-024-01882-x.
  • Yong, Jiaxi, Wu, Miaomiao, Zhang, Run, Bi, Shengnan, Mann, Christopher W. G., Mitter, Neena, Carroll, Bernard J. (joint corresponding author), and Xu, Zhi Ping (2022). Clay nanoparticles efficiently deliver small interfering RNA to intact plant leaf cells. Plant Physiology 190 (4) 2187-2202. https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiac430. 
  • Yong, Jiaxi, Zhang, Run, Bi, Shengnan, Li, Peng, Sun, Luyao, Mitter, Neena, Carroll, Bernard J (joint senior author), and Xu, Zhi Ping (2021). Sheet-like clay nanoparticles deliver RNA into developing pollen to efficiently silence a target gene. Plant Physiology 187 (2) 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiab303
  • Butel, Nicolas, Yu, Agnès, Le Masson, Ivan, Borges, Filipe, Elmayan, Taline, Taochy, Christelle, Gursanscky, Nial R., Cao, Jiangling, Bi, Shengnan, Sawyer, Anne, Carroll, Bernard J. (joint corresponding author), and Vaucheret, Hervé (2021). Contrasting epigenetic control of transgenes and endogenous genes promotes post-transcriptional transgene silencing in Arabidopsis. Nature Communications 12 (1) 2787 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-22995-3
  • Lee, Chin Hong, Hawker, Nathaniel P., Peters, Jonathan R., Lonhienne, Thierry G. A., Gursanscky, Nial R., Matthew, Louisa, Brosnan, Christopher A., Mann, Christopher W. G., Cromer, Laurence, Taochy, Christelle, Ngo, Quy A., Sundaresan, Venkatesan, Schenk, Peer M., Kobe, Bostjan, Borges, Filipe, Mercier, Raphael, Bowman, John L., and Carroll, Bernard J. (2021). Defective embryo and meristems genes are required for cell division and gamete viability in Arabidopsis. PL o S Genetics 17 (5) e1009561 1-31. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1009561
  • Eimer, Hannes, Sureshkumar, Sridevi, Singh Yadav, Avilash, Kraupner-Taylor, Calvin, Bandaranayake, Champa, Seleznev, Andrei, Thomason, Tamblyn, Fletcher, Stephen J., Gordon, Stephanie Frances, Carroll, Bernard J., and Balasubramanian, Sureshkumar (2018). RNA-dependent epigenetic silencing directs transcriptional downregulation caused by intronic repeat expansions. Cell 174 (5) 1095-1105.e11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2018.06.044
  • Taochy, Christelle, Gursanscky, Nial R., Cao, Jiangling, Fletcher, Stephen J., Dressel, Uwe, Mitter, Neena, Tucker, Matthew R., Koltunow, Anna M G., Bowman, John L., Vaucheret, Hervé, and Carroll, Bernard J. (2017). A Genetic Screen for Impaired Systemic RNAi Highlights the Crucial Role of DICER-LIKE 2. Plant Physiology 175 (3) 1424-1437. https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.17.01181. 
  • Mitter, Neena, Worrall, Elizabeth A., Robinson, Karl E., Li, Peng, Jain, Ritesh G., Taochy, Christelle, Fletcher, Stephen J., Carroll, Bernard J., Lu, G. Q. (Max), and Xu, Zhi Ping (2017). Clay nanosheets for topical delivery of RNAi for sustained protection against plant viruses. Nature Plants 3 (2) 16207 16207.1-16207.10. https://doi.org/10.1038/nplants.2016.207
  • Paungfoo-Lonhienne, C., Lonhienne, T.G.A,, Rentsch, D., Robinson, N., Christie, M., Webb, R.I., Gamage, H. K., Carroll, B. J., Schenk, P. M.P., and Schmidt, Susanne (last 3 authors contributed equally) (2008). Plants can use protein as a nitrogen source without assistance from other organisms. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 105 (11) 4524-4529. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0712078105
  • Searle, Iain R., Men, Artem E., Laniya, Titeki S., Buzas, Diana M., Iturbe-Ormaetxe, Inaki, Carroll, Bernard J. (corresponding author), and Gresshoff, Peter M. (2003). Long-distance signaling in nodulation directed by a CLAVATA1-like receptor kinase. Science 299 (5603) 109-112. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1077937