2022 Global Change Youth Research Program
The Winter Research Program was not held in 2022. However, the Global Change Institute in partnership with the Student Enrichment and Employability Development Team, will run a modified research experience program in 2022.
The projects will run intensively (20-36 hours a week) for 4 weeks in the Winter vacation period, and then for the equivalent of one day a week during semester 2, 2022.
Students must be enrolled in a program of study at UQ at the time of application and maintain ongoing enrolment in a program at UQ for the entirety of semester 2, 2022.
The following projects will be availabe for 2022.
Bioprospecting for Thermostable Enzymes for Biotechnology Applications
Project duration, hours of engagement and delivery mode:
The duration of the project will be for 4 weeks during Winter vacation and 1-day a week during semester 2, 2022 that will require a commitment of between 20-36hrs per week depending on research responsibilities.
To gain the maximum benefit from this exciting project the candidate will be based at the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences (SCMB) to undertake bioinformatic analyses and laboratory work as required.
The candidate will be supervised by an Early Career Group Leader and Senior Professor that run dynamic and supportive teams within SCMB. These teams are well resourced in personal that have access to computer server and wet lab infrastructure required to complete the project
Description
Thermal environments, such as hot springs, harbour many uncharacterised microorganisms with undocumented biochemical pathways involved in the metabolism of medically or industrially important molecules.
In this project, the aim is to use bioinformatic techniques on sequenced microbial DNA from Northern Queensland (Innot, QLD) hot springs (70°C) to discover the presence and diversity of thermally active p450 monooxygenases. These enzymes modify compounds to alternative configurations that potentially have useful medical or remediation purposes.
It is likely thermoactive P450s have increased stability/activity in high temperature environments compared to mesophilic equivalents and could be economically advantageous in industrial processes. To date, very few thermoactive p450 enzymes have been identified.
After identifying p450 candidates from DNA sequence data, promising protein candidates will be selected for further characterisation using molecular biology techniques. An option also exists to culture p450-containing microorganisms from the hot springs using genome-directed cultivation approaches.
A key outcome of this project is the identification and characterisation of a thermoactive p450 enzyme, along with the development a student’s understanding in microbiology/genetics through using an integrated bioinformatic- and laboratory-based approach.
Expected outcomes and deliverables:
Key techniques/knowledge that will be learnt during this project includes:
- Learn to use DNA sequence data analysis and visualisation tools.
- Understand structure and function of key enzymes/metabolic pathways.
- Develop laboratory skills using molecular- or cultivation-based techniques.
- Generate data that could be published in scientific literature.
Suitable for:
This project is open to applicants who have:
- A background in either genetics, microbiology or bioinformatics at a 3rd or 4th year level.
- The ability to grow microorganisms or perform molecular biology techniques in a laboratory setting.
- A strong ability to self-learn; has a good work ethic; is able to present and discuss data.
Primary Supervisors:
Dr Paul Evans/Professor James De Voss
Before you apply:
Students who are interested should contact either James De Voss (j.devoss@uq.edu.au) or Paul Evans (p.evans3@uq.edu.au).
Targeted nanotherapeutic delivery system to combat bone metastasized cancers
Project duration, hours of engagement and delivery mode:
The duration of the project will be
4 weeks during Winter Vacation and 1 day a week during semester 2, 2022. Hours of engagement must be between 20-36hrs per week
For part of the project, the student will need to be onsite to conduct the experiments and collect data. However, the literature review and data analysis can be done remotely if required.
Description:
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in females both in developed and developing countries. In most cases, bone metastasized breast cancer is developed, either earlier or after couple of years. Advanced stage breast cancer treatment options are limited; due to the metastasis to different organs, the inability to achieve the therapeutic dose at the bone metastatic site and drug resistance of the cancer cells. However, there are different therapeutic options available for the management of bone metastasized breast cancers. Among them, bisphosphonates and RANKL inhibitors have been demonstrated as bone targeting agents for patients with metastasis at bones. RANKL inhibition has been shown a decrease in skeletal tumour burden and metastasis as well as reduced primary breast cancer in pre-clinical trials, however they have limitations resulting from side effects. Bisphosphonates are a class of drugs, used as inhibitors of bone resorption by apoptosis induction in osteoclast and thus inhibiting the growth of cancer induced bone lesions and it is being approved for the treatment of metastatic bone disease. Alendronate is one of the common bisphosphonates used to prevent and treat osteoporosis in aged individuals.
Targeted nanotherapeutic systems have the potential to achieve the therapeutic concentration in metastatic bone due to their tuneable characteristics and targeting.
This project is working towards developing a targeted nanotherapeutic delivery system which will have potential future applications in bone metastasised cancers. The nanotherapeutic is produced from biodegradable polymers with targeting molecules attached through chemical synthesis. Nano-formulation and drug encapsulation is optimised to gain bone seeking ability and sustained drug release.
Specifically, during the project, the student will be involved in expanding on the polymers for nanotherapeutic development; be involved in formulation of the targeted therapeutic nanoparticles; evaluate the drug release and bone seeking ability.
Expected outcomes and deliverables:
Gain laboratory skills in nanoparticle formulation, data collection and analysis.
Learn to organise their research work, analyse, and report experimental data (results).
Learn to work in a research team.
Students will be asked to produce a report and an oral presentation to the Grondahl group at the end of their project.
Suitable for:
This project is open to applications from students with a background in Chemistry or Chemical and Nano Biotechnology or Medical Biotechnology (3rd year student).
Primary Supervisor:
Before you apply:
Students who are interested should contact Dr Anitha Sudheesh Kumar (a.sudheeshkumar@uq.edu.au)