Discovery Highlights

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Tags: summer-2012

The University of Queensland’s discovery highlights showcase how our talented researchers are making a difference through the translation of their research.

For more information on these stories scan the QR Code below with your smartphone or tablet device or for details on how you can contribute to the University’s research efforts, contact giving@uq.edu.au.

Summer fever
As we move into the warmer months, Dr Janet Davies from the Lung and Allergy Research Centre gives warnings to hay fever sufferers.

“Queensland’s flowering subtropical grasses will be a major trigger for those with allergic rhinitis, commonly known as hay fever, and asthma sufferers,” she said.

Dr Davies has developed new blood tests to diagnose patients who have a primary allergy to subtropical grass pollens.

“There is a need to optimise allergy diagnostics and treatments for subtropical grass pollen allergy,” Dr Davies said.

Crocodile tales
A joint project between UQ and a central Queensland farmer aims to improve crocodile breeding success rates through artificial insemination.

Biologist Dr Steve Johnston from the School of Agriculture and Food Sciences is leading the unique study.

“Our work will assist crocodile farmers by improving breeding success rates and removing the risk that comes with housing large male crocodiles on farms, but will also help with the conservation of rare and endangered crocodilian species around the world,” he said.

Dr Johnston presented his findings at the Zoo and Aquarium Association Conference in August this year.

UQ student and Australian Government AusAid Scholarship holder, Rita Susilawati

Focus on energy security
UQ student and Australian Government AusAid Scholarship holder, Rita Susilawati, from the School of Earth Sciences was the recipient of the highly competitive 2012 Spackman Research Grant from the Society of Organic Petrology (TSOP) to research Indonesian coal and its bioreactor potential.

Ms Susilawati’s research is the first of its kind aimed at examining the controls on microbial methane generation in selected low rank Indonesian coal.
“The development of CBM (coal bed methane) resources will reduce my country’s dependency on oil while also increasing our future energy security,” she said.

Ms Susilawati said the grant has enabled her to test her hypothesis that coal type has a significant impact on microbial gas generation.

Under the microscope
Researchers are one step closer to finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease thanks to a collaborative project between UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute (QBI), and Harvard University.

The study found that the length of the brain’s subcellular structures (mitochondria), which are responsible for metabolising energy, are a key piece of the puzzle in treating Alzheimer’s disease.

Co-author of the paper and Director of the Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CADR) at QBI, Professor Jürgen Götz, said the project identified that abnormally long mitochondria had a toxic effect causing cell death.

“All cells rely on mitochondria for energy metabolism, and neurons in particular, so controlling the length of these subcellular structures is very important for brain function,” Professor Götz said.

Alzheimer’s disease affects almost 280,000 Australians. This number grows by 1,600 each week and is expected to more than one 1 million people by 2050.

Answers for Arthritis

UQ’s Professor David Fairlie and his colleagues from the Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) have uncovered a potential new treatment for chronic inflammatory diseases such as arthritis.
“Human enzymes called proteases stimulate the secretion of immune cells that, when the correct amount is released, play important roles in digestion, fighting infections and healing wounds,” Professor Fairlie said.
Professor Fairlie said in arthritis cases, the enzymes continuously stimulate the release of immune cells, causing inflammation when present at high levels.
This in turn can lead to long-term tissue damage.
Professor Fairlie and his team of researchers have developed experimental compounds that block this stimulation and thereby successfully reduce chronic inflammation.

Hold on to hope

Optimistic expectations for the future were found to be the key for present-day happiness in a joint study by UQ’s School of Economics, the University of New South Wales, the Australian National University and Monash University.

Professor Paul Frijters, author of one of the studies, said the data from a sample group of 10,000 Australians over a period of nine years highlighted that individuals were better off if they had a positive outlook for the future.

“People systematically over-estimate how rosy the future should be and this is crucial for their wellbeing,” Professor Frijters said.

The gac fruit

Seed genes yield health benefits

Researchers from UQ’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) and Harvard University have discovered that a protein found in the seeds of the gac fruit is an ideal base for making more affordable medicines.

The protein, known as MCoTI-2, can serve as a foundation for drugs due to its circular shape and resulting stability.

IMB researchers Dr Joshua Mylne and Professor David Craik who led the study and discovered the genes that produce the protein.

“The discovery is also interesting from a scientist’s point of view because it has given insight into some of the evolutionary “backflips” genes can do to create bioactive peptides like MCoTI-2,” Dr Mylne said.

Anxiety disorder in focus

Research is the force behind a ground-breaking approach to treating childhood and adolescent anxiety disorders.

The research has now found a commercial partner following the establishment of a partnership established between UQ’s main commercialisation company UniQuest and global online healthcare company CCBT Limited.

The treatment, known as BRAVE-ONLINE, was developed from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy research undertaken at the School of Psychology. The program encourages children and adolescents to be brave in the face of anxiety.

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