Biotechnology

Centre Biotechnology Initiatives

The Centre is making major contributions to contemporary biotechnology through manipulation of organic material, with the overall aim to improve quality of life.

Using advanced chemical and biological techniques, Centre researchers are engineering:

• Enzymes with new functions such as proteins that are resistant to radical degradation under conditions of oxidative stress (collaboration with CSIRO Entomology);
• Compounds that regulate peptide hormones in higher organisms. For example: compounds that bind to hormone producing enzymes to down-regulate hormone levels, or other species that produce hormones in a controlled manner without enzyme catalysis to up-regulate hormone levels.
• Modified fatty acids with a range of physiological effects (collaboration with Adelaide Medical Centre for Women and Children). The commercial potential of these is being explored through the biotechnology companies, Peplin and New World Bio Limited, the latter with the assistance of AusIndustry.
• Multi-potent bioactive molecules that may have downstream applications as novel pharmaceuticals;
• Fluorescent and pro-fluorescent imaging agents for the detection of free radicals in diseases such as Ataxia Telangiectasia;
• New molecules that are active against Mycobacterium Tuberculosis;
• Methods for the detection of biomarkers associated with the early onset of cardiovascular disease;
• Novel techniques for the synthesis of molecules such as potent anti-fungal and anti-cancer agents.