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New peptide champion against drug-resistant cells have entered the battle According to the Australian Cancer Council Federation, at least 2 in 3 Australians will be diagnosed with a type of skin cancer in their lifetime, with a higher risk for men to develop non-melanoma and melanoma skin cancers, compared to women. It was also reported […]

Understanding how novel protein tools can make unique cyclic peptides Enzymes are proteins that exist in all living things to accelerate (catalyse) chemical reactions, thus speeding up complex biological processes. Enzymes are involved in a wide variety of biological functions, including digesting food or making copies of DNA. There are many enzymes in nature; specific […]

Unveiling the evolutionary mystery behind the bioprocessing of cyclotides in plants The butterfly pea legume (Clitoria ternatea) is native to South America and tropical regions of Asia and was introduced to Queensland, Australia in 1991. The legume is best known for its decorative flower with brilliant blue petals. When used as a tea it infuses […]

By attaching coumarin-based sensors to amyloids it is possible to determine the type and neurodegenerative disease, and in the case of AD, its progression.

A peptide library is a little like a regular book library. The peptide library has a number of amino acids or books all lined up in a specifically ordered system. We know and understand each book, and we can then make changes and easily see what effect those changes have. These libraries are useful for […]

Australia is home to some unique and wacky wildlife. From our one-of-a-kind platypus to the famous cuddly koala, special features and adaptations to our vast land result in species not found anywhere else in the world. Sadly, a number of our national treasures are already extinct in the wild, and the Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) […]

Gluten is the general name for the structural proteins naturally found in wheat, barley and rye. These proteins are sometimes difficult to digest and for those with Coeliac disease (CD), incomplete digestion of gluten triggers an immune-based response in the gut where the body begins attacking itself. The resulting inflammation can lead to numerous symptoms […]

If you’ve had the unfortunate experience of being bitten by a Green Ant (Rhytidoponera metallica) in Australia, you’ll understand the long-lasting pain and irritation inflicted by such a tiny creature. The majority of ant species produce venom and some have characteristic and exceptionally painful stings. The bullet ant (Paraponera clavata) of tropical Central and South […]