Are mutations in the epidermal growth factor system involved in the pathology of schizophrenia?

Supervisor(s) - Dr Avril Pereira / A/Prof Suresh Sundram

Based upon our in vitro neuronal work we have proposed that the epidermal growth factor (EGF) system may be involved in the pathology of schizophrenia. We wish to test this by investigating if single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) within this system are clinically relevant to the pathology of the disorder. This project will involve the processing and extraction of human DNA material and its genotyping. There may be the potential for clinical interaction depending upon the interest of the successful student.

View project details

Automated Matching of Mutation Descriptions

Given a Variant Names (mutation description, e.g. BRCA1 c.1225_1227delGAT and a Reference Sequence for the affected Gene (BRCA1 in the example), find all biologically equivalent variants among the known variants in the given gene. This needs to provide for: “Differing formats between the various general mutation and locus (Gene) specific databases (LSDBs)” and “Differing nucleotide numbering conventions used on the various databases”.

View project details

Automated matching of mutation descriptions

Given a Variant Name (mutation description) e.g. BRCA1 c.1225_1227delGAT and a Reference Sequence for the affected Gene (BRCA1 in the example), find all biologically equivalent variants among the known variants in the given gene.

View project details

Axonal injury and recovery after stroke

Supervisor(s) - Dr Michelle Porritt and Associate Professor David Howells

This project will utilize an animal model of ischemic stroke. Many histological and immunohistological techniques will be used to identify axonal health after ischemia

View project details

Behavioural and neurochemical responses to relaxin-3/RXFP3 transmission in a transgenic RXFP3 mouse strain – Implications for mood regulation and mental illness

Co-supervisor: Dr Craig Smith

Mental illness such as anxiety and depression is an increasing global health problem. Current treatments (serotonin reuptake inhibitors, benzodiazepines), while successful, are associated with significant rates of non-responsiveness and addiction, in addition to a host of side-effects including nausea, sweating, anorexia, sexual dysfunction, tremor, sedation and cognitive impairment. Important recent studies indicate that mice that lack relaxin-3 may represent a novel model for clinical depression.

A PhD or Honours project will examine effect of central injections of relaxin-3 receptor (RXFP3) agonist and antagonist peptides on stress and affective behaviour in wildtype and genetically-modified strains of mice. Identification of the neurons expressing RXFP3 will be conducted in a RXFP3 ‘BAC transgenic’ mouse strain, in which the green fluorescent protein (GFP) is conjugated to the RXFP3 protein.

View project details