Multiple projects in neuronal communication
Fields:
- Genomics
- Intellectual disability
- Mental health
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
Location: Queensland Brain Institute
Type of student: Both HDR and Extra-curricular
Type of work:
- Literature review
- Qualitative methods
- Secondary data analysis
Brief synopsis:
Our work is focused on molecular organisation and the function of inhibitory synapses with special interest in Glycine and GABAA receptors, and their interacting proteins. We use a combination of super-resolution microscopy and electrophysiology to gain a quantitative understanding of how molecules that are found in synapses drive cellular processes.
Project 1: Characterisation of functional properties of GABA-A receptor variants found in patients with genetic epilepsies.
The aim of this project is to understand how loss of GABA-A receptor function leads to epilepsies followed by learning difficulties and intellectual disability. We use electrophysiology to measure changes in the channel function and super-resolution microscopy to visualise movement and organisation of individual GABA-A receptors in live neurons.
The students will get familiar with structure and function of excitatory and inhibitory synapses in the brain and how those change in disease states. This includes neurotransmitter release and synaptic vesicle recycling on the presynaptic side, transsynaptic adhesion proteins and neuroreceptor function at postsynaptic side. Since neuroreceptors are ion channels that mediate synaptic currents, the students will gain a good understanding of the factors that shape synaptic currents and how these change in neurological diseases.
The students will be expected to do a literature review or data analysis depending on their interests. This project has a comprehensive experimental side. The full project is suitable for an HDR student.
Project 2: Effects of neuromodulators on molecular organisation of synapses
The overall aim of the project is to describe changes at synapses due to chronic administration of common neuromodulators, at a molecular level, with a localisation precision of 20 nm. We will administer drugs to mice, perform a series of behavioural experiments and then examine the brain tissue recover from the mice.
Students will be involved in the analysis of behavioural experiments and immunostaining. They will get familiar with effects of neuromodulators on function of synapses in the brain. This will be achieved through monitoring the change of behaviour in mice. This change will then be correlated to changes in molecular composition of synapses. Overall, this project offers training in animal behaviour studies, immunostaining, and the use of high-end microscopy modalities.
This project has a comprehensive experimental side. Literature review and data analysis are suitable as extra-curricular activities. Full project is a Higher Degree Research Project and applications are welcome.
Prerequisite skills: Basic knowledge of neuroscience
Website: View QBI profile
