
Overview
Background
My research group specializes in the detection, isolation, identification and evaluation of biologically active small molecules from Nature (natural products). We acquire valuable knowledge on how and why natural products are made, and apply this knowledge to better understand living systems, and solve important scientific and societal challenges.
To achieve these goals we have established specialist capabilities that extend across;
Microbiology – the isolation, characterization and cultivation of bacterial and fungal strains.
Chemistry – the extraction and fractionation of natural extracts, the purification, chemical and spectroscopic characterization, and structure elucidation of natural products, and the use of synthetic and medicinal chemistry to explore bioactive scaffolds.
Biology – to evaluate extracts and natural products against an array of bioassays, leading to new human pharmaceuticals that target such indications as infectious and neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, pain and epilepsy, as well as new animal health products and new crop protection agents.
Availability
- Professor Rob Capon is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), University of Western Australia
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Western Australia
Research interests
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Marine Biodiscovery
MARINE BIODISCOVERY can be defined as the chemical exploration of marine biodiversity, to detect, isolate, characterize, identify and evaluate structurally diverse natural products. Over the last three decades my research group has established itself as a leader in the field of marine biodiscovery. To support our research we have assembled a library of Australian marine invertebrate and algae samples (~2,800), collected by hand from intertidal (0-2 m) and coastal waters (2-30 m), and by off-shore trawling (>50 m), across southern Australia to Antarctica. We have designed and implemented many innovative marine biodiscovery protocols, including a fractionated (enriched) extract library formatted in 96 well plates for rapid screening, UPLC-DAD tagging of >50,000 metabolites in this library (the majority new to science), and a raft of streamlined isolation, purification and structure elucidation protocols. In addition to isolating and identifying several thousand marine metabolites, we routinely undertakes chemical syntheses of high priority metabolites, to both support structure assignments, and advance our efforts in pharmaceutical and agrochemical biodiscovery.
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Microbial Biodiscovery
MICROBIAL BIODISCOVERY can be defined as the chemical exploration of bacterial and fungal biodiversity, to detect, isolate, characterize, identify and evaluate structurally diverse natural products. Over the last 15 years my research group has established itself as a leader in the field of microbial biodiscovery. To support our research we have assembled a network of UQ, Australian and international collaborators, have acquired microbial diversity libraries, and have implemented an array of innovative high throughput (HTP) microbial cultivation and chemical profiling methodologies. In addition to isolating novel microbial natural products, many featuring complex and unique molecular structures, our research extends to the chemical synthesis and an exploration of the biosynthesis of high priority scaffolds, and the use of chemical ecology to activate silent biosynthetic gene clusters.
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Chemical Ecology
CHEMICAL ECOLOGY can be defined as the chemical exploration of natural molecules (natural products) that influence behavior within or between species, genera, phylla or even Kingdoms. Chemical ecology plays out within and between many living organisms, including microbes, plants, insects and animals. Our research seeks to explore and understand the ecological role of natural products, to gain knowledge, to develop protocols and tools, to enhance our efforts in microbial, pharmaceutical and agrochemical biodiscovery. For example, we study chemical ecology as it plays out between microbes, as well as between microbes and plants, microbes and animals, and microbes and insects, and the toxic chemicals used by both plants and animals to enhance survival. One particularly successful practical illustration is our investigation into the chemical ecology of the poisonous invasive pest species, the cane toad. This study led to the discovery, patenting, publishing and commercial development of an innovative pheromonal control solution whereby cane toad tadpoles are selectively attracted by a natural pheromonal bait into traps.
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Pharmaceutical Biodiscovery
PHARMACEUTICAL BIODISCOVERY can be defined as the search for bioactive natural products that inform the development of new human therapeutics (drugs), to improve and replace those that have become less effective, and to bring to the community safe and effective treatments for an ever-wider array of diseases. For example, our pharmaceutical biodiscovery research seeks to deliver new natural product inspired treatments for neurodegenerative and infectious diseases, including multi drug resistant pathogens (i.e. tuberculosis, VRE), as well as cancer, chronic inflammatory pain, anxiety and epilepsy.
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Agrochemical Biodiscovery
AGROCHEMICAL BIODISCOVERY can be defined as the search for bioactive natural products that inform the development of new animal health and/or crop protection products, to improve and replace those that have become less effective, and support the treatment of a wide array of commercially significant animal/crop diseases. For example, our agrochemical biodiscovery research seeks to deliver new natural product inspired anthelmintics to treat gastrointestinal infections (worms) in livestock, as well as new anti-infective solutions for controlling plant pathogens.
Research impacts
With over 35 years experience in biodiscovery science, my research has lead to the study of several thousand natural products, many rare or new to science, and many with valuable chemical and biological properties. Over the last decade my research group has made numerous discoveries across basic and applied natural products science, leading to multiple high impact publications and several patents. I am recognised internationally as an expert in organic, natural products, analytical, synthetic and medicinal chemistry, and chemical ecology, and have a reputation for entering into and delivering on strategic collaborations.
My research activities are currently organised around five thematic programs;
Marine Biodiscovery: Documenting, evaluating and exploiting the chemical and biological properties of natural products from Australian marine invertebrates and algae.
Microbial Biodiscovery: Documenting, evaluating and exploiting the chemical and biological properties of natural products from Australian marine and terrestrial, bacteria and fungi.
Chemical Ecology: Documenting, evaluating and exploiting natural chemical interactions between members of either the same, or different species – extending across and between microbes, plants and animals.
Pharmaceutical Biodiscovery: Applying knowledge of natural products to inspire the development of new pharmaceuticals, to treat indications such infectious and neurodegenerative diseases, cancer and pain.
Agrochemical Biodiscovery: Applying knowledge of natural products to inspire the development of agrochemicals, to enhance the health and productivity of livestock and crops.
Works
Search Professor Rob Capon’s works on UQ eSpace
2013
Journal Article
Parguerenes: marine red alga bromoditerpenes as inhibitors of P-glycoprotein (ABCB1) in multidrug resistant human cancer cells
Huang, Xiao-cong, Sun, Yue-Li, Salim, Angela A., Chen, Zhe-Sheng and Capon, Robert J. (2013). Parguerenes: marine red alga bromoditerpenes as inhibitors of P-glycoprotein (ABCB1) in multidrug resistant human cancer cells. Biochemical Pharmacology, 85 (9), 1257-1268. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2013.02.005
2013
Journal Article
Australian marine sponge alkaloids as a new class of glycine-gated chloride channel receptor modulator
Balansa, Walter, Islam, Robiul, Gilbert, Daniel F., Fontaine, Frank, Xiao, Xue, Zhang, Hua, Piggott, Andrew M., Lynch, Joseph W. and Capon, Robert J. (2013). Australian marine sponge alkaloids as a new class of glycine-gated chloride channel receptor modulator. Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry, 21 (14), 4420-4425. doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2013.04.061
2013
Journal Article
Abyssomicins from the South China Sea deep-sea sediment Verrucosispora sp.: natural thioether michael addition adducts as antitubercular prodrugs
Wang, Qian, Song, Fuhang, Xiao, Xue, Huang, Pei, Li, Li, Monte, Aaron, Abdel-Mageed, Wael M., Wang, Jian, Guo, Hui, He, Wenni, Xie, Feng, Dai, Huanqin, Liu, Miaomiao, Chen, Caixia, Xu, Hao, Liu, Mei, Piggott, Andrew M., Liu, Xueting, Capon, Robert J. and Zhang, Lixin (2013). Abyssomicins from the South China Sea deep-sea sediment Verrucosispora sp.: natural thioether michael addition adducts as antitubercular prodrugs. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 52 (4), 1231-1234. doi: 10.1002/anie.201208801
2013
Journal Article
Dual inhibition of DNA polymerase PolC and protein tyrosine phosphatase CpsB uncovers a novel antibiotic target
Standish, Alistair J., Salim, Angela A., Capon, Robert J. and Morona, Renato (2013). Dual inhibition of DNA polymerase PolC and protein tyrosine phosphatase CpsB uncovers a novel antibiotic target. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 430 (1), 167-172. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2012.11.049
2013
Journal Article
Nocardiopsins C and D and nocardiopyrone A: new polyketides from an Australian marine-derived Nocardiopsis sp.
Raju, Ritesh, Piggott, Andrew M., Quezada, Michelle and Capon, Robert J. (2013). Nocardiopsins C and D and nocardiopyrone A: new polyketides from an Australian marine-derived Nocardiopsis sp.. Tetrahedron, 69 (2), 692-698. doi: 10.1016/j.tet.2012.10.104
2012
Journal Article
Staurosporines disrupt phosphatidylserine trafficking and mislocalize ras proteins
Cho, Kwang-jin, Park, Jin-Hee, Piggott, Andrew M., Salim, Angela A., Gorfe, Alemaheyu A., Parton, Robert G., Capon, Robert J., Lacey, Ernest and Hancock, John F. (2012). Staurosporines disrupt phosphatidylserine trafficking and mislocalize ras proteins. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 287 (52), 43573-43584. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M112.424457
2012
Journal Article
Probing for the pharmacophore of the cytotoxic neoclerodane salvileucalin B
Heinrich, Nora, Banwell, Martin G., Willis, Anthony C., Cade, Ian A., Capon, Robert J. and Huang, Xiao-Cong (2012). Probing for the pharmacophore of the cytotoxic neoclerodane salvileucalin B. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 65 (12), 1679-1686. doi: 10.1071/CH12358
2012
Journal Article
Structural and stereochemical investigations into bromotyrosine-derived metabolites from southern Australian marine sponges, Pseudoceratina spp.
Salim, Angela A., Khalil, Zeinab G. and Capon, Robert J. (2012). Structural and stereochemical investigations into bromotyrosine-derived metabolites from southern Australian marine sponges, Pseudoceratina spp.. Tetrahedron, 68 (47), 9802-9807. doi: 10.1016/j.tet.2012.09.008
2012
Journal Article
Exploiting intraspecific competitive mechanisms to control invasive cane toads (Rhinella marina)
Crossland, Michael R., Haramura, Takashi, Salim, Angela A., Capon, Robert J. and Shine, Richard (2012). Exploiting intraspecific competitive mechanisms to control invasive cane toads (Rhinella marina). Proceedings of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences, 279 (1742), 3436-3442. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2012.0821
2012
Journal Article
Brevianamides with antitubercular potential from a marine-derived isolate of aspergillus versicolor
Song, Fuhang, Liu, Xinru, Guo, Hui, Ren, Biao, Chen, Caixia, Piggott, Andrew M., Yu, Ke, Gao, Hong, Wang, Qian, Liu, Mei, Liu, Xueting, Dai, Huanqin, Zhang, Lixin and Capon, Robert J. (2012). Brevianamides with antitubercular potential from a marine-derived isolate of aspergillus versicolor. Organic Letters, 14 (18), 4770-4773. doi: 10.1021/ol302051x
2012
Journal Article
Design and application of in vivo FRET biosensors to identify protein prenylation and nanoclustering inhibitors
Kohnke, Monika, Schmitt, Steven, Ariotti, Nicholas, Piggott, Andrew, Parton, Robert G., Lacey, Ernest, Capon, Robert, Alexandrov, Kirill and Abankwa, Daniel (2012). Design and application of in vivo FRET biosensors to identify protein prenylation and nanoclustering inhibitors. Chemistry and Biology, 19 (7), 866-874. doi: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2012.05.019
2012
Journal Article
A search for kinase inhibitors and antibacterial agents: bromopyrrolo-2-aminoimidazoles from a deep-water Great Australian Bight sponge, Axinella sp.
Zhang, Hua, Khalil, Zeinab, Conte, Melissa M., Plisson, Fabien and Capon, Robert J. (2012). A search for kinase inhibitors and antibacterial agents: bromopyrrolo-2-aminoimidazoles from a deep-water Great Australian Bight sponge, Axinella sp.. Tetrahedron Letters, 53 (29), 3784-3787. doi: 10.1016/j.tetlet.2012.05.051
2012
Journal Article
Microbial biodiscovery: back to the future
Capon, Robert J. (2012). Microbial biodiscovery: back to the future. Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry, 12 (14), 1471-1478. doi: 10.2174/156802612802652394
2012
Journal Article
Lamellarins as inhibitors of P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance in a human colon cancer cell line
Plisson, Fabien, Huang, Xiao-Cong, Zhang, Hua, Khalil, Zeinab and Capon, Robert J. (2012). Lamellarins as inhibitors of P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance in a human colon cancer cell line. Chemistry - An Asian Journal, 7 (7), 1616-1623. doi: 10.1002/asia.201101049
2012
Journal Article
Kinase inhibitor scaffolds against neurodegenerative diseases from a southern Australian Ascidian, Didemnum sp.
Plisson, Fabien, Conte, Melissa, Khalil, Zeinab, Huang, Xiao-Cong, Piggott, Andrew M. and Capon, Robert J. (2012). Kinase inhibitor scaffolds against neurodegenerative diseases from a southern Australian Ascidian, Didemnum sp.. ChemMedChem, 7 (6), 983-990. doi: 10.1002/cmdc.201200169
2012
Journal Article
Chemical inhibition of bacterial protein tyrosine phosphatase suppresses capsule production
Standish, Alistair J., Salim, Angela A., Zhang, Hua, Capon, Robert J. and Morona, Renato (2012). Chemical inhibition of bacterial protein tyrosine phosphatase suppresses capsule production. Plos One, 7 (5) e36312, e36312.1-e36312.8. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0036312
2012
Journal Article
New dictyodendrins as BACE inhibitors from a southern Australian marine sponge, Ianthella sp.
Zhang, Hua, Conte, Melissa M., Khalil, Zeinab, Huang, Xiao-Cong and Capon, Robert J. (2012). New dictyodendrins as BACE inhibitors from a southern Australian marine sponge, Ianthella sp.. Rsc Advances, 2 (10), 4209-4214. doi: 10.1039/c2ra20322g
2012
Journal Article
Symphyocladins A-G: bromophenol adducts from a Chinese marine red alga, Symphyocladia latiuscula
Xu, Xiuli, Piggott, Andrew M., Yin, Liyuan, Capon, Robert J. and Song, Fuhang (2012). Symphyocladins A-G: bromophenol adducts from a Chinese marine red alga, Symphyocladia latiuscula. Tetrahedron Letters, 53 (16), 2103-2106. doi: 10.1016/j.tetlet.2012.02.044
2012
Journal Article
A search for BACE inhibitors reveals new biosynthetically related pyrrolidones, furanones and pyrroles from a southern Australian marine sponge, Ianthella sp.
Zhang, Hua, Conte, Melissa M., Huang, Xiao-Cong, Khalil, Zeinab and Capon, Robert J. (2012). A search for BACE inhibitors reveals new biosynthetically related pyrrolidones, furanones and pyrroles from a southern Australian marine sponge, Ianthella sp.. Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, 10 (13), 2656-2663. doi: 10.1039/c2ob06747a
2012
Journal Article
Heronamycin A: A new benzothiazine ansamycin from an Australian marine-derived Streptomyces sp.
Raju, Ritesh, Piggott, Andrew M., Khalil, Zeinab, Bernhardt, Paul V. and Capon, Robert J. (2012). Heronamycin A: A new benzothiazine ansamycin from an Australian marine-derived Streptomyces sp.. Tetrahedron Letters, 53 (9), 1063-1065. doi: 10.1016/j.tetlet.2011.12.064
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Rob Capon is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Medicinal chemistry of new Nature-inspired treatments for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Angela Salim, Dr Zeinab Khalil, Associate Professor Jakob Begun
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Doctor Philosophy
New antiparasitics to protect Australian livestock
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Zeinab Khalil
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Doctor Philosophy
New antiparasitics to protect Australian livestock
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Zeinab Khalil
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Doctor Philosophy
The discovery of new antibiotics to combat drug resistance
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Angela Salim, Dr Jianying Han
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Master Philosophy
Exploring Australian Marine Microbial Bioresources for Novel Therapeutic Agent
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Zeinab Khalil, Dr Angela Salim
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Doctor Philosophy
Novel assays for antibiotic discovery
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Waldemar Vollmer
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Doctor Philosophy
Towards the sustainable discovery and development of new antibiotics
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Angela Salim, Dr Zeinab Khalil
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Doctor Philosophy
Dissecting the bacterial cell envelope for antibiotic drug discovery
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nicholas Ariotti, Professor Waldemar Vollmer
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Microbial Biodiscovery: Exploring the Natural Products of Australian microorganisms
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Angela Salim
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Microbial biodiscovery from Australian marine-derived and Venezuelan quartz-rich cave-derived microorganisms.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Zeinab Khalil
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Applying Advanced Molecular Networking Techniques to Explore Chemical Diversity of Australian Microbes
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Zeinab Khalil
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Microbial Biodiversity: Expanding acess to microbial chemical diversity using new techniques
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Zeinab Khalil
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Global Natural Product Social Molecular Network Guided Australian Microbial Biodiscovery
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Angela Salim
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Microbial Biodiscovery: Integrated technologies to explore chemical potential of Australian microbes
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Angela Salim
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Microbial Biodiversity: Exploring Australian Microbial Natural Products
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Zeinab Khalil
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Applying Molecular Networking to Natural Products Chemistry
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Angela Salim
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring the Natural Products of Australian Sheep Coprophilous Fungi
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Zeinab Khalil
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Fungal Biodiscovery: Strategies to Explore Fungal Secondary Metabolite Potential
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Zeinab Khalil
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Adventures in Australian Microbial Biodiscovery
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Zeinab Khalil
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Marine Biodiversity: Exploring Bioactive Chemical Space
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Angela Salim
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Microbial Chemical Diversity: Strategies to Stimulate Microbial Secondary Metabolite Potential
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Zeinab Khalil
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Unveiling the Chemical Diversity of Marine Intertidal Fungal Communities
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Angela Salim
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Microbial biodiscovery: Exploring venomous animal associated microbes as sources of new chemical diversity
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Angela Salim
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Discovery of Novel, Potent and Selective Glycine Receptor Modulators from Southern Australian Marine Sponges
Principal Advisor
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
Innovations in Microbial Biodiscovery, Targeting Silent Metabolism and New Chemical Diversity
Principal Advisor
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
Biodiscovery Search for Marine-Derived Inhibitors of P-gp, BCRP and MRP1 as a Means to Improve Cancer Chemotherapy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Robert Parton, Dr Angela Salim
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2012
Doctor Philosophy
Bioassay-Guided and Computer-Aided Investigation of Marine-Derived Kinase Inhibitors: Applications to Control Neurodegenerative Disorders.
Principal Advisor
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2012
Doctor Philosophy
Technology and Biodiscovery: Using Modern Technologies and Methods to Tackle the challenges of Biodiscovery
Principal Advisor
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2012
Doctor Philosophy
Synthesis and Stereochemical studies towards Bioactive Marine Scaffolds
Principal Advisor
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2011
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring the Chemical Diversity of Australian and Fijian Marine Microbes
Principal Advisor
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2006
Doctor Philosophy
STUDIES ON THE CHEMISTRY OF AUSTRALIAN MICROBES
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
CHEMISTRY AND BIOACTIVITY STUDIES OF AUSTRALIAN MICROORGANISMS
Principal Advisor
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Biodiscovery of Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) and their role in plant-microbe interactions
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Zeinab Khalil, Dr Lilia Carvalhais
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2011
Doctor Philosophy
Identification and Characterization of New Compounds Targeting Glycine Receptor Chloride Channels in Pain Sensory Pathways
Associate Advisor
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2010
Doctor Philosophy
Developing a sense of self: exploring the evolution of immune and allorecognition mechanisms in metazoans, using the demosponge Amphimedon queenslandica
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Andrew Barnes, Professor Bernard Degnan
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Rob Capon directly for media enquiries about:
- Cane toad control
- Chemical ecology
- Drug discovery
- Marine biodiscovery
- Microbial biodiscovery
- Natural products chemistry
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