Overview
Background
Dr Anne Sawyer is a molecular plant biologist passionate about the development of plant-based solutions to global problems. Her current research focus is the development of RNA sprays to protect plants from fungal pathogens. Dr Sawyer completed her PhD at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland on gene expression in microalgae. Following this, she carried out postdoctoral research at Ruhr University Bochum in Germany on microalgal hydrogen production. Dr Sawyer then returned to Australia to study RNA interference in plants and plant pathogenic fungi. Dr Sawyer has research experience in the fields of biotechnology, molecular biology, microalgal biology, synthetic biology, biochemistry and structural biology.
Availability
- Dr Anne Sawyer is:
- Available for supervision
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Works
Search Professor Anne Sawyer’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Conference Publication
RNA biopesticides for next generation crop protection
Sawyer, Anne (2025). RNA biopesticides for next generation crop protection. 2025 International Society for Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions Congress, Cologne, Germany, 13-17 July 2025.
2025
Conference Publication
dsRNA solutions for myrtle rust: Field success on lemon myrtle
Sawyer, Anne (2025). dsRNA solutions for myrtle rust: Field success on lemon myrtle. Australasian Myrtle Rust Conference, Auckland, New Zealand, 16-17 June 2025.
2025
Journal Article
dsRNAmax: a multi-target chimeric dsRNA designer for safe and effective crop protection
Fletcher, Stephen J., Lawrence, Jai, Sawyer, Anne, Manzie, Narelle, Gardiner, Donald M., Mitter, Neena and Brosnan, Christopher A. (2025). dsRNAmax: a multi-target chimeric dsRNA designer for safe and effective crop protection. NAR Genomics and Bioinformatics, 7 (2) lqaf064, lqaf064. doi: 10.1093/nargab/lqaf064
2024
Conference Publication
RNA biopesticides for sustainable control of plant fungal diseases
Sawyer, Anne (2024). RNA biopesticides for sustainable control of plant fungal diseases. International Plant Molecular Biology Congress, Cairns, QLD, Australia, 24-28 June 2024.
2023
Journal Article
Double-stranded RNA prevents and cures infection by rust fungi
Degnan, Rebecca M., Shuey, Louise S., Radford-Smith, Julian, Gardiner, Donald M., Carroll, Bernard J., Mitter, Neena, McTaggart, Alistair R. and Sawyer, Anne (2023). Double-stranded RNA prevents and cures infection by rust fungi. Communications Biology, 6 (1) 1234, 1-10. doi: 10.1038/s42003-023-05618-z
2023
Conference Publication
Double-stranded RNA for environmentally sustainable control of plant diseases
Sawyer, Anne (2023). Double-stranded RNA for environmentally sustainable control of plant diseases. Australasian Plant Pathology Society Conference, Adelaide, SA, Australia, 20-24 November 2023.
2023
Conference Publication
Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) solutions against Phytophthora cinnamomi
Sawyer, Anne (2023). Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) solutions against Phytophthora cinnamomi. Dieback Information Group Conference, Perth, WA, Australia and online, 30 August 2023.
2023
Journal Article
RNA-based control of fungal pathogens in plants
Mann, Christopher W. G., Sawyer, Anne, Gardiner, Donald M., Mitter, Neena, Carroll, Bernard J. and Eamens, Andrew L. (2023). RNA-based control of fungal pathogens in plants. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24 (15) 12391, 1-34. doi: 10.3390/ijms241512391
2023
Conference Publication
RNA-based disease control in protected cropping environments
Sawyer, Anne (2023). RNA-based disease control in protected cropping environments. Protected Cropping Australia Conference, Brisbane, 17-20 July 2023.
2023
Conference Publication
Double-stranded RNA as a sustainable control for myrtle rust
Sawyer, Anne (2023). Double-stranded RNA as a sustainable control for myrtle rust. Australasian Myrtle Rust Conference, Sydney, 21-23 June 2023.
2023
Conference Publication
Double-stranded RNA as a novel control for myrtle rust
Sawyer, Anne (2023). Double-stranded RNA as a novel control for myrtle rust. 4th International Congress on Biological Invasions, Christchurch, New Zealand, 1-4 May 2023.
2022
Journal Article
Exogenous double‐stranded RNA inhibits the infection physiology of rust fungi to reduce symptoms in planta
Degnan, Rebecca M., McTaggart, Alistair R., Shuey, Louise S., Pame, Leny Jane S., Smith, Grant R., Gardiner, Donald M., Nock, Volker, Soffe, Rebecca, Sale, Sarah, Garrill, Ashley, Carroll, Bernard J., Mitter, Neena and Sawyer, Anne (2022). Exogenous double‐stranded RNA inhibits the infection physiology of rust fungi to reduce symptoms in planta. Molecular Plant Pathology, 24 (3), 191-207. doi: 10.1111/mpp.13286
2022
Conference Publication
Exogenous RNAi to control rust fungi
Sawyer, Anne (2022). Exogenous RNAi to control rust fungi. TropAg, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 30 October - 2 November 2022.
2022
Journal Article
BioClay prolongs RNA interference-mediated crop protection against Botrytis cinerea
Niño-Sánchez, Jonatan, Sambasivam, Prabhakaran Thanjavur, Sawyer, Anne, Hamby, Rachael, Chen, Angela, Czislowski, Elizabeth, Li, Peng, Manzie, Narelle, Gardiner, Donald M., Ford, Rebecca, Xu, Zhi Ping, Mitter, Neena and Jin, Hailing (2022). BioClay prolongs RNA interference-mediated crop protection against Botrytis cinerea. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology, 64 (11), 2187-2198. doi: 10.1111/jipb.13353
2022
Conference Publication
RNA vaccines for sustainable plant protection
Sawyer, Anne and Shuey, Louise (2022). RNA vaccines for sustainable plant protection. Ologists Workshop, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 6 -7 October 2022.
2021
Conference Publication
RNAi vaccines as a novel control for invasive plant pathogens
Sawyer, Anne (2021). RNAi vaccines as a novel control for invasive plant pathogens. Australasian Plant Pathology Society Online Conference, Online, 23-26 November 2021.
2021
Conference Publication
Role of agricultural biotechnology in biodiversity and conservation for wild and domesticated plants
Sawyer, Anne (2021). Role of agricultural biotechnology in biodiversity and conservation for wild and domesticated plants. APEC High Level Policy Dialogue on Agricultural Biotechnology 2021 Plenary Meeting, Online, 3 August 2021.
2021
Journal Article
Contrasting epigenetic control of transgenes and endogenous genes promotes post-transcriptional transgene silencing in Arabidopsis
Butel, Nicolas, Yu, Agnès, Le Masson, Ivan, Borges, Filipe, Elmayan, Taline, Taochy, Christelle, Gursanscky, Nial R., Cao, Jiangling, Bi, Shengnan, Sawyer, Anne, Carroll, Bernard J. and Vaucheret, Hervé (2021). Contrasting epigenetic control of transgenes and endogenous genes promotes post-transcriptional transgene silencing in Arabidopsis. Nature Communications, 12 (1) 2787, 1-12. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-22995-3
2021
Conference Publication
RNAi vaccines as a novel control for Myrtle Rust
Sawyer, Anne (2021). RNAi vaccines as a novel control for Myrtle Rust. Myrtle Rust National Symposium, Ballina, NSW, Australia, 23-25 March 2021.
2020
Journal Article
Can-Seq: a PCR and DNA sequencing strategy for identifying new alleles of known and candidate genes
Cao, Jiangling, Gursanscky, Nial R., Fletcher, Stephen J., Sawyer, Anne, Wadia, Mehershad, McKeough, Lachlan, Coleman, Marek, Dressel, Uwe, Taochy, Christelle, Mitter, Neena, Vaucheret, Herv and Carroll, Bernard J. (2020). Can-Seq: a PCR and DNA sequencing strategy for identifying new alleles of known and candidate genes. Plant Methods, 16 (1) 16, 16. doi: 10.1186/s13007-020-0555-0
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Anne Sawyer is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Double-stranded RNA-mediated control and investigation of Austropuccinia psidii
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Donald Gardiner
-
Doctor Philosophy
Systemic RNA biopesticides for controlling fungal pathogens in grain crops
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Chris Brosnan, Dr Donald Gardiner
-
Doctor Philosophy
Double-stranded RNA-based biopesticides for next generation crop protection against soilborne pathogens
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
RNA-based control of Phytophthora root rot
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Paul Gauthier, Associate Professor Anthony Young
-
Doctor Philosophy
Discovery of genes involved in systemic RNAi in plants
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Chris Brosnan, Dr Jiaxi Yong
Completed supervision
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Systemic Post-Transcriptional Silencing of Transgenes in Arabidopsis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Chris Brosnan
Media
Enquiries
For media enquiries about Dr Anne Sawyer's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team: