Associate Professor Paul Ebert
Associate Professor

Paul Ebert

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 52973

Background

Genetics of mental health (new research)

We are using the genetic model organism, C. elegans, do investigate the genetic basis of both normal and disordered behaviour. Our current interests are identifying the genes responsible for anxiety and depression as well as the genes for eating disoders and addiction. Using C. elegans as a model organism will also allow us to study gene function as it relates to behaviour.

Molecular mechanisms of phosphine resistance (other research)

Genetic mapping of oxidative stress resistance genes. The fumigant phosphine disrupts oxidative metabolism, resulting in the production of reactive oxygen intermediates. This causes the premature ageing and death of targeted pests. Insect pests of stored grain in Australia now exhibit resistance to phosphine at levels more than 200 times the normal lethal dose.

We have genetically mappedf and identified the genes responsible for phosphine resistance in tall major insect pests of stored grain. We are using a systems biology approach in the model organism C. elegans to understand the molecular basis of phosphine action. Our genetic studies have recently shown that resistance to phosphine is associated with an extension of lifespan

Availability

Associate Professor Paul Ebert is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Agricultural, Veterinary and Food Sciences Behavioural genetics Behavioural neuroscience Biological Sciences Biological psychology Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Crop and pasture post harvest technologies (incl. transportation and storage) Crop and pasture production Evolutionary psychological studies Gene expression (incl. microarray and other genome-wide approaches) Gene mapping Genetics Genomics Invertebrate biology Medical biochemistry - amino acids and metabolites Medical biochemistry and metabolomics Molecular evolution Neurogenetics Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences Psychology Psychopharmacology Zoology

Qualifications

  • Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), University of California-Riverside
  • Masters (Coursework) of Science, University of Washington
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Washington State University

Research interests

  • Genetics of mental health

    The genetics of mental health is notoriously difficult to study. I am developing behavioural assays in the model organism, Caenorhabditis elegans to study the genetics and neuropharmacology of anxiety and depression as well as anorexia and addiction.

  • Metabolic toxicology - fumigant toxicology

    I am interested in energy metabolism and mitochondrial function. My work is based around the toxicology of the agricultural fumigant, phosphine. The phosphine resistance gene, dld, not only results in phosphine resistance, but also modulates cellular energy metabolism.

Research impacts

Mental health

Anxiety is the most common mental health condition. Hundreds of candidate anxiety genes have been identified by human Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS), but the functions of these genes are difficult to study in humans or mammalian model organisms. We have developed behavioural assays using C. elegans that are allowing us to confirm the role in anxiety of the candidate genes identified by GWAS.

We have also identified a suite of compounds that can induce anorexia in C. elegans. This system is allowing us to test the limited number of candidate anorexia genes that have been identified by GWAS and to identify new genes by genetic screens.

Other research

Our discovery of the economically important phosphine resistance gene has allowed us to characterise resistance across Australia and India. It is now being use to monitor resistance management strategies in collaboration with major grain handling companies to improve commercial practice in Australia and India. This is the subject of a recent Australia-India AISRF project on which I was the UQ lead investigator. We have also used the gene marker to characterise resistance in Vietnam, China, Turkey. Others have used our work to characterise resistance in the USA and Brazil.

We have also sought to use our understanding of how phosphine works to identify synergistic gases that might be used to extend the useful life of phosphine as a grain fumigant. This work was supported by an ARC Discovery grant and a research grant from the Plant Biosecurity CRC.

We have also discovered the the phosphine resistance gene, dld, is a lifespan extending factor. Interestingly, it also protects against pathology in a C. elegans model of Alzheimer's disease, a serious ageing associated disease. Alzheimer's disease is a major disease of global importance with huge economic ramifications due to the level of care required by people who suffer from dementia. Our system allows us to explore the metabolic basis of the disease, an aspect that has until recently been largely neglected.

Search Professor Paul Ebert’s works on UQ eSpace

97 works between 1986 and 2024
All (97) Journal Article (78) Book Chapter (5) Conference Publication (12) Other Outputs (1) Edited Outputs (1)

21 - 40 of 97 works

2019

Journal Article

Oxygen and arsenite synergize phosphine toxicity by distinct mechanisms

Alzahrani, Saad M. and Ebert, Paul R. (2019). Oxygen and arsenite synergize phosphine toxicity by distinct mechanisms. Toxicological Sciences, 167 (2), 419-425. doi: 10.1093/toxsci/kfy248

Oxygen and arsenite synergize phosphine toxicity by distinct mechanisms

2019

Journal Article

Automated WormScan [version 3; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]

Puckering, Timothy, Thompson, Jake, Sathyamurthy, Sushruth, Sukumar, Sinduja, Shapira, Tirosh and Ebert, Paul (2019). Automated WormScan [version 3; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]. F1000Research, 6 192, 192. doi: 10.12688/f1000research.10767.3

Automated WormScan [version 3; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]

2018

Journal Article

Modeling meets metabolomics— the WormJam consensus model as basis for metabolic studies in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans

Witting, Michael, Hastings, Janna, Rodriguez, Nicolas, Joshi, Chintan J., Hattwell, Jake P. N., Ebert, Paul R., van Weeghel, Michel, Gao, Arwen W., Wakelam, Michael J. O., Houtkooper, Riekelt H., Mains, Abraham, Le Novère, Nicolas, Sadykoff, Sean, Schroeder, Frank, Lewis, Nathan E., Schirra, Horst-Joachim, Kaleta, Christoph and Casanueva, Olivia (2018). Modeling meets metabolomics— the WormJam consensus model as basis for metabolic studies in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences, 5 (NOV) 96, 96. doi: 10.3389/fmolb.2018.00096

Modeling meets metabolomics— the WormJam consensus model as basis for metabolic studies in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans

2018

Journal Article

Potential of co-fumigation with phosphine (PH3) and sulfuryl fluoride (SO2F2) for the management of strongly phosphine-resistant insect pests of stored grain

Jagadeesan, Rajeswaran, Singarayan, Virgine T, Chandra, Kerri, Ebert, Paul R and Nayak, Manoj K (2018). Potential of co-fumigation with phosphine (PH3) and sulfuryl fluoride (SO2F2) for the management of strongly phosphine-resistant insect pests of stored grain. Journal of Economic Entomology, 111 (6), 2956-2965. doi: 10.1093/jee/toy269

Potential of co-fumigation with phosphine (PH3) and sulfuryl fluoride (SO2F2) for the management of strongly phosphine-resistant insect pests of stored grain

2018

Journal Article

5-Methoxyindole-2-carboxylic acid (MICA) suppresses Aβ-mediated pathology in C. elegans

Ahmad, Waqar and Ebert, Paul R (2018). 5-Methoxyindole-2-carboxylic acid (MICA) suppresses Aβ-mediated pathology in C. elegans. Experimental Gerontology, 108, 215-225. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2018.04.021

5-Methoxyindole-2-carboxylic acid (MICA) suppresses Aβ-mediated pathology in C. elegans

2018

Journal Article

Stress pre-conditioning with temperature, UV and gamma radiation induces tolerance against phosphine toxicity

Alzahrani, Saad M. and Ebert, Paul R. (2018). Stress pre-conditioning with temperature, UV and gamma radiation induces tolerance against phosphine toxicity. PLoS One, 13 (4) e0195349, e0195349. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0195349

Stress pre-conditioning with temperature, UV and gamma radiation induces tolerance against phosphine toxicity

2018

Journal Article

Variant linkage analysis using de novo transcriptome sequencing identifies a conserved phosphine resistance gene in insects

Schlipalius, David I., Tuck, Andrew G., Jagadeesan, Rajeswaran, Nguyen, Tam, Kaur, Ramandeep, Subramanian, Sabtharishi, Barrero, Roberto, Nayak, Manoj and Ebert, Paul R. (2018). Variant linkage analysis using de novo transcriptome sequencing identifies a conserved phosphine resistance gene in insects. Genetics, 209 (1), 281-290. doi: 10.1534/genetics.118.300688

Variant linkage analysis using de novo transcriptome sequencing identifies a conserved phosphine resistance gene in insects

2017

Journal Article

WormJam: A consensus C. elegans Metabolic Reconstruction and Metabolomics Community and Workshop Series

Hastings, Janna, Mains, Abraham, Artal-Sanz, Marta, Bergmann, Sven, Braeckman, Bart P., Bundy, Jake, Cabreiro, Filipe, Dobson, Paul, Ebert, Paul, Hattwell, Jake, Hefzi, Hooman, Houtkooper, Riekelt H., Jelier, Rob, Joshi, Chintan, Kothamachu, Varun B., Lewis, Nathan, Lourenço, Artur Bastos, Nie, Yu, Norvaisas, Povilas, Pearce, Juliette, Riccio, Cristian, Rodriguez, Nicolas, Santermans, Toon, Scarcia, Pasquale, Schirra, Horst Joachim, Sheng, Ming, Smith, Reuben, Suriyalaksh, Manusnan, Towbin, Benjamin ... Casanueva, Olivia (2017). WormJam: A consensus C. elegans Metabolic Reconstruction and Metabolomics Community and Workshop Series. Worm, 6 (2), e1373939-00. doi: 10.1080/21624054.2017.1373939

WormJam: A consensus C. elegans Metabolic Reconstruction and Metabolomics Community and Workshop Series

2017

Journal Article

Automated wormscan [version 1; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]

Puckering, Timothy, Thompson, Jake, Sathyamurthy, Sushruth, Sukumar, Sinduja, Shapira, Tirosh and Ebert, Paul (2017). Automated wormscan [version 1; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]. F1000Research, 6 192, 192. doi: 10.12688/f1000research.10767.1

Automated wormscan [version 1; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]

2016

Journal Article

Effect of diet on phosphine toxicity, rate of development and reproduction of the rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae (Linnaeus)

Nguyen, Tam T., Kaur, Ramandeep, Schlipalius, David I., Collins, Patrick J. and Ebert, Paul R. (2016). Effect of diet on phosphine toxicity, rate of development and reproduction of the rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae (Linnaeus). Journal of Stored Products Research, 69, 221-226. doi: 10.1016/j.jspr.2016.08.012

Effect of diet on phosphine toxicity, rate of development and reproduction of the rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae (Linnaeus)

2016

Journal Article

The grand challenge of food security - general lessons from a comprehensive approach to protecting stored grain from insect pests in Australia and India

Walter, G. H., Chandrasekaran, S., Collins, P. J., Jagadeesan, R., Mohankumar, S., Alagusundaram, K., Ebert, P. R., Daglish, G. J., Nayak, M. K., Mohan, S., Srivastava, Chitra, Chadda, I. C., Rajagopal, A., Reid, R. and Subramanian, S. (2016). The grand challenge of food security - general lessons from a comprehensive approach to protecting stored grain from insect pests in Australia and India. Indian Journal of Entomology, 78 (special), 7-16. doi: 10.5958/0974-8172.2016.00020.1

The grand challenge of food security - general lessons from a comprehensive approach to protecting stored grain from insect pests in Australia and India

2016

Journal Article

Genetic conservation of phosphine resistance in the rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae (L.)

Nguyen, Tam T., Collins, Patrick J., Duong, Tu M., Schlipalius, David I. and Ebert, Paul R. (2016). Genetic conservation of phosphine resistance in the rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae (L.). Journal of Heredity, 107 (3), 228-237. doi: 10.1093/jhered/esw001

Genetic conservation of phosphine resistance in the rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae (L.)

2016

Journal Article

Genetic characterization of field-evolved resistance to phosphine in the rusty grain beetle, Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Laemophloeidae: Coleoptera)

Jagadeesan, Rajeswaran, Collins, Patrick J., Nayak, Manoj K., Schlipalius, David I. and Ebert, Paul R. (2016). Genetic characterization of field-evolved resistance to phosphine in the rusty grain beetle, Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Laemophloeidae: Coleoptera). Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology, 127, 67-75. doi: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2015.09.008

Genetic characterization of field-evolved resistance to phosphine in the rusty grain beetle, Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Laemophloeidae: Coleoptera)

2015

Journal Article

Inheritance and Characterization of Strong Resistance to Phosphine in Sitophilus oryzae (L.)

Nguyen, Tam T., Collins, Patrick J. and Ebert, Paul R. (2015). Inheritance and Characterization of Strong Resistance to Phosphine in Sitophilus oryzae (L.). PLoS One, 10 (4) e0124335, e0124335. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0124335

Inheritance and Characterization of Strong Resistance to Phosphine in Sitophilus oryzae (L.)

2015

Journal Article

Determining phosphine resistance in rust red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst.) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) populations from Turkey

Kocak, Erhan, Schlipalius, David, Kaur, Ramandeep, Tuck, Andrew, Ebert, Paul, Collins, Pat and Yilmaz, Abdullah (2015). Determining phosphine resistance in rust red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst.) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) populations from Turkey. Turkiye Entomoloji Dergisi, 39 (2), 129-136. doi: 10.16970/ted.17464

Determining phosphine resistance in rust red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst.) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) populations from Turkey

2015

Journal Article

Phosphine resistance in India is characterised by a dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase variant that is otherwise unobserved in eukaryotes

Kaur, R., Subbarayalu, M., Jagadeesan, R., Daglish, G. J., Nayak, M. K., Naik, H. R., Ramasamy, S., Subramanian, C., Ebert, P. R. and Schlipalius, D. I. (2015). Phosphine resistance in India is characterised by a dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase variant that is otherwise unobserved in eukaryotes. Heredity, 115 (3), 188-194. doi: 10.1038/hdy.2015.24

Phosphine resistance in India is characterised by a dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase variant that is otherwise unobserved in eukaryotes

2013

Journal Article

Do phosphine resistance genes influence movement and dispersal under starvation?

Kaur, Ramandeep, Ebert, Paul R., Walter, Gimme H., Swain, Anthony J. and Schlipalius, David I. (2013). Do phosphine resistance genes influence movement and dispersal under starvation?. Journal of Economic Entomology, 106 (5), 2259-2266. doi: 10.1603/EC13234

Do phosphine resistance genes influence movement and dispersal under starvation?

2013

Journal Article

Rapid genome wide mapping of phosphine resistance loci by a simple regional averaging analysis in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum

Jagadeesan, Rajeswaran, Fotheringham, Amelia, Ebert, Paul R. and Schlipalius, David I. (2013). Rapid genome wide mapping of phosphine resistance loci by a simple regional averaging analysis in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum. Bmc Genomics, 14 (1) 650, 650.1-650.11. doi: 10.1186/1471-2164-14-650

Rapid genome wide mapping of phosphine resistance loci by a simple regional averaging analysis in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum

2013

Journal Article

Determining changes in the distribution and abundance of a Rhyzopertha dominica phosphine resistance allele in farm grain storages using a DNA marker

Kaur, Ramandeep, Daniels, Emily V., Nayak, Manoj K., Ebert, Paul R. and Schlipalius, David I. (2013). Determining changes in the distribution and abundance of a Rhyzopertha dominica phosphine resistance allele in farm grain storages using a DNA marker. Pest Management Science, 69 (6), 685-688. doi: 10.1002/ps.3514

Determining changes in the distribution and abundance of a Rhyzopertha dominica phosphine resistance allele in farm grain storages using a DNA marker

2013

Journal Article

Frogs and estivation: transcriptional insights into metabolism and cell survival in a natural model of extended muscle disuse

Reilly, Beau D., Schlipalius, David I., Cramp, Rebecca L., Ebert, Paul R. and Franklin, Craig E. (2013). Frogs and estivation: transcriptional insights into metabolism and cell survival in a natural model of extended muscle disuse. Physiological Genomics, 45 (10), 377-388. doi: 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00163.2012

Frogs and estivation: transcriptional insights into metabolism and cell survival in a natural model of extended muscle disuse

Past funding

  • 2024
    Toward a rapid antibody test (RAT) for phosphine resistant insect pests of stored grain
    Australia's Economic Accelerator Seed Grants
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2023
    Research and development into innovative grain refrigeration processes to disrupt breeding of established grain pests in response to resistance to grain insecticides
    Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2024
    Optimisation of phosphine fumigation under low oxygen
    Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2020
    National resistance monitoring for insect pests of stored grain (GRDC grant administered by QDAF)
    Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
    Open grant
  • 2019
    A versatile accurate mass, high resolution QTOF mass spectrometer for chemistry and proteomic applications
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2020
    Deploying biotechnology based decision making tools in postharvest grain pest management to enhance food security and market access [AISRF administered by DAF]
    Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
    Open grant
  • 2015
    A sensitive, high resolution QTOF mass spectrometer with nanoUPLC system for qualitative and quantitative biomolecule analysis.
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2015
    Beyond genomes, transcriptomes and proteomes: high throughput analysis of gene and protein expression and function
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2018
    DNA Marker development and their use in monitoring and eradication of phosphine resistance in stored grain pests
    Plant Biosecurity CRC
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2017
    Investigation of new control options for phosphine resistant pests of stored grain
    Plant Biosecurity CRC
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2016
    Comparative toxicology of a fumigant and gasotransmitters: Testing a new model of fumigant toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2016
    Ensuring food security: harnessing science to protect our grain harvest from insect threats
    Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research - Australia-India Strategic Research Fund
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2012
    Targeting mechanisms of phosphine resistance in stored grain pests
    Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation
    Open grant
  • 2009
    Building Capacity in Quantitative Genomics
    UQ School/Centre Co-Funding
    Open grant
  • 2008
    Controlled Environment Facilities for the Challenges of the 21st Century
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2008
    A national curriculum for entomology: Capacity building through collaborative, web-based delivery
    Carrick Competitive Grants
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2010
    Diagnostic technologies for phosphine resistance
    QLD Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries
    Open grant
  • 2007
    Ecology of resistance to phosphine in insect pests of stored grain
    QLD Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries
    Open grant
  • 2006
    Real time PCR and nanoparticle diagnostic facilities for high-throughput quantitative analysis of genomic structure and gene expression
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2007
    Genetics of longevity and the delay of post-reproductive senescence
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2005
    Devising Improved Pest Control Strategies Via Integrated Genomic, Physiological And Toxicological Profiling
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2004
    The Insect-Plant Chemical Ecology Network (IPCEN)
    ARC Seed Funding for Research Networks
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2007
    Validation of resistance-gene-specific and quantitative markers of phosphine resistance in stored grain pests
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2002 - 2004
    Beyond the gene: Linking herbivore behaviour to plant defense gene expression.
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2000 - 2002
    Genetic and biochemical markers for strategic management of phosphine resistance in stored grain pests
    ARC Collaborative Grant (SPIRT)
    Open grant
  • 2000
    Toward isolation of phosphine resistance genes from the lesser Grain Borer: Physical characterisation of the genome.
    ARC Australian Research Council (Small grants)
    Open grant
  • 1999
    Functional analysis of a new class of dopamine receptor
    ARC Australian Research Council (Small grants)
    Open grant
  • 1998
    Neuromodulator receptors as markers of brain plasticity in a social insect
    Brain Research Fund
    Open grant
  • 1997
    An integrated behavioural genetic and physical neurogenetic map of the honey bee genome
    UQ External Support Enabling Grant
    Open grant
  • 1996
    Saturation cloning and behavioural analysis of a neuromodulator receptor gene family from the honey bee
    UQ Foundation
    Open grant

Availability

Associate Professor Paul Ebert is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Available projects

  • Phosphine toxicology

    This project is focused on energy metabolism and mitochondrial function as it relates to the toxicology of the agricultural fumigant, phosphine. This project employs a systems biology approach that ionvolves bioinformatics, genomics, metabolomics and functional genetics in the model organism, Caenorhabditis elegans.

  • Genetics of mental health

    A major focus of my lab is investigating the genetics of mental health in the genetic model organism, C. elegans. The fundamental insight that makes it possible to study mental health in a nematode like C. elegans is that at the foundation of every behavioural disorder is a completely normal evolved behaviour. Thus, to study anxiety, the most widespread mental health problem that affects society, one has only to recognise that it is a component of harm avoidance mechanisms. Every animal has the ability to detect and evaluate potential harms, so the genetics of harm avoidance can provide fundamental insight into a bewildering array of anxiety disorders that currently lack a unifying theoretical foundation.

    My lab is using a combination of psychoactive drugs, C. elegans strains with neural signalling mutations and the tools of systems biology to study:

    1. Eating disorders
    2. Addiction
    3. Anxiety

    And possibly:

    1. Depression
    2. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
    3. Learning and forgetting

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Transposon Activation as an Adaptive Stress Response in C. elegans

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Sandie Degnan

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Comparative analysis of instinctual feeding behaviour and addiction in the genetic model organism, C. elegans.

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Steven Zuryn

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Pharmacogenetics of anorexia in the model organism C.elegans

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Steven Zuryn

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Comparative analysis of instinctual feeding behaviour and addiction in the genetic model organism, C. elegans.

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Steven Zuryn

  • Master Philosophy

    Mechanisms of phosphine toxicity under low oxygen

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Insect P450s for degradation of polyethylene plastic

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Elizabeth Gillam

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Associate Professor Paul Ebert directly for media enquiries about:

  • C elegans - genetics
  • Fumigant phosphine resistance in insects
  • Genetics - C elegans
  • Grain storage insects
  • Insect fumigants
  • Insect genetics

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