Professor Scott Cummins
Time: Thursday, 30 November 2017, 11:00am
Venue: Cairns room A003-002
In aquatic environments, where the vast majority of animals have very limited vision, many key relationships are established through chemosensory communication, including mate finding and parasite host finding. In terrestrial environments, volatile molecules represent the ‘odorome’ and are most often used for distance communication in animals, whereas aquatic animals use water-soluble ‘excretory-secretory’ biomolecules. We have characterised some of the first aquatic water-borne peptide pheromones, which when released, promote species-specific attraction, reproduction and aggression. Most recently, this has included exoproteins released by the Crown-of-Thorns starfish and Biomphalaria snails. We believe that by understanding the role of these exoproteins in relation to intra- and inter-species communication, we can manipulate ecological interactions. This may be particularly helpful in controlling aquatic pests and interrupting the life cycle of many helminth parasites at the aquatic stage.
Dr Scott Cummins is an Associate Professor in Molecular Biology. After obtaining his PhD at Deakin University, he has worked at The University of Texas and The University of Queensland, before taking residence at the University of the Sunshine Coast to develop the Molecular Communication group. His research is about revealing basic gaps in our understanding of the gene and protein machinery that underlie cell communication. Research support funding includes ARC Discovery Projects, ARC Future Fellowship, FRDC and Reef2050.
