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Professor Rob Harding
Faculty of Science,
School of Biology & Environmental Science
Biography
Biography: Prof Harding has been involved in agricultural biotechnology research for more than 30 years. His research initially focused on the characterization of economically important plant viruses affecting sub-tropical/tropical crops and the development of sensitive and reliable diagnostic tests. During the last 15 years, his research focus has shifted towards the control of two devastating banana diseases: Bunchy top caused by Banana bunchy top virus and Panama disease TR4 caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense. A variety of different conventional and novel strategies are being used in this research including gene silencing, the patented INPACT technology and the use of plant resistance (R) genes. Both gene modification and gene-editing approaches are being investigated. Prof Harding is also involved in a Bill and Melinda Gates-funded project generating pro-vitamin A-biofortified bananas, the staple food of Uganda, to combat malnutrition in East Africa. Research program: Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy Research areas1. Characterisation, detection and control of single-stranded DNA plant viruses (geminiviruses and nanoviruses). These viruses cause some of the most important plant diseases worldwide for which there are currently no effective control measures available. We are investigating the replication strategy of these viruses and other aspects of their lifecycle to identify weak links which can be exploited to develop novel resistance strategies using both GM and gene-editing approaches. 2. Control of Panama disease TR4 of banana. Bananas are one of the world's most important staple food crops but production is threatened by the fungal disease known as TR4. This research focuses on the development of resistant plants using both GM (plant-derived R genes) and gene-editing strategies. Field trials of the most promising lines are currently in progress. 3. Enhancement of pro-vitamin A (pVA) levels in Ugandan bananas. Bananas are a staple food in Uganda but are deficient in pVA which can result in malnutrition. We are spear-heading an international effort to genetically engineer pVA-fortified bananas for release to farmers in Uganda in 2021. We are also investigating the use of gene-editing to achieve this outcome. 4. Enhancement of banana fruit quality. We are using both GM and gene-editing strategies to generate bananas with enhanced fruit qualities including increased levels of health-promoting compounds and non-browning. Areas of expertise
- Characterization, detection and control of ssDNA plant viruses
- Development and application of GM and gene-editing strategies for the control of Panama disease of banana
- Development and application of GM and gene-editing strategies to enhance banana fruit quality
- Gene technology regulations
Personal details
Positions
- Professor
Faculty of Science,
School of Biology & Environmental Science
Keywords
Banana, Plant Pathology, Disease Resistance, Biofortification, Genetic Engineering, Viruses
Research field
Agricultural biotechnology, Crop and pasture production, Microbiology
Field of Research code, Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC), 2020
Qualifications
- PhD (University of Queensland)
- BSc(Hons) (University of Queensland)
- BSc (University of Queensland)
Teaching
Teaching areas Prof Harding is currently the unit coordinator for the undergraduate unit "Principles of Genomics and Biotechnology". He also teaches into several other units including "Plant Biology" and "Grand Challenges in Science".
Experience
Professional Experience:
- 2011 Professor in Plant Biotechnology, School of Earth, Environmental and Biological Sciences
- 2002 Associate Professor in Plant Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences
- 2000 Associate Director (Commercialisation), Centre for Molecular Biotechnology
- 1998 Head of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, QUT
- 1997 Senior Lecturer, School of Life Sciences, QUT
- 1991 Lecturer, School of Life Sciences, QUT
- 1990 Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Life Sciences, QUT
Publications
- Dale, J., James, A., Paul, J., Khanna, H., Smith, M., Peraza-Echeverria, S., Garcia-Bastidas, F., Kema, G., Waterhouse, P., Mengersen, K. & Harding, R. (2017). Transgenic Cavendish bananas with resistance to Fusarium wilt tropical race 4. Nature Communications, 8, 1–8. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/114457
- Peraza Echeverria, S., Dale, J., Harding, R. & Collet, C. (2009). Molecular cloning and in silico analysis of potential Fusarium resistance genes in banana. Molecular Breeding, 23(3), 431–443. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/17105
- Paul, J., Khanna, H., Kleidon, J., Hoang, P., Geijskes, J., Daniells, J., Zaplin, E., Rosenberg, Y., James, A., Mlalazi, B., Deo, P., Arinaitwe, G., Namanya, P., Becker, D., Tindamanyire, J., Tushemereirwe, W., Harding, R. & Dale, J. (2017). Golden bananas in the field: elevated fruit pro-vitamin A from the expression of a single banana transgene. Plant Biotechnology Journal, 15(4), 520–532. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/100049
- Dugdale, B., Mortimer, C., Kato, M., James, T., Harding, R. & Dale, J. (2013). In plant activation: An inducible, hyperexpression platform for recombinant protein production in plants. The Plant Cell, 25(7), 2429–2443. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/62398
- Kleidon, J., Brinin, A., Paul, J., Harding, R., Dale, J. & Dugdale, B. (2020). Production of selectable marker gene-free Cavendish banana (Musa spp.) using a steroid-inducible recombinase platform. Transgenic Research, 29(1), 81–93. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/205517
- Paul, J., Harding, R., Tushemereirwe, W. & Dale, J. (2018). Banana21: From gene discovery to deregulated golden bananas. Frontiers in Plant Science, 9. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/223915
- Dugdale, B., Kato, M., Deo, P., Plan, M., Harrison, M., Lloyd, R., Walsh, T., Harding, R. & Dale, J. (2018). Production of human vitronectin in Nicotiana benthamiana using the INPACT hyperexpression platform. Plant Biotechnology Journal, 16(2), 394–403. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/223102
- Dugdale, B., Mortimer, C., Kato, M., James, T., Harding, R. & Dale, J. (2014). Design and construction of an in-plant activation cassette for transgene expression and recombinant protein production in plants. Nature Protocols, 9(5), 1010–1027. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/70642
- Dale, J., Paul, J., Dugdale, B. & Harding, R. (2017). Modifying bananas: From transgenics to organics? Sustainability, 9(3), 1–13. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/105658
- Sukal, A., Kidanemariam, D., Dale, J., Harding, R. & James, A. (2019). Assessment and optimization of rolling circle amplification protocols for the detection and characterization of badnaviruses. Virology, 529, 73–80. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/125020
QUT ePrints
For more publications by Rob, explore their research in QUT ePrints (our digital repository).
Selected research projects
- Title
- A platform for the continuous genetic improvement of accepted cultivars of vegetatively propagated horticultural crops (HAL)
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- AI13008
- Start year
- 2013
- Keywords
- Bananas; Cisgenics; Intergenerational Transgene Stability; Marker Free Transformation; Potatoes
- Title
- Extreme Expression: Building a Platform for Industrial Plant Biotechnology
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- FS100100083
- Start year
- 2011
- Keywords
- Biofarming; Transgene Expression; Silencing; Inducible Expression
- Title
- Generation of Bananas with Resistance to Fusarium Wilt
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- LP110100186
- Start year
- 2011
- Keywords
- Fusarium Wilt; Apoptosis Genes; R Genes; Banana
Projects listed above are funded by Australian Competitive Grants. Projects funded from other sources are not listed due to confidentiality agreements.
Supervision
Completed supervisions (Doctorate)
- Molecular Characterization and Diagnosis of Badnaviruses Infecting Yams in the South Pacific (2018)
- Viruses of Taro and other Edible Aroids in East Africa (2018)
- Assessment of Banana Streak MY virus-based infectious clone vectors in Musa ssp (2017)
- Development of Banana Bunchy Top Virus Resistance in Bananas: RNAi Approach (2016)
- Enhancing the Resilience of Bt Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] for Insect Resistance Management (2016)
- Evaluation of Transgenic Bananas Expressing Anti-Apoptotic Genes for Resistance Against Fusarium Wilt (2015)
- Molecular Characterisation and Carotenoid Quantification of Pro-vitamin A Biofortified Genetically Modified Bananas in Uganda (2015)
- Development of a Transient, High-level Expression Platform for Protein Production in Plants (2014)
- Strategies for Improved Disease Resistance in Micro-propagated Bananas (2013)
Completed supervisions (Masters by Research)
The supervisions listed above are only a selection.