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Professor Rob Capon

Professorial Research Fellow - GL

Institute for Molecular Bioscience

Affiliate Professorial Res Fellow

School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences
Faculty of Science
r.capon@imb.uq.edu.au
+61 7 334 62372
+61 7 334 62979

Overview

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.

Research Interests

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Western Australia
  • Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), University of Western Australia

Publications

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Grants

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Supervision

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Publications

Featured Publications

Book Chapter

  • Microbioreactor techniques for the production and spectroscopic characterization of microbial peptides

    Khalil, Zeinab G., Salim, Angela A. and Capon, Robert J. (2020). Microbioreactor techniques for the production and spectroscopic characterization of microbial peptides. Peptide synthesis: methods and protocols. (pp. 303-322) edited by Waleed M. Hussein, Mariusz Skwarczynski and Istvan Toth. New York, NY, United States: Humana Press. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0227-0_21

  • Nuclear magnetic resonance case studies in marine natural products

    Salim, Angela A., Piggott, Andrew M. and Capon, Robert J. (2017). Nuclear magnetic resonance case studies in marine natural products. Modern NMR Approaches to the Structure Elucidation of Natural Products: Volume 2: Data Acquisition and Applications to Compound Classes. (pp. 403-439) edited by Antony J. Williams, Gary E. Martin and David Rovnyak. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Royal Society of Chemistry. doi: 10.1039/9781849734684-00403

  • Nuclear magnetic resonance case studies in microbial natural products

    Piggott, Andrew M., Salim, Angela A. and Capon, Robert J. (2017). Nuclear magnetic resonance case studies in microbial natural products. Modern NMR Approaches to the Structure Elucidation of Natural Products: Volume 2: Data Acquisition and Applications to Compound Classes. (pp. 440-485) edited by Antony J. Williams, Gary E. Martin and David Rovnyak. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Royal Society of Chemistry. doi: 10.1039/9781849734684-00440

  • Biologically active natural products from Australian marine organisms

    Capon, Robert J. (2012). Biologically active natural products from Australian marine organisms. Bioactive compounds from natural sources. (pp. 579-602) edited by Corrado Tringali. London, United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis. doi: 10.1201/b11196-18

  • Natural products and pharmacognosy research in Australia

    Blunt, B. W., Capon, R. J., Clark, B. J. and Munro, M. H. G. (2009). Natural products and pharmacognosy research in Australia. The American Society of Pharmacognosy: 50 years of progress in natural products. (pp. 148-150) edited by G. M. Cragg. Madison, WI United States: The American Society of Pharmacognosy.

  • Use of Chemical Ecology for control of the cane toad

    Hayes, R. A., Barrett, A., Alewood, P. F., Grigg, G. C. and Capon, R. J. (2008). Use of Chemical Ecology for control of the cane toad. Chemical Signals in Vertebrates 11. (pp. 409-417) edited by Hurst, J. L., Beynon, R. J., Roberts, S. C. and Wyatt, T. D.. University of Chester, United Kingdom: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-0-387-73945-8_39

Journal Article

Conference Publication

  • Investigating the role of bioactives produced by gut bacteria to modulate immune response in inflammatory bowel disease

    Giri, R., Shamsunnahar, K., Salim, A., Capon, R., Morrison, M., Cuiv, P. O. and Begun, J. (2020). Investigating the role of bioactives produced by gut bacteria to modulate immune response in inflammatory bowel disease. 15th Congress of ECCO, Vienna, Austria, 12-15 February 2020. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjz203.035

  • Development of polymer-based nanoparticulate intranasal lipopeptide vaccine constructs against group A streptococcus

    Nevagi, Reshma Jayprakash, Dai, Wei, Khalil, Zeinab, Hussein, Waleed, Capon, Robert, Skwarczynski, Mariusz and Toth, Istvan (2019). Development of polymer-based nanoparticulate intranasal lipopeptide vaccine constructs against group A streptococcus. National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS), Orlando, FL, United States, 31 March - 4 April, 2019. Washington, DC, United States: American Chemical Society.

  • Predicting blood-brain barrier permeability of marine-derived kinase inhibitors

    Plisson, Fabien, Piggott, Andrew, Hamilton, Nicholas and Capon, Robert (2018). Predicting blood-brain barrier permeability of marine-derived kinase inhibitors. 256th National Meeting and Exposition of the American-Chemical-Society (ACS) - Nanoscience, Nanotechnology and Beyond, Boston, MA, United States, 19-23 August 2018. Washington, DC, United States: American Chemical Society (ASC).

  • Talaropeptides A–D: Structure and biosynthesis of extensively N-methylated linear peptides from an Australian marine tunicate-derived Talaromyces sp.

    Dewapriya, Pradeep, Khalil, Zeinab G., Prasad, Pritesh, Salim, Angela A., Morales, Pablo C., Marcellin, Esteban and Capon, Robert J. (2018). Talaropeptides A–D: Structure and biosynthesis of extensively N-methylated linear peptides from an Australian marine tunicate-derived Talaromyces sp.. American Society of Pharmacognosy Annual Meeting ASP 2018, Lexington, KY United States, 21-25 July 2018.

  • 2D C3 Marfey’s method for amino acid analysis and structure elucidation in peptidic natural products

    Dewapriya, Pradeep, Prasad, Pritesh, Khalil, Zeinab G. and Capon, Robert J. (2017). 2D C3 Marfey’s method for amino acid analysis and structure elucidation in peptidic natural products. Queensland Annual Chemistry Symposium, Brisbane, Australia, 27 November 2017.

  • Talarolide A, a cyclic heptapeptide hydroxamate from an Australian marine tunicate-associated fungus, Talaromyces sp.

    Dewapriya, Pradeep, Prasad, Pritesh, Damodar, Rakesh, Salim, Angela A. and Capon, Robert J. (2017). Talarolide A, a cyclic heptapeptide hydroxamate from an Australian marine tunicate-associated fungus, Talaromyces sp.. 2nd International Conference of Marine Fungal Natural Products, Kiel, Germany, 27-29 June 2017.

  • New small molecule analgesics that target the ALPHA3 glycine receptor

    Lynch, J., Talwar, S., Xiao, X., Balansa, W., Islam, R., Fontaine, F., Piggott, A., Zhang, H., Webb, T., Gilbert, D., Vaughan, C. and Capon, R. (2015). New small molecule analgesics that target the ALPHA3 glycine receptor. 25th Biennial Meeting of the International Society for Neurochemistry Jointly with the 13th Meeting of the Asian Pacific Society for Neurochemistry in Conjunction with the 35th Meeting of the Australasian Neuroscience Society, Cairns, QLD Australia, 23-27 August 2015. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/jnc.13185

  • Synthesising and characterising new ivermectin analogues targeting ligand-gated chloride channels

    Islam, R., Xiao, X., Capon, R. and Lynch, J. (2015). Synthesising and characterising new ivermectin analogues targeting ligand-gated chloride channels. 25th Biennial Meeting of the International Society for Neurochemistry Jointly with the 13th Meeting of the Asian Pacific Society for Neurochemistry in Conjunction with the 35th Meeting of the Australasian Neuroscience Society, Cairns, QLD Australia, 23-27 August 2015. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/jnc.13188

  • Viridicatumtoxins: Exploring structural diversity and antibiotic properties

    Shang, Z., Salim, A. A., Khalil, Z. G., Quezada, M., Bernhardt, P. V. and Capon, R. J. (2015). Viridicatumtoxins: Exploring structural diversity and antibiotic properties. Annual Meeting of the American-Society-of-Pharmacognosy, Copper Mountain, CO, United States, 25-29 July 2015. Stuttgart, Germany: Georg Thieme. doi: 10.1055/s-0035-1556338

  • Identifying novel factors required for legume nodule development and autoregulation.

    Ferguson, B. J., Lin, Y. -H., Reid, D. E., Hayashi, S., Lin, M. -H., Zhang, H., Capon, R. and Gresshoff, P. M. (2010). Identifying novel factors required for legume nodule development and autoregulation.. OzBio2010 combined conference, Melbourne, Australia, 26 September - 1 October 2010.

  • Functional genomic analysis of systemic cell division regulation in legumes

    Gresshoff, P. M., Indrasumunar, A., Miyahara, A., Nontachaiyapoom, S., Biswas, B., Lin, Y-H., Lin, M-H, Reid, D., Callahan, D., Capon, R., Zhang, H., Jiang, Q., Hirani, T., Kobe, B., Men, A., Scott, P., Kereszt, A., Miyagi, M., Li, D., Chan, P-K., Roessner, U., Djordjevic, M. A., Kinkema, M. and Ferguson, B. (2009). Functional genomic analysis of systemic cell division regulation in legumes. International Symposium on Induced Mutations in Plants, Vienna, Austria, 2–15 August 2008. Vienna, Austria: Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture.

  • Australian marine biodiscovery

    Capon, R. J. (2008). Australian marine biodiscovery. 7th Joint Meeting of the Association-Francophone-pour-l'Enselgnement-et-la-Recherche-en-Pharmacognosie/American-Society-of-Pharmacognosy/Society-for-Medicinal-Plant-Research/Phytochem-Society-of-Europe/Societa-Italiana-di-Fitochimica, Athens Greece, Aug 03-08, 2008. STUTTGART: GEORG THIEME VERLAG KG.

  • Bioassays in biodiscovery

    Capon, R. J. and Fontaine, F. (2008). Bioassays in biodiscovery. 7th Joint Meeting of the Association-Francophone-pour-l'Enselgnement-et-la-Recherche-en-Pharmacognosie/American-Society-of-Pharmacognosy/Society-for-Medicinal-Plant-Research/Phytochem-Society-of-Europe/Societa-Italiana-di-Fitochimica, Athens Greece, Aug 03-08, 2008. STUTTGART: GEORG THIEME VERLAG KG.

  • Cane toad chemical ecology: controlling an invasive pest

    Capon, R. J., Hayes, R. A., Hagman, M. and Shine, R. (2008). Cane toad chemical ecology: controlling an invasive pest. 7th Joint Meeting of the Association-Francophone-pour-l'Enselgnement-et-la-Recherche-en-Pharmacognosie/American-Society-of-Pharmacognosy/Society-for-Medicinal-Plant-Research/Phytochem-Society-of-Europe/Societa-Italiana-di-Fitochimica, Athens Greece, Aug 03-08, 2008. STUTTGART: GEORG THIEME VERLAG KG.

  • Metabolites from Australian marine microbes

    Capon, R. J. and Ritesh, R. (2008). Metabolites from Australian marine microbes. 7th Joint Meeting of the Association-Francophone-pour-l'Enselgnement-et-la-Recherche-en-Pharmacognosie/American-Society-of-Pharmacognosy/Society-for-Medicinal-Plant-Research/Phytochem-Society-of-Europe/Societa-Italiana-di-Fitochimica, Athens Greece, Aug 03-08, 2008. STUTTGART: GEORG THIEME VERLAG KG.

  • Novel cytotoxic heterocycles from southern Australian marine sponges

    Capon, R. J., El-Naggar, M. and Zhang, H. (2008). Novel cytotoxic heterocycles from southern Australian marine sponges. 7th Joint Meeting of the Association-Francophone-pour-l'Enselgnement-et-la-Recherche-en-Pharmacognosie/American-Society-of-Pharmacognosy/Society-for-Medicinal-Plant-Research/Phytochem-Society-of-Europe/Societa-Italiana-di-Fitochimica, Athens Greece, Aug 03-08, 2008. STUTTGART: GEORG THIEME VERLAG KG.

  • Pyrrolylpolyenes from fungi: biosynthesis and analogue production

    Clark, B. R., Tennant, S., Gill, J. H., Lacey, E., Capon, R. J. and Murphy, C. D. (2008). Pyrrolylpolyenes from fungi: biosynthesis and analogue production. 7th Joint Meeting of the Association-Francophone-pour-l'Enselgnement-et-la-Recherche-en-Pharmacognosie/American-Society-of-Pharmacognosy/Society-for-Medicinal-Plant-Research/Phytochem-Society-of-Europe/Societa-Italiana-di-Fitochimica, Athens Greece, Aug 03-08, 2008. STUTTGART: GEORG THIEME VERLAG KG.

  • Use of chemical ecology for control of the cane toad?

    Hayes, R. Andrew, Barrett, Alexis, Alewood, Paul F., Grigg, Gordon C. and Capon, Robert J. (2008). Use of chemical ecology for control of the cane toad?. 11th International Symposium on Chemical Signals in Vertebrates, Chester England, Jul 25-28, 2006. New York United States: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-0-387-73945-8_39

  • Cane Toad Chemical Ecology: Getting to Know Your Enemy

    Capon, Robert, Hayes, R. A. and Grigg, G. C. (2006). Cane Toad Chemical Ecology: Getting to Know Your Enemy. Science of Cane Toad Invasion and Control.. Invasive Animals CRC/CSIRO/Qld NRM&W Cane Toad Workshop, Brisbane, 5-6 June 2006. Canberra: Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre.

  • Toxic Analogues of Wedeloside and Carboxyatractyloside From Australian Plant Species

    Calanasan, CA, Capon, RJ, Gaul, KL, Klingenberg, M, Macleod, JK, Moeller, Pdr and Oelrichs, PB (1994). Toxic Analogues of Wedeloside and Carboxyatractyloside From Australian Plant Species. 4th International Symposium on Poisonous Plants (ISOPP4), Fremantle Australia, Sep 26-Oct 01, 1993. TUCSON: UNIV ARIZONA PRESS.

  • Interaction of Affinity Labels with Uterine Estrogen-Receptor

    Ratajczak, T, Sheppard, PN, Capon, RJ and Hahnel, R (1980). Interaction of Affinity Labels with Uterine Estrogen-Receptor. STUTTGART: WISSENSCHAFTLICHE VERLAG MBH.

Other Outputs

Grants (Administered at UQ)

PhD and MPhil Supervision

Current Supervision

  • Microbial Biodiscovery: Exploring the Natural Products of Australian microorganisms

    Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • Medicinal chemistry of new Nature-inspired treatments for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

    Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • The discovery of new antibiotics to combat drug resistance

    Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • New antiparasitics to protect Australian livestock

    Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • Towards the sustainable discovery and development of new antibiotics

    Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • Dissecting the bacterial cell envelope for antibiotic drug discovery

    Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • Novel assays for antibiotic discovery

    Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • New Antibiotic Natural Products from Australian Microbes

    Master Philosophy — Associate Advisor

    Other advisors:

Completed Supervision

This staff member is a UQ Expert for media in the following fields:

Microbial biodiscovery, Drug discovery, Cane toad control, Chemical ecology, Natural products chemistry, Marine biodiscovery

They are happy to lend their expertise to your articles or broadcasts and share their research discoveries and insights with the community via media channels.

For additional assistance with story ideas, general advice and information or help with seeking further experts, please email the UQ Media Team or telephone (07) 3365 1120.

Links

ResearcherID: G-9238-2012

ORCID: 0000-0002-8341-7754

Scopus ID: 7005012355

Google Scholar ID: 2wSWLjcAAAAJ

Personal Profile: Link

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