Microbiology
Head: Professor R L Coppel
Address: Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton 3168
Telephone: (03) 9905 4820
Fax: (03) 9905 4811
Email: ross.coppel@med.monash.edu.au
- Infection and immunity in leptospirosis; molecular analysis of
leptospiral antigens; development of vaccines against leptospirosis; genetics
of virulence in bacillary dysentery and pathogenicity islands in
Shigella; vaccine development in pasteurellosis; molecular analysis of
pathogenesis in pasteurellosis; role of surface components of
Haemophilus in infection.
- Molecular analysis of antibiotic resistance determinants of clostridia;
molecular approaches to the pathogenesis of clostridial myonecrosis or gas
gangrene; molecular approaches to the pathogenesis of ovine footrot; molecular
genetics of clostridial transposons; regulation of toxin production in
Clostridium perfringens.
- Regulation of virulence determinants in Neisseria gonorrhoeae and
Neisseria meningitidis; repetitive DNA sequences in Neisseria species.
- Dengue and other flavivirus infections: expression of viral genes in
prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Mutagenesis of infectious clones of dengue
virus type 2.
- Characterisation of small round-structured ('Norwalk-like') viruses
associated with gastroenteritis.
- Viruses infecting the commercial mushroom Agaricus bisporus.
- The molecular analysis of plant potyviruses: The potyvirus are the
largest group of plant viruses. The project is aimed at identifying the genes
and regulatory sequences involved in viral replication, movement and symptom
induction in the host. Gene expression and mutagenesis studies are being
performed to identify the functional role of viral proteins in the potyviral
lifecycle.
- Characterisation of viruses infecting Phytophthora cinnamomi:
this fungus is responsible for large-scale destruction of native vegetation.
The project aims to characterise any viruses which infect the fungus and to
assess their potential for biocontrol of the fungus.
- Development of vaccines against malaria; seroepidemiology of malaria
infection; study of immune responses to malaria; interactions between malaria
proteins and the human red blood cell; biorheology of malaria infection;
molecular biology of malaria antigens and design of malaria vaccine; study of
aspects of malaria parasite metabolism.
- Immunological and biochemical factors in tuberculosis infection;
pathways involved in cell wall synthesis in mycobacteria; development of new
anti-tuberculosis drugs; drug resistance in tuberculosis.
- Secondary metabolism in fungi; molecular analysis of fungi of medical
importance; nitrate transport in Aspergillus nidulans; development of
antifungal drugs.
wwwdev@monash.edu.au
Tue Oct 6 02:34:14 EST 1998