Microbiology

Head: Professor R L Coppel

Address: Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, 3168

Phone: (03) 9905 4820

Infection and immunity in leptospirosis. Molecular analysis of leptospiral antigens. Development of vaccines against leptospirosis. Genetics of virulence in bacillary dysentery and the regulation of virulence genes of Shigella. Vaccine development in pasteurellosis. Molecular analysis of pathogenesis in pasteurellosis.
Molecular analysis of antibiotic resistance determinants of clostridia. Molecular approaches to the pathogenesis of clostridial myonecrosis. Molecular approaches to the pathogenesis and diagnosis of ovine footrot. Molecular genetics of clostridial transponsons. Regulation of toxin production in Clostridium perfringens.
The microbiology of the biological removal of phosphate from waste water/sewage. The project is aimed at obtaining a better understanding of the process so that treatment systems can be designed and monitored to operate more efficiently and reliably. The physiology and genetics of Acinetobacter.
Genetics of DNA repair and recombination systems in Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Biogenesis of pili and other cell surface components of gonococci. Virulence and other gonococcal regulons.
Role of Actinomyces israelii in endodontic infections.
Dengue and other flavivirus infections: expression of viral genes in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Assays of virus-encoded protease and polymerase activities.
Characterisation of small round-structured 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.
Seroepidemiology of malaria infection. Interactions between malaria proteins and the human red blood cell. Biorheology of malaria infection. Molecular biology of malaria antigens and design of malaria vaccine.
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; analysis of fungi of medical importance; nitrate transport in filamentous fungi.

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