Microbiology

Head: Professor R L Coppel
Address: Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton 3168
Telephone: (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 pathogenicity islands in Shigella; vaccine development in pasteurellosis; molecular analysis of pathogenesis in pasteurellosis; role of surface components of Haemophilus.
• + Molecular analysis of antibiotic resistance determinants of clostridia; molecular approaches to the pathogenesis of clostridial myonecrosis; molecular approaches to the pathogenesis of ovine footrot; molecular genetics of clostridial transposons; regulation of toxin production in Clostridium perfringens.
• + Genetics of DNA repair and recombination systems in Neisseria gonorrhoeae, regulation of piliation 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 characterize 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.