Microbes & Pathogen Biology

The primary focus of the Microbe and Pathogen Biology research group is the study of fundamental biological processes in cells, microbes and parasites as well as applied processes in environmental microbiology, parasitology and disease control.  The group provides a broad platform of fundamental and applied expertise in the biosciences, including: molecular biology; cell biology and cell signalling; microbial biochemistry and genomics; stress metabolism; bioremediation; parasite biology, physiology and therapeutics; protein biochemistry, expression and engineering; peptide/protein modelling and synthesis; nucleic acid structure and function; bioimaging.

This diverse array of interests, ranging from protein modelling, through microbiology to parasite control, is linked by common approaches within the molecular biosciences that are aimed at exploiting the ongoing genomic, transcriptomic/proteomic revolution.  The molecular microbiology component is heavily involved with QUESTOR, a successful International Industry/University Co-operative Research Centre.  The food safety and nutritional research elements are linked with the Institute for Global Food Security which aims to exploit cutting-edge technologies to drive a competitive and sustainable agricultural sector.  The group has a wide range of strong international links across Europe, Asia and North America.

Research staff

Professor Chris Allen 
Prokaryote biochemistry, biocatalysis and biotransformation.
 
Pathogen biology, parasite functional genomics, bioinformatics.
 
Host-microbiome interactions with a focus on early life nutrition and human milk profiling using mass spectrometry.
 
Computational biology with an interest in applying ecological and evolutionary principles to microbial communities, especially those associated with animal hosts.
 
Dr Johnathan Dalzell
Parasitic nematode behaviour and molecular biology, small RNAs, transcriptomics, transgenic approaches to control.
 
Helminth biology: schistosome calcium homeostasis and drug design, microbiomes and helminths, schistosome-induced hepatic disease, helminth tegumental structure/function.
 
Proteomics and chemical biology in host pathogen interactions.
 
Professor Irene Grant
Microbiological food safety, novel detection methods, emerging pathogens.
 
Dr John Hallsworth 
Stress mechanisms and responses in microbial cells and ecosystems.
 
Microbiomes, rumen, ruminants, "omic" technologies.
 
Dr Edel Hyland
Adaptation and molecular evolution of infectious yeast, histone post-translational modifications.
 
Dr Chris Law
Structure and function of integral membrane proteins.
 
Dr Fuquan Liu
Dynamics, regulatory mechanisms and functions of co-transcriptional RNA processing in plants.
 
Dr Nikki Marks 
Parasite biochemistry, endectocide target discovery, neurobiology.
 
Professor Aaron Maule 
Molecular parasitology, drug target discovery and validation.
 
Professor John McGrath 
Molecular microbiology and bioremediation, microbial ecology.
 
Microbial biochemistry and physiology with a focus on bacterial systems biology.
 
Sustainable control of parasites of veterinary importance under climate change.
 
Dr Angela Mousley 
Helminth neuropeptide signalling systems.
 
Dr Kostya Panov 
Pol I transcription, molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in the regulation of rRNA transcription.
 
Dr Mark Robinson
Parasite proteomics, pathogen proteases and immunomodulators.
 
Dr Linda Stewart
Bacterial cell surface mapping and rapid diagnostics.

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