Download University of Dublin TRINITY COLLEGE The Moyne Institute of

University of Dublin
TRINITY COLLEGE
The Moyne Institute
of
Preventive Medicine
Research Interests
Department of Microbiology
For more information:
Tel (+353)1 896 1190/1199
Fax (+353)1 679 9294
E-mail [email protected]/[email protected]
Visit our Website at http://www.tcd.ie/Microbiology/
PROF. CHARLES DORMAN
1. Global regulators and intracellular adaptation by Salmonella. Using genomics and
genetics to study the key regulatory circuits used by Salmonella in adapting to life within
macrophage.
2. Phase-variable expression of the Escherichia coli genes coding for type 1 fimbriae. A
study involving structure-function analysis of DNA site-specific recombinases, the role of
DNA topology and histone-like proteins in the recombination reaction, and an unusual
mechanism of phase-variable mRNA termination.
3. The VirB regulatory protein of Shigella flexneri, an unusual transcription factor related to
plasmid partition functions that activates genes coding for a type III secretion system and
effector proteins used by the bacterium during invasion of human gut epithelial cells.
4. The Sfh protein of Shigella flexneri, a molecule closely related to H-NS that is encoded
by an IncHI plasmid and is used by the plasmid as a stealth function to assist its entry to
new cells. The study involves a structure-function analysis of the protein and the use of
genomics to establish the membership of the Sfh regulon. We are also studying the H-NS
and StpA paralogous proteins in this organism and E. coli in terms of their roles in nucleoid
organisation, RNA metabolism, and gene regulation.
Tel (+353)1 896 2013
e-mail: [email protected]
PROF. PETER OWEN
Structure and function of microbial surfaces
Immunochemical, biochemical and molecular genetic analysis of novel protein antigens in
outer membrane of E. coli; novel lipoprotein antigens in inner membranes of Gramnegative bacteria. Novel glycoproteins in plasma membrane of Gram-positive bacteria.
Cell surface components as vaccines
Chemical and biological characterization of protective antigens of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
and development of a new (Mark II) vaccine against Pseudomonas infection.
Streptococcus equi
Wall-associated proteins of the equine pathogen Streptococcus equi and their potential as
components of a subunit vaccine against "strangles".
Tel (+353)1 896 1188
e-mail: [email protected]
PROF. TIM FOSTER
Molecular pathogenesis of staphylococcal infections
Genetics of S. aureus. Molecular characterization of surface proteins of Staphylococcus
aureus that interact with ligands in the extracellular matrix and on the surface of
mammalian cells and platelets. Analysis of mechanisms by which S.aureus adheres to and
activates platelets, and colonizes the nasal epithelium. Analysis of surface protein structure
and function. Understanding the role of surface proteins in evading innate immune
responses in the infected host. Construction of strains with single and multiple mutations
causing lack of potential virulence factors for analysis in vitro and in vivo infection models.
Development of vectors for efficient allelic exchange mutagenesis. Understanding the
restriction systems that protect S.aureus from foreign DNA.
Tel (+353)1 896 2014/1345
e-mail: [email protected]
DR. ANGUS BELL
Biochemistry, molecular cell biology and chemotherapy of the human malarial
parasite Plasmodium falciparum
Malaria remains one of the world’s most important parasitic diseases.
It is caused by
protozoa of the genus Plasmodium that are spread by mosquito vectors and multiply in the
hepatocytes and erythrocytes of infected humans. The spread of drug-resistant parasites,
particularly those of the most lethal species, P. falciparum, is making control of malaria
more and more difficult.
The Malaria Research Group at Trinity College is dedicated to
investigating aspects of the biochemistry and molecular cell biology of blood-stage P.
falciparum with a view to the development of novel antimalarial drugs. The major, current
interests lie in malaria research that is both basic (especially the microtubular system,
immunophilins, and the haemoglobin degradation pathway) and applied (mechanisms of
action of cyclosporin A, FK506 and related non-immunosuppressive agents; new drug
design; mechanisms of drug resistance).
The group has worldwide collaborations,
especially with chemists interested in antimalarial drug development and with scientists in
malaria-endemic countries.
Tel (+353)1 896 1414
e-mail: [email protected]
DR. RONNIE RUSSELL
Applied Microbiology and Immunology in these areas: Development and optimisation of electrochemically-activated (ECA) solutions and
defining their effects on microbial, mammalian and plant cells.
Delivery systems for natural and ECA-based antimicrobials
Decontamination of reusable medical devices
Microbial environmental indicators
Microbial remediation/revitalisation of soils.
Microbiological policy, legislation and Standards
Aquatic microbiology and Aerobiology
New microbial applications for conductance/impedance monitoring, detection,
identification and taxonomy.
Food and environmental microbiology
Tel (+353-1) 896-1194
e-mail : [email protected]
DR. URSULA BOND
Molecular analysis of thermotolerance in human and yeast cells
Role of heat shock proteins in protecting cells from thermal damage. Identification of
thermotolerance factors that interact at a molecular level to protect intracellular processes
such as mRNA splicing from disruption following exposure to severe high temperatures.
Deciphering the mechanism of mRNA splicing in human and yeast cells
Analysis of the assembly components in mRNA splicing, namely, the small nuclear
ribonucleoprotein particles (snRNPS).
Roles for snRNPS in RNA processing events
Analysis of snRNPs involved in histone mNA 3' end processing in polyadenylation of nonhistone nRNAs.
Tel (+353)1 896 2578
e-mail: [email protected]
PROF. JAY HINTON
The Hinton lab aims to discover new aspects of the infection biology, gene regulation and
physiology of the bacterial pathogen Salmonella, utilising a combination of classical
microbiology, biochemistry, cell biology and functional genomic techniques. We are
addressing the following questions:
How do small regulatory RNAs fine-tune the ability of Salmonella to survive and
cause infection? This is the major project in the lab involving the discovery of sRNAs in
Salmonella, and how they control gene expression.
How does Salmonella co-ordinate and regulate its virulence gene expression
programmes? Using functional genomic approaches, we are investigating how Salmonella
integrates inputs from so many environmental signals to achieve successful infection.
What is the timetable of physiological events required for a bacterium during lag
phase? The role of particular genes during lag phase will be addressed using a combination
of molecular genetics, biochemistry and allied physical techniques.
Tel (+353) 1 896 1195
email: [email protected]
Dr. Alastair Fleming
Our research involves using the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, as a model
organism in which to study the role of chromatin remodelling during various biological
processes. We are currently investigating chromatin remodelling during:
1. Transcription initiation:
We are investigating the regulation of
Flo1 gene
transcription which is under the control of the Swi-Snf co-activator and the Tup1Ssn6 co-repressor complexes. Understanding events at the Flo1 gene promoter in
yeast will help delineate the role of these evolutionary conserved complexes in human
cells, where defective chromatin remodelling has been associated with developmental
disorders, and diseases such as cancer.
2. Transcription elongation. During transcription elongation, nucleosomes are evicted
to allow passage of RNA polymerase, and reassembled in its wake to maintain
chromatin
structure
and
prevent
transcription
initiation
from
occurring
within
transcribed genes. We are investigating if H2B monoubiquitylation (H2Bub)
coordinates the activity of histone chaperones to govern the nucleosome dynamics
required for efficient transcription elongation.
3. Yeast stationary phase: We are investigating the role of chromatin remodelling
during yeast stationary phase (SP), which has emerged as an excellent model for
cellular quiescence and apoptosis. When Saccharomyces cerevisiae is starved of
glucose, the cells enter SP and form two developmentally distinct populations: a
quiescent population of daughter cells that can re-enter the cell cycle, and a
nonquiescent population of mother cells that are programmed to undergo cell death.
We aim to separate these populations and examine the contribution of posttranslational histone modifications towards quiescence and apoptosis.
Tel (+353)1 896 3112
e-mail: [email protected]
Information Updated: August 2010
Notes: