Bacterial and fungal pathogens are of major concern, a concern that is growing with the evolution of "super bugs". This is in part due to new resistance to previously effective antibiotics, and in part because medical conditions where the immune system is compromised have become more commonplace.
As molecular biologists, we are working to understand the molecular basis by which bacterial and fungal pathogens interact with their human hosts. We are particularly interested in hospital-acquired pathogens and antibiotic-resistant super bugs. We use combined approaches of molecular genetics, cellular imaging, biochemical analysis and bioinformatics to dissect these relationships. We take a ‘Systems Biology' view towards understanding the interaction, recognizing that both microbe and host are complex cellular systems and that each responds in multiple ways to the presence of the other.
The Unit consists of seven closely linked research teams in the Department of Microbiology and the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology. We collaborate with other expert teams in Australia and around the world.
The Host-Pathogen Molecular Biology Unit
The Unit's seven research teams are lead by:
- Ana Traven: molecular basis of drug resistance in fungal pathogens
http://www.med.monash.edu.au/biochem/staff/traven.html - Georg Ramm: optical and electron microscopy, membrane biology
http://www.med.monash.edu.au/biochem/georg-ramm-homepage.html - Terry Kwok: molecular mechanisms by which Helicobacter causes stomach and liver cancers
http://www.med.monash.edu.au/biochem/staff/kwok-schuelein.html - Trevor Lithgow: molecular machines and protein transport
http://www.med.monash.edu.au/biochem/staff/lithgow.html - Dena Lyras: virulence factors and toxins of Clostridium.
http://www.med.monash.edu.au/microbiology/staff/lyras.html - Thomas Naderer: macrophage biology
http://www.med.monash.edu.au/biochem/staff/naderer.html - Anton Peleg: molecular biology of hospital-acquired pathogens
http://med.monash.edu.au/microbiology/staff/peleg.html
Further details of our research interests and collaborating laboratories can be found on each lab's web page.
| Ana Traven |
Georg Ramm |
Terry Kwok |
Trevor Lithgow |
Dena Lyras |
Thomas Naderer |
Anton Peleg |
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Enquiries
Dr. Ana Traven
Tel: +61-3-9902 9219
Fax: +61-3-9905 3726
E-mail: ana.traven@monash.edu
Where to Find Us
Our labs are located on the second floor in Building 76 as part of the modern Science Technology Research and Innovation Precinct (STRIP). The precinct is equipped with the state-of-the-art facilities including:
- Monash Micro-Imaging Centre
- Monash Centre for Electron Microscopy
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Australia (EMBL Australia)
- Biomedical Proteomics Facility
- Genomic Sequencing Facilities
- Monash Antibody Technologies Facility (MATF)
- Victorian Bioinformatics Consortium
- Animal Facilities
