Welcome to the Host-Pathogen Molecular Biology Unit

Introduction

Bacterial and fungal pathogens are of major concern. This is in part due to growing 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. The interaction of these two cell types: host and microbe, depends on networks of protein-protein interactions. Of primary interest to us are the proteins that pathogens target to specific sites within the host cells.

Protein targeting is under study using the latest technology in Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology. The unit consists of four closely linked research teams in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology. We collaborate with other expert teams in the Department of Microbiology and specialist researchers in Australia and around the world.

Personnel

The Unit’s four research teams are lead by:

• Trevor Lithgow: molecular machines and protein transport (http://www.med.monash.edu.au/biochem/staff/lithgow.html).
• Kip Gabriel: protein targeting (and mis-targeting) to mitochondria (http://www.med.monash.edu.au/biochem/staff/gabriel.html).
• Ana Traven: molecular basis for biofilm formation in fungal pathogens (http://www.med.monash.edu.au/biochem/staff/traven.html).
• Terry Kwok: molecular mechanisms by which Helicobacter causes stomach and liver cancers (http://www.med.monash.edu.au/biochem/staff/kwok-schuelein.html).

Further details of our research interests and collaborating laboratories can be found on each lab’s web page.

The Host-Pathogen Molecular Biology Unit in 2009

Latest News

Postgraduate scholarships available
http://www.med.monash.edu.au/biochem/staff/lithgow-phd-scholarship.html

In the news:
Darwin's beautiful machines
http://www.monash.edu.au/news/monashmemo/stories/20090923/uni-news1.html

Richard Dawkins - A clear thinking oasis 
http://richarddawkins.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=91067

Federation Fellow joins Monash
http://www.monash.edu.au/news/monashmemo/stories/20081015/federation-fellow.html

Enquiries

Professor Trevor Lithgow
Australian Research Council Federation Fellow
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
School of Biomedical Sciences
Monash University
Tel: +61-3-9905 3740
Fax: +61-3-9905 3726
E-mail: trevor.lithgow@med.monash.edu.au

Where to Find Us

Our lab is 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

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Last Updated on 06 October 2009