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    Microbes & Pathogen Biology

    Microbes and Pathogen Biology

    SOLVING GLOBAL MICROBIAL ISSUES

    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.
     
    Dr Louise Atkinson
    Pathogen biology, parasite functional genomics, bioinformatics.
     
    Dr Simon Cameron
    Host-microbiome interactions with a focus on early life nutrition and human milk profiling using mass spectrometry.
     
    Dr Jason Chin
    Microbial nutrient cycling, particularly of phosphorus and nitrogen, and how these drive biogeochemistry and can be used for biotechnology.
     
    Dr Ben Collins
    Method development and applications in quantitative proteomics, analysis of protein interaction networks and protein complexes, host-pathogen biology with a focus on Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
     
    Professor Chris Creevey
    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.
     
    Professor Tim Geary
     
    Dr Geoff Gobert
    Helminth biology: schistosome calcium homeostasis and drug design, microbiomes and helminths, schistosome-induced hepatic disease, helminth tegumental structure/function.
     
    Dr Bobby Graham
    Proteomics and chemical biology in host pathogen interactions.
     
    Dr Ciaren Graham
    Cell signalling, proteomics, the immunomodulatory response.
     
    Professor Irene Grant
    Microbiological food safety, novel detection methods, emerging pathogens.
     
    Dr John Hallsworth 
    Stress mechanisms and responses in microbial cells and ecosystems.
     
    Professor Sharon Huws (Director of Research)
    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.
     
    Professor Geoff McMullan
    Microbial biochemistry and physiology with a focus on bacterial systems biology.
     
    Dr Paul McVeigh
     
    Dr Julianne Megaw
    Microbiomes, fundamental and molecular biology of the domain Archaea.
     
    Professor Eric Morgan
    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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    School of Biological Sciences

    Queen's University Belfast
    School of Biological Sciences
    19 Chlorine Gardens
    Belfast BT9 5DL
    Northern Ireland

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    Phone: +44 (0)28 9097 5787
    Fax: +44 (0)28 9097 5877
    Email: biolsci@qub.ac.uk

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