Bacterial pathogens and protein secretion systems

Research

My research is centred around elucidating how bacterial pathogens are able to cause disease.  This should provide both an improved understanding of basic biological processes and, ultimately, contribute to novel therapeutic antimicrobial strategies.

More specifically, I am interested in several inter-linked research areas:

1.  Protein secretion

     Including Type II and type VI secretion systems

2.  Regulation of virulence factor production

     Including quorum sensing

3.  Baterial-bacterial interaction

     Including production of secondary metabolites

4.  Use of model systems to study bacterial-host interaction

These all contribute towards a better understanding of how Gram-negative bacterial pathogens interact with the host organism and cause disease, how they interact with the environment and other bacteria, and how they co-ordinate the complex processes involved in virulence.

For further information, see:

http://www.lifesci.dundee.ac.uk/groups/sarah_coulthurst/