Research Clusters
Preamble
The Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University
of Otago, is committed to creating an integrated research
environment. Interdisciplinary research groupings have
been established to build on existing expertise and
transform research outputs to meet national priorities.
Animal Health
The aim of the research is to study the function of
genes associated with virulence of Mycobacterium
paratuberculosis and survival under acidic conditions.
The project will explore the genetic basis for virulence
and the natural physiology of M. paratuberculosis
in response to survival within the gut or environmental
stress. Acid resistance or adaptation to low pH is hypothesised
to play an important role in the pathogenesis of M.
paratuberculosis, enabling the organism to survive
and cause enteric disease. The knowledge gained from
this study may lead to the development of improved vaccine
strategies or more effective antimicrobial therapy (utilizing
novel drug targets) to treat disease caused by M.
paratuberculosis.
Healthy Skin
The aim of the research is to harness microbes to
make new anti-inflammatory medicines. This research
will produce new, high value medicines for the treatment
of inflammatory skin diseases by developing and utilising
collaborative scientific expertise in the areas of Immunology
and Microbiology. The research will maintain and further
develop the internationally competitive research in
the area of microbial biotechnology and immune responses
involved in inflammation already carried out at Otago
University. This research will enable the economy to
diversify through the use of our unique expertise to
develop an untapped resource, our endemic microbiota.
Microbial communities are highly diverse and interactive
and produce profound effects on their environment. These
features of microbial communities require description
and explanation just as was advocated by Darwin for
macro ecosystems. To achieve these overall goals, sophisticated
analytical technologies are required. The main objective
of the cluster is to establish a technological platform
in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology to
extend and expand the capacity for microbial ecological
research. The research is focussed on the study of mRNA
from gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial cells
in pure culture, or inhabiting animal or plant-associated,
terrestrial, or aquatic ecosystems.
Viral Technologies
The cluster is aimed at developing an integrated package
of virology within the Department of Microbiology and
Immunology and expanding communal areas of virological
interest at a research level. In particular we intend
to develop beneficial therapeutics and delivery systems
from viruses. This will include fundamental studies
into the ability of viruses to manipulate their hosts
at a cellular level, in particular, regulation of cell
proliferation and migration, and to regulate the mammalian
immune response.
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