Microbiology:
Genetic Engineering of Microorganisms for Biotechnology
Viral, Fungal and Bacterial Pathogenesis
Environmental Sensing and Development in Microbes
Microbial Genomics
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FOR A LISTING OF MICROBIOLOGY
FACULTY
Microbiology,
Immunology, and Cancer Biology Graduate Program
MICROBIOLOGY TRACK
The University of Minnesota has a longstanding tradition of excellence in microbiology
research and education. The Microbiology Track faculty of the Microbiology,
Immunology and Cancer Biology Graduate program draws its membership of preeminent
virologists, bacteriologists and mycologists from a diversity of academic departments.
The Microbiology Track faculty is an exciting and dynamic community of scholars
and distinguished investigators engaged in research at the forefront of areas
including microbial pathogenesis, regulation of viral gene expression, molecular
genetics, cell signaling. Major initiatives in the development of state-of-the-art
microbial genomics and proteomics centers attest to our commitment to the advancement
of the innovative research strategies that are the hallmark of our program.
Microbiology Track faculty research activities are strongly supported by both
public and private funding agencies. In addition, highly productive industry
collaborations include projects focused on bioremediation as well as the development
of novel drugs and vaccines for the treatment of infectious diseases and cancer.
The Microbiology Track offers students
a challenging educational experience in a stimulating and nurturing environment.
We are committed to providing outstanding scientific training to graduate students
in the areas of scientific method and critical thought, and to serving as mentors
for the intellectual development required for advanced study and research. We
invite you to join us to pursue your scientific interests and advance your career
goals as a member of our research community.
FACULTY RESEARCH
The Microbiology Track faculty are engaged in research aimed at answering questions
of wide biological interest.
Viral Pathogenesis
- What are the cellular and viral
determinants controlling the entry of viruses into host cells, viral particle
assembly, replication and packaging?
- How is viral persistence in the
host initiated and maintained?
- What is the mode of sexual mucosal
transmission of HIV and what is the profile of viral gene expression in host
cells?
- What factors control herpes simplex
virus lytic and latent infections?
- What factors enable viruses to
replicate efficiently in the face of host antiviral defense mechanisms, including
interferons?
Faculty Researchers
Anderson, Conklin,
Haase, Rice,
Schiff, Southern
Bacterial Pathogenesis
- How do microbial pathogens sense
the environmental changes associated with the transition from the free-living
state to the parasitic state within a host?
- How do the molecular properties
of related toxin superantigens produced by Staphylococcus aureusand
group A streptococci correlate with their distinct biological activities?
- What are the important virulence
factors produced by the opportunistic pathogen Burkholderia cepacia
and how is expression of those factors controlled at the genetic level?
- What is the role of components
of the cell wall in enterococcal endocarditis?
- What are the molecular and cellular
processes that lead to the persistent streptococcal infection associated with
pathology?
- How is the expression of genes
encoding multiple iron transport systems of Bordetella pertussisprioritized
and regulated within the host respiratory tract environment during the course
of infection?
Faculty Researchers
Armstrong, Cleary,
Das, Dunny,
Kapur, Mohr,
Schlievert, Schottel,
Wells
Fungal Pathogenesis
- How does chromosome structure
and chromatin assembly control cellular morphogenesis and how is this related
to senescence, or 'aging'?
- What are the signals to which
cells respond to undergo the physiological changes associated with senescence?
- What are the virulence factors
that enable fungi such as Candida albicans to cause disease?
- How does the dynamic organization
of the C. albicans genome relate to the pathogenic potential of this
fungus?
- What is the role in vivo of the
recently discovered mating reaction in C. albicans?
- How does the genome control the
response to environmental signals that stimulate different morphogenetic responses
in C. albicans and other fungi?
Faculty Researchers
Berman, Davis,
Magee, Wells
Environmental sensing and development in microbes
- How do bacteria perceive changes
in their environment and what are the molecular mechanisms used to translate
those perceptions into appropriate cellular responses?
- How do bacterial pathogens such
as Bordetella pertussis and Enterococcus faecalis engage in
cell-cell communication, and what is the outcome of this signaling?
- How is the conjugative transfer
of an enterococcal antibiotic resistance plasmid controlled by a peptide pheromone
produced by the recipient cell?
- What Rhizobium and Bradyrhizobium
genes are involved in host/microbe recognition and in the establishment of
symbiotic, nitrogen-fixing nodules in plants?
Faculty Researchers
Armstrong, Das,
Davis,
Dunny,
Sadowsky, Schlievert,
Wackett
Microbial genomics
- How can information derived from
microbial genomic sequences be used to discover new drug targets and to study
the organism's biology and metabolism?
- Which viral and bacterial genes
are transcribed preferentially in the host or under certain laboratory culture
conditions?
Faculty Researchers
Berman, Cleary,
Davis,
Dunny,
Haase, Kapur,
Ellis, Magee,
O'Sullivan, Rice,
Schiff, Schlievert,
Wackett
Genetic engineering of microorganisms for biotechnology
- In what ways can the physiology
and genetics of lactococci be manipulated to improve the strains used in the
food industry?
- How can molecular biology technology
be used to study microbial metabolism as well as to construct novel biodegradation
pathways to allow bacteria to degrade environmental pollutants?
- How can bacteria and fungi be
used to dissect the biosynthetic pathways for natural products such as antibiotics
and chemotherapeutic agents such as the anti-cancer agent mitomycin C?
- How can bifidobacteria be manipulated
to improve their competitiveness in the human large intestine?
Faculty Researchers
McKay, O'Sullivan,
Sadowsky, Wackett
LINKS TO SELECTED UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA CENTERS AND PROGRAMS
Actinomycetes-Streptomyces
Internet Resource Center
Advanced Genetic
Analysis Center
Biomedical Genomics Center
Biological Process Technology
Institute
Center for Biodegradation Research
and Informatics
Center for Microbial Genomics
Quantitative
Image Analysis and Single-Cell Technology Virology Core Laboratory
The University of Minnesota Biocatalysis/Biodegradation
Database
OTHER LINKS OF MICROBIOLOGICAL
INTEREST
American Society for Microbiology
Great Lakes Center For AIDS Research
National Center for Biotechnology Information
(NCBI)
NCBI Sequenced
Microbial Genomes
The Candida albicans Web Site
The Center for Biofilm Engineering
The Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR)
TIGR Microbial Genome
Database
The Quorum Sensing Site
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