Invasive Bacterial Pathogens Laboratory

Head: Renato Morona

My laboratory conducts research into a number of enteric and invasive bacterial pathogens with a focus on the role of bacterial cell surface molecules in bacterial pathogenesis.

My current research interests are :

Shigella flexneri

Actin-based motility

Lipopolysaccharides 

Capsule Polysaccharides

Outer Membrane Proteins

Bacteriophages

Receptor Mimic Technology   

PhD and Honours Projects

A number of challenging projects are available to interested PhD and Honours students. These projects will be in the general area of Shigella flexneri virulence factors, with an emphasis on the structure and function of IcsA, on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) O antigen biosynthesis proteins, and bacterial cell biology . Project information is available in the Honours handbook that is avaible on request from the School of Molecular and Biomedical Science or by contacting Dr. Renato Morona.

Other pathogens we have studied include:

Salmonella enterica Typhi

Salmonella enterica Typhimurium

Vibrio cholerae O1