Staff & Students
MMI Faculty
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Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the choice between life (positive selection) and death (negative selection) in the thymus. |
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Research in my laboratory is currently focused on understanding how members of the poxviruses family evade apoptosis. |
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The focus of my research is to understand how killer cell inhibitory receptors function by studying the intracellular events that occur when inhibitory receptors are engaged. By dissecting this built-in regulatory process we may gain useful knowledge for treating diseases caused by dis-regulation of the immune system such as atopy and autoimmune disease. |
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HLA transgenic NOD mouse models to probe the cause of human autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes and psoriasis. Gene therapy on isolated pancreatic islets to promote their survival following transplantation. BAC gene library technology to support DNA sequencing of extended human MHC haplotypes associated with autoimmune disease. |
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I am a teaching professional in the department and coordinator of the MMI teaching labs. I teach undergraduate courses in molecular biology, bacteriology and parasitology. |
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Research concerning the biology of poxviruses. We are using biochemical and molecular-genetic methods to investigate the mechanism of poxvirus recombination and the linkage between virus recombination and replication. A closely related project studies the mechanism of action of the DNA replication inhibitors that are being developed for treatment of poxvirus infections. We are also studying how tumorigenic poxviruses perturb redox homeostasis in infected cells. |
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High throughput RNA interference (RNAi) as a tool to identify the networks that regulate innate immune signaling in the model organism Drosophila melanogaster. |
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Judy Gnarpe, Dr Med. Sci., RM (CCM), PG DipMedEd, Faculty Service Officer I have a background in clinical microbiology research and routine diagnostics. I am interested in medical education and improving the quality of the educational experience, in particular for large classes. I have developed Brainspan, a multiplayer asynchronous game generator for creating learning games and am interested in evaluation of educational innovation. |
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Structural studies of disease-associated proteins using protein crystallography and bioinformatics. |
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Hepatitis C & B vaccinology, virology and immunology. Investigations into the viral etiology of inflammatory disease.
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Lymphocyte signalling; abnormal signalling in lymphoma; virus-host interactions in lymphocytes; protein ubiquitylation. |
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Characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa adhesins, their respective epithelial cell receptors, their role in Pseudomonas pathogenesis and development of of an effective anti-adhesin vaccine. Characterization of Candida albicans adhesins and other asialo-GM1 adhesins. |
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Regulation of cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) and natural killer (NK) cell recognition and destruction of pathologically altered cells, including virally infected cells and cancer cells. Role of class I MHC proteins in these processes. Influence of bacteria on antigen processing and presentation to T cells. |
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Kinga T Kowalewska-Grochowska, MD Antimicrobial drug resistance. Immunodiagnosis of Toxoplasma infection. Pathogenesis of Blastocystis infection. Biology and epidemiology of Microsporidia and Cyclospora. |
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Respiratory viruses – We investigate the receptor binding and signaling events that occur during respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in the lungs. We are also studying the intracellular contributions of matrix metalloproteinase-12 (MMP12) toward the antiviral immune response to RSV infection. Bronchial epithelial cells absorb MMP12 that is secreted by macrophages, where it performs intracellular roles during respiratory viral infections. |
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I am Manager of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry’s (FOMD) Cell Imaging Centre, a core imaging facility. I provide microscopy expertise and resources for research staff within the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry. |
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Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) are required for the elimination of virally infected cells, cells infected with other intracellular pathogens and cancer cells. We are trying to understand how these cells become activated in response to antigen stimulation to facilitate knowledge-based manipulation of CTL to enhance protective immunity. |
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Stefan Pukatzki, PhD
We use the environmental amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum as a genetically accessible host model to discover novel bacterial virulence mechanisms. This approach has lead to the identification of the type VI protein secretion pathway in Vibrio cholerae, the causative agent of cholera. |
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Research in my laboratory is currently focused on understanding how various viral and cellular proteins impact reovirus replication in cancer cells. |
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Lynne Sigler, MSc
Systematics of fungi in the human environment. |
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Molecular genetics of mammalian nuclear DNA viruses; control of viral and cellular gene expression; cellular antiviral defense mechanisms |
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Julian W Tang, MD, PhD Translational and medical virology, including viral molecular epidemiology; human source airflow dynamics and aerosol/ airborne transmission and infection control. |
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Molecular biology of hepadnaviruses. Animal models for hepatitis B & C. Chemo- and Immunotherapy for chronic hepatitis B & C |
