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 Virus-host interactions
PI: Niklas Arnberg, Professor
Department of Clinical Microbiology, Division of Virology
Contact: niklas.arnberg climi.umu.se
In our project we are identifying and characterizing molecules and molecular mechanisms that regulate virus binding to host cells.
We focus on adenoviruses, picornaviruses and to some extent influenza A virus. A major goal of our research is to define target mechanisms for antiviral treatment.
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 dNTPs and maintenance of genome stability
PI: Andrei Chabes, Associate Professor
Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics
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The four dNTPs (dATP, dTTP, dCTP and dGTP) are the building blocks of DNA. A balanced supply and a correct overall concentration of dNTPs are key prerequisites for faithful genome duplication. Therefore, production of dNTPs is tightly regulated by multiple mechanisms. The concentration of dNTPs fluctuates during the cell cycle.
We are investigating (i) how the DNA damage checkpoint, a genome surveillance mechanism, regulates the concentration of dNTPs, and how dNTPs regulate the activation of the DNA damage checkpoint and (ii) how the imbalanced dNTP pools affect the fidelity of replication and how different replication errors are recognized and repaired.
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 Molecular mechanisms governing Gram-positive bacterial pathogenesis
PI: Emmanuelle Charpentier, Associate Professor
Department of Molecular Biology
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Our research relates to the field of Molecular Infection Biology. We are overall interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms governing physiology-, virulence- and infection-associated processes in Gram-positive bacterial pathogens. We use a combination of genetic, genomic, molecular, biochemical, physiological and cell infection approaches to study mechanisms of gene expression at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional level that control horizontal gene transfer, adaptation to stress, physiology or virulence. We particularly research on CRISPR, the recently discovered adaptive immune system that protect bacteria and archaea against invading genetic elements; the small regulatory RNAs that interfere with bacterial pathogenicity; protein quality control that regulate bacterial adaptation, physiology and virulence; and the mechanisms of bacterial recognition by immune cells.
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 Signal transduction in host-microbial interactions and inflammation
PI: Nelson Gekara, Assistant Professor
Department of Molecular Biology
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The innate immune system provides the first line of defense against microbes and other foreign substances. Innate immune detections of and responsiveness to microbes is mediated by sets of receptors known as pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). Our research is interested in understanding the mechanisms that govern the regulation of signaling pathways of microbe recognition receptors of the innate immunsystem.
My group is just starting at MIMS. Highliy motivated postdocs and PhD students are welcome to contact me.
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 RNA-mediated virulence regulation
PI: Jörgen Johansson, Associate Professor
Department of Molecular Biology
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The intracellular pathogen Listeria monocytogenes has turned out to be a very important model for the study of host-pathogen interactions and bacterial adaptation to mammalian hosts.
We are studying different aspects of RNA-mediated virulence gene regulation in L. monocytogenes.
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 Mechanisms and dynamics of endocytic carrier formation during infection
PI: Richard Lundmark, Associate Professor
Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics
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Our research aims to characterise proteins and general themes involved in endocytosis, focusing on identifying mechanisms behind initiation, generation and termination of endocytic carrier formation. The project takes a novel approach on infection through studies on how bacteria and viruses exploit membrane-remodelling machineries in the target cell to facilitate cell entry. We use our established molecular tools to study the internalisation of pathogens by visualising the dynamics and specificity of carrier formation using advanced four-dimensional fluorescent microscopy. The aim is to identify general principles for how extracellular agents like bacterial toxins can transmit activating signals to the intracellular endocytic protein networks and understand how this mechanistically leads to the creation of membrane vehicles.
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 Tick borne encephalitis virus
PI: Anna Överby, Assistant Professor
Department of Clinical Microbiology, Virology
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Tick borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is an important emerging human pathogen. My group focuses on studying the interactions between the virus and the innate immune system, and determining pathogenicity factors of TBEV. Anna Överby has started her laboratory at MIMS in January 2011, and is in the process of recruiting PhD students and Post docs.
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 Antifungal immunity
PI: Constantin Urban, Assistant Professor
Department of Molecular Biology
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Opportunistic fungal mycoses caused by Candida albicans or Aspergillus fumigatus for instance, have evolved into major human diseases in the past decades. My group is interested in the fundamental processes of host-pathogen interaction during these infections. We therefore study the molecular mechansims of the innate immune system to contain mycoses as well as the strategies Candida and Aspergillus employ to evade the attack of the host. One of our majors goals is to apply this knowledge for the development of novel antifungal therapies.
To unravel the described mechanisms the lab uses diverse approaches and methodologies ranging from molecular genetics, transcriptomics (RNA-Seq), chemical biology screening to X-ray nano-chemical imaging or ICP masspectrometry..
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Pathogenesis, antigenic variation and genetic organization |
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Sven Bergström, Professor
The overall aim of this project is to gain an increased knowledge of the virulence properties of Borrelia spirochetes. We will continue the basic research on the mechanisms of antigenic variation of Borrelia and to characterise and define the components involved in the interactions between RF Borrelia and erythrocytes as well as the effect(s) that the erythrocyte rosetting exhibit at the cellular and molecular level in the mammalian host. We will also investigate what molecules that are involved in the interactions employed by B. burgdorferi s.l., the Lyme disease agent, with different mammalian cells and tissues. As well as structural and functional studies on those outer surface located molecules.
Contact:
Sven Bergström
Group members:
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 Read more (Sven Bergström's web page at the Department of Molecular Biology)
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Helicobacter pylori |
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Thomas Borén, Professor
Helicobacter pylori infection causes chronic active gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. In the western world, 10% of people (22.000.000 individuals) develop peptic ulcers. Furthermore, H. pylori infection is tightly correlated with development of gastric cancer with >500.000 mortalities/Y and, H. pylori has been defined a carcinogen by the WHO. The project studies protein-carbohydrate interactions that mediate adherence of H. pylori to stomach tissue. We focus on the Blood Group Antigen Binding Adhesin, BabA, which is the key player attachment protein that targets H. pylori binding to the stomach lining.
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PI: Thomas Borén
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Read more (Thomas Borén's web page at Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics) |
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Protein secretion systems involved in Yersinia and Pseudomonas virulence |
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Åke Forsberg, Professor
Åke Forsberg is a Professor at the Department of Molecular Biology and is the scientific secretary of UCMR/MIMS. He is also the director of the UCMR research school. The research interests of his group are the secretion systems important for virulence of Yersinia and other bacterial pathogens. The basic research is focusing on the molecular mechanisms of two protein secretion systems, type III secretion system (T3S) and Tat that are critical for virulence. In collaboration with LCBU and the Department of Chemistry his research group has set up a screening assay for identification of small molecules that block Tat function and in Yersinia and Pseudomonas, these molecules will be validated for antimicrobial activity in different infection models.
Contact:
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Webpage of the UCMR Research School
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Development of new diagnostic tools for infectious diseases |
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Anders Sjöstedt, Professor
Diagnosis of tularemia tradionally relies on cultivation, PCR and serology, but there is still a need to improve the diagnostic possibilities, e.g., with regard to speed and prognostic markers. Moreover, some patients present with uncharacteristic symptoms and are therefore difficult to diagnose. The relatively high number of samples handled by the laboratory means that the laboratory staff may be exposed to the bacterium during routine work and since it is highly contagious, being at risk to contract tularemia. Therefore, improved assays that allow very rapid diagnosis are of high priority. We will now develop methods based on the characterization of the host response or secreted bacterial factors as rapid diagnostic tools that also can have prognostic potential. Moreover, we will develop very rapid methods for identification and typing of the bacterium to enhance the laboratory safety.
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Bacteria-host interactions |
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Bernt Eric Uhlin, Professor
Our research is aimed at increasing the understanding of the mechanisms by which pathogenic E. coli and other enterobacteria express virulence-associated properties. We study molecular mechanisms behind expression and function of genes and gene products that contribute to the bacterial interactions with host environments.
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PI: Bernt Eric Uhlin
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The Type III secretion system of pathogenic Yersinia |
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Hans Wolf-Watz
There are three human pathogenic strains of Yersinia; Y.pestis , Y.pseudotuberculosis and Y.enterocolitica . Y.pestis is the causative agent of plague; and was responsible for the Black death during the 14th century. This family of bacteria harbours a common virulence plasmid which encodes a number of secreted proteins collectively called Yops (Yersinia outer proteins). These proteins are expressed during infection and they are major antihost factors.
Group members:
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Frederic Login, Postdoc
Helen Wang, Post doc
Read more (webpage at the Department of Molecular Biology)
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PI: Hans Wolf-Watz
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Research Groups
