Understanding how Gram-negative bacterial pathogens cause disease

Work in our group focuses on understanding, at a molecular level,how Gram-negative bacterial pathogens cause disease. Specifically, we are interested in understanding how opportunistic bacterial pathogens use protein secretion systems to interact with other organisms and how secretion systems contribute to successful infection and disease. Opportunistic Gram-negative bacteria represent a very important cause of antibiotic-resistant hospital acquired infections and related organisms can cause economically significant crop losses. Our current work is mainly, but not exclusively, devoted to understanding the role and function of the newly-described Type VI secretion system. As a PhD student, you would contribute to our multi-faceted studies investigating this system and you would use a broad range of techniques, from classical microbiology, through molecular biology, to biochemistry and cell biology.