Our laboratory is focused on three fundamental aspects of Mycobacterial physiology:
1. Determining how Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other pathogenic microorganisms metabolize and generate energy in host tissues
• What energy sources do pathogenic microorganisms use in the host?
• What are the mechanisms that pathogenic microorganisms use to generate energy?
• How do aerobic pathogens survive in host tissues that are hypoxic?
• What are the signaling pathways and how are the controlled?
2. Deciphering the mechanisms Mycobacterium tuberculosis uses to slow metabolism/growth in response to various environmental cues
• How do mycobacteria uncouple metabolism from growth?
• What role do toxin-antitoxin modules play in this process?
3. Energetics of M. tuberculosis growth: a new area for drug discovery
• What are the pathways used by mycobacteria to generate energy during aerobic and hypoxic growth?
• Determining the structures to atomic resolution of enzymes involved in generating energy in M. tuberculosis (e.g. ATP synthase, NADH dehydrogenase II, menaquinone biosynthesis enzymes, cytochrome bd)
Please enquire to obtain more specific information on these projects: Gregory.cook@otago.ac.nz
Group Members
Dr Michael Berney, Research Fellow, michael.berney@otago.ac.nz
Dr Jennifer Robson, jenrobson1@gmail.com
Dr Adam Heikal, adam.heikal@otago.ac.nz
Dr Idiko Pecsi, ildiko.pecsi@otago.ac.nz
Lara Pfister, larapfister@gmx.ch
Mr Htin Aung, PhD candidate, htinlinaung@gmail.com
Ms Nandula Ekanayaka, PhD candidate, nandula_padmaperuma@hotmail.com
Mr Chris Greening, PhD Candiate, chrisgreening1987@gmail.com
Ms Elyse Dunn, PhD candidate, elyse.a.dunn@gmail.com
Mr Michael Petridu, PhD candidate, michaelpetridu@gmail.com
Kiel Hards, BSc(Hons) student, harki408@student.otago.ac.nz
Kieran Jongerius, Summer student, jonki313@student.otago.ac.nz
