Dr Todd Dennis - Spatial and movement ecology;
Bayesian models of movement behaviour;
geographic information science; ecography;
animal welfare; satellite telemetry; homing and migration; chronoecology of birds, mammals, fi sh and other animals.
Dr Anne Gaskett - Ecology and evolution of deceptive and mutualistic plant-animal interactions, such as pollination. Study species include native orchids, mosses and insects.
Dr Greg Holwell – Evolutionary and behavioural ecology of sexual reproduction: sexual selection, sexual confl ict, genital morphology, sperm competition, sexual cannibalism, reproductive anatomy and physiology.
Research focuses on terrestrial invertebrates including praying mantises, fl ies, beetles, moths, spiders and millipedes.
Dr Shane Lavery – (Academic Leader) applications of molecular and genetic techniques to questions in marine ecology and evolution, including molecular taxonomy, phylogenetics, speciation, phylogeography, connectivity, paternity and individual identifi cation.
Professor John Montgomery – fi sh biology and sensory neuroscience; hydrodynamic receptors; electroreception; nocturnal predators; reef fi sh and larval settlement.
Associate Professor Brian Murray – molecular cytogenetics, plant population biology and breeding systems.
Associate Professor Richard Newcomb (80%
appointment with Plant and Food Research) - olfaction in insects and humans, sensory science, evolutionary genetics, speciation Dr Stuart Parsons – (Research Leader)
bioacoustics, behaviour ecology and sensory ecology of birds, bats and insects.
Dr Howard Ross – the application of phylogenetic analysis to a wide range of
problems: the evolution of bird song, when considered to comprise gene-like memes; the timing and path of human settlement of the Pacifi c; using genomic sequences to determine the species identity of specimens;
and estimation of adaptive evolution in viral genomes
Dr Mary Sewell – reproduction and development of marine invertebrates, Antarctic larval biology, lipid metabolism.
Professor Michael Walker – animal behaviour in space and time: emphasis on the processes and events occurring in sensory cells that detect magnetic fi elds and lunar rhythms and control annual migrations of animals.
Microbiology
The research interests of this group are wide ranging, and encompass the study of microbial diversity and evolution, industrial, agricultural, environmental, marine, medical and gut microbiology, virus-host interaction, viral characterisation and evolution, and the adaptation of medically-important microbial pathogens to antibiotics and environmental stress through mutation(s).
Current research programmes include:
• Environmental microbiology research investigates the key factors infl uencing biofi lm development in natural and industrial settings, using traditional methods and molecular techniques of DNA sequencing, microarray, proteome and metabolome analysis. Microbial ecology of stream biofi lms provides a research focus with emphasis on rehabilitation of stream ecosystems. Marine systems are also an area of interest, particularly interactions between microbes and host organisms such as sponges
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• Molecular genetics studies of protozoan parasites involve bioinformatic, genomics, cellular biology, molecular biology and biochemistry to decipher aspects of gene regulation and virulence. Current studies are focused on gene expression of
amitochondriate protists such as
Trichomonas vaginalis and Giardia lamblia.
Coming studies envisage the understanding of virulence and drug resistance in these and related species.
• Microbial biodiversity in extreme
environments, ranging from the desiccated, sub-zero Dry Valleys of Antarctica to geothermal and hydro-thermal vents.
Organisms from these studies can be used to design isolation strategies for genes which code for enzymes that have potential uses for industry.
• Industrial microbiology explores the metabolic abilities of microbial cells to develop new technologies and novel products for industrial applications. Current studies are focused on pigment production via microbial fermentation to be used as natural colorants in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Investigation of microbial processes in wastewater treatment is another key area and is the focus of a microbial genome sequencing and functional genomics programme.
• Medical microbiology studies of pathogenic yeasts and bacteria, including the investigation of metabolic attributes that enable different Candida species to survive and grow within the environment of healthy individuals, unraveling the metabolism of pathogenic bacteria in vivo using metabolomics and systems biology.
• Plant pathology, including the characterisation of new viruses from horticultural and native plants, development of diagnostic methods for plant pathogens, studies of the molecular interactions between mycoviruses and their fungal hosts.
• Evolution and genetics of microorganisms, including evolutionary bioinformatics, yeast ecology and genetics (especially wine yeasts), and evolutionary genetics of viruses.
Dr Augusto Barbosa - medical microbiology, protozoology, molecular genetics and evolution of protists
Dr Mat Goddard - evolutionary genetics, population genetics and adaptive evolution of natural and wild yeast populations.
Associate Professor Gillian Lewis - environmental microbiology, water quality, microbial ecology, freshwater ecology and restoration.
Associate Professor Mike Pearson - (Academic &
Research Leader) plant virology, mycoviruses, virus and fungal molecular diagnostics, diseases of temperate and tropical crops.
Dr Mike Taylor - marine microbiology, symbiosis, microbial community ecology, marine biotechnology.
Dr Susan Turner - environmental and industrial microbiology, wastewater treatment, functional genomics, molecular microbial ecology.
Dr Silas Villas-Boas - Microbial metabolism and metabolomics, industrial microbiology, medical microbiology, metabolic engineering, and systems biology.
Research progress in modern Biology requires a wide range of experimental approaches. The section Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology has staff with excellent research skills in biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, cellular biology and physiology applied to the study of both individual cells and whole organisms. This broad experimental basis provides students with valuable training both through undergraduate
Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology
lectures and graduate research supervision. We offer a wide range of interesting and varied research programmes and opportunities for collaborative ventures/research projects.
Associate Professor Nigel Birch - The function of serine proteases and their inhibitors (serine protease inhibitors or serpins) in nerve cell growth and connectivity, cognitive function including learning and memory, neurological disorders and stroke, and immune cell function.
Associate Professor Tom Brittain (Research Leader) - Structure and function of metalloproteins, in particular neuroglobin, a protein that protects neurons from cell death.
Associate Professor David Christie - Membrane transport proteins. Our two research themes are ‘Membrane transporters required for the uptake of neurotransmitters and nutrients in the brain’ and ‘Ion-channels and receptors involved in the detection of odorant molecules by insects’.
Associate Professor Clive Evans - Functional analysis of antifreeze glycoproteins: How do Antarctic fi sh survive in freezing water? The anhydrobiotic state: How do organisms survive without water?
Associate Professor Don Love - Development and analysis of DNA, RNA and chemical-based insults on gene expression
programming using the zebrafi sh as a model system; modelling multifactorial human disorders using the zebrafi sh. Developing improved diagnostic techniques for use in clinical genetics.
Dr Craig Millar - Estimation of mutation and evolutionary rates, ancient DNA studies of the extinct New Zealand Moa and DNA barcoding the birds of New Zealand and the Antarctic. Understanding the genetic processes that underlie evolutionary change.
Dr Judy O’Brien - Deputy Director, Academic – Interest and responsibility for content and delivery of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching programmes in SBS. Research interest in rotavirus structure.
Dr Ken Scott (Academic Leader) - Function of DING proteins in mammalian, plant and microbial cells.
Dr John Taylor – Cell biology of virus infection.
Interactions between virus and host, protein traffi cking in virus infected cells. Rotavirus and the hepatitis B virus. Development of anti-viral vaccines and immunotherapeutic approaches to treat/ prevent virus infections.
Plant Molecular Science
Plants are fundamental to functional ecosystems and to successful agriculture, horticulture and forestry industries. Their importance is
highlighted in the Plant Molecular Science section by research into plants ranging from native species, key model plants (ie, moss, Arabidopsis, Medicago) through to commercially signifi cant crops.
A range of interesting project opportunities awaits graduate students in the Plant Molecular Science Group. Projects can be focused at the level of whole plants and/or on molecular, genetic, cellular and biochemical interactions.
They can be based at the School of Biological Sciences or at Crown Research Institutes such as Plant and Food Research, Scion, and AgResearch.
Find out more here about Plant Molecular Science research topics and contacts in the School of Biological Sciences and at Plant & Food Research:
http://www.molecular-plants.auckland.ac.nz/
The Plant Molecular Science group is made up of the following research groups:
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Associate Professor Andy Allan - Plant physiology, genetics and genomics of plant pigments and health compounds;
anthocyanin, carotenoids, chlorophylls, colourless fl avonoids. Biosynthesis, regulation and infl uence of the environment. Fruit biology (apple, peach, strawberry, kiwifruit, berries). Allelic diversity found in the germplasm and breeding resources, studied at both the genetic and epigenetic level.
Plant Hormone Signalling Dr Karine David
We aim at understanding the signalling pathways of the plant hormone auxin, which is involved in virtually every aspect of plant growth and development. The approaches we use are multidisciplinary and combine genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry and proteomic.
Yeast Molecular Genetics Professor Richard Gardner
The major interests of the laboratory are to use the tools of molecular gentics to develop improved yeast strains for fermentation, especially of wine.
Plant Cell Walls Professor Philip Harris (Academic and Research Leader)
The structure, biosynthesis, degradation and evolution of plant cell walls are studied using advanced chemical and biochemical techniques.
Improving wood quality in young trees is another goal.
The Flowering Lab
Associate Professor Jo Putterill
Utilises the techniques of molecular biology,
genetics, biochemistry with a focus on the model plants Arabidopsis and Medicago. Our projects are directed at understanding how the decision to fl ower is taken, particularly in response to major seasonal changes.
Proteomics & Biomedicine
Members of the Proteomics and Biomedicine Research Section are involved in biomedical research in the areas of metabolic disease mechanisms and malignant melanoma.
The group of Professor Garth Cooper and Dr Kerry Loomes utilizes the tools of proteomics, ultrastructural imaging techniques, and cellular and molecular biology to dissect the mechanisms of metabolic diseases. Members of the laboratory are also interested in using proteomic techniques for targeted discovery of novel bioactive peptides to develop new therapies. Current areas of investigation include the regulation of hormone production from pancreatic tissues, the consequences of Diabetes Mellitus on pancreatic function, the biochemical mechanisms underlying insulin resistance, the complications of diabetes including effects on target organs (e.g. the heart), acute pancreatitis and brain proteomics of various neurological disorders. Members of the laboratory are also interested in metabolic syndromes associated with Diabetes Mellitus, atherosclerosis and cancer.
Assoc Prof Rod Dunbar’s laboratory focuses on human immunity, especially immune responses to cancer. One project aims to develop new therapeutic vaccines for use in patients with melanoma. These vaccines are designed to stimulate the patients’ own cytotoxic T lymphocytes to kill melanoma cells. The lab is also using the department’s strengths in proteomic technology to study the molecular mechanisms involved in communication between human immune cells. This work aims to develop new methods for modulating immune responses in humans.
Members:
Professor Margaret Brimble Professor Garth Cooper Associate Professor Rod Dunbar - Research Leader Dr Debbie Hay
Dr Tony Hickey
Dr Kerry Loomes Academic Leader Dr Anthony Phillips
Associate Professor Sally Poppitt Dr Rob Young
Structural Biology
The Structural Biology group consists of some 40 researchers with a common goal of
understanding biology at the molecular level, and using that understanding to develop new approaches to disease or new tools for biotechnology. This research is at the forefront of modern biological research, but also draws strongly on the disciplines of chemistry, biophysics and computational analysis.
Much of the research in the Structural Biology group focuses on projects of medical importance, investigating the mechanisms of disease, the discovery and structural characterization of new drug targets, structure based drug design and modelling. The group also works actively in areas such as plant growth and insect control. We have strong collaborative programmes with
researchers in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences in the development of new anti-cancer drugs and the development of molecules that infl uence the human immune system. We also have strong external linkages, both within NZ (AgResearch, Plant & Food Research) and outside NZ.
Prof. Ted Baker, Assoc. Prof. Peter Metcalf, Dr.
Shaun Lott, Dr. Richard Kingston and Dr. Chris Squire lead research centred around the use of X-ray crystallography but also involving many
other approaches for discovering protein structure and function: genomics, gene cloning, protein expression, micro-scale crystallization, bioinformatics and modelling, structure-based drug design, protein engineering, NMR and biophysical analysis. Examples of current projects include:
1) investigation of proteins that enable TB to persist, and use of TB protein structures to help design new anti-TB drugs,
2) discovering mechanisms of infectious disease by studying proteins that attach bacteria to human cells,
3) using protein structure to design new anti-cancer drugs,
4) analysing naturally occurring microcrystals that form protective coats around viruses, 5) analysing the mechanisms by which viruses
assemble and discovering how they avoid the human immune system.
Electron microscopy is central to research in the Mitra lab, where high resolution cryo-electron microscopy techniques are used to elucidate the structure of membrane proteins, virus particles and macromolecular complexes. Assoc. Professor Alok Mitra’s laboratory focuses on understanding structure/ function relationships of biomedically important membrane proteins and molecular machines. These systems, which are usually refractory to structural analysis by most methods, are ideally suited for high resolution investigation using electron cryo-microscopy, for which a state-of-the art facility in SBS has been established. Current research in the lab applies this approach to:
1) structural insights into integral membrane proteins including cation transporters, proteins involved in bacterial drug effl ux systems and a protein that imparts antibiotic resistance,
2) understanding the dynamics of membrane channel formation by studying the
membrane-inserted state of colicin, a soluble protein toxin that forms ion channels in the
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lipid bilayer,
3) structural investigations of the anthrax toxin toxic complex,
4) structure and function of large, dynamic macromolecular complexes that include the diabetes and cardiovascular drug target adiponectin, a natural bacterial microinjection protein nano machine, 5) understanding assembly and interaction of
viral scaffolding and capsid proteins, and 6) structural elucidation of designed inhibitors
of the drug target human aquaporin 1 water channel.
Dr Andrew Dingley’s research group applies high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to study the structure, dynamics and function of proteins. Research interests include structural characterisation of antimicrobial protein-membrane interactions and the dynamics of cytokine mediated intracellular signalling. Projects aim to advance our basic understanding of diseases and underpin the potential development of new therapeutics.
Members:
Professor Ted Baker - Research Leader Dr Andrew Dingley
Dr Richard Kingston Professor Joerg Kistler Dr Shaun Lott
Associate Professor Peter Metcalf Associate Professor Alok Mitra - Academic Leader Dr Chris Squire
Teaching & Learning
This group consists of senior tutors whose primary roles are in coordinating undergraduate courses. Our focus is on developing teaching practices which are driven and informed by education research. We aim primarily to raise levels of student achievement and encourage life-long learning. The educational environment of
the 21st Century requires consideration of access, multiple learning styles, and other varied demands. We believe the diverse needs of students and other challenges can be met through innovative teaching and learning strategies involving the tools and technologies of the internet age. Our course design strategies aim to refl ect consideration of these issues.
The group has already been involved in a number of research and development projects. These have predominantly focussed on working with schools in low socioeconomic areas to address issues such as access to recent biological science developments, communication with primary researchers, and increasing the expectations and achievements of their students in tertiary education. The University’s Learning Management System (LMS) Cecil™ has been integral to the successful implementation of visionary developments in course design in the School of Biological Sciences and secondary schools outreach projects.
Members:
Mandy Harper - Academic Leader Dr Rochelle Constantine Dr Mel Collings
Dr Brendon Dunphy Libby Hitchings Selvan Reddy Dave Seldon