biomedical sciences research institute - Research - University of Ulster

GROUP MEMBERSAcademic Staff:Professor Geoff McMullan, Group LeaderProfessor of MicrobiologyContact details:T: +44 (0)28 70324755g.mcmullan@ulster.ac.ukProfessor McMullan’s research continues to be focused upon the use of genomic information to provide a deeperunderstanding of how microorganisms function. In the past 10 years there has been a dramatic growth in theavailability of genetic data for microorganisms as a number of groups around the world have sequenced the genomesof over 500 organisms.These microorganisms include many disease-causing bacteria in addition to others exploited by the pharmaceuticaland biotechnology industries. By using this genetic information to understand how microorganisms function underdifferent conditions, such as evading the human immune system, it is possible to identify new drug targets or toidentify new products of commercial value.Professor McMullan and his team have developed a range of techniques to enable the exploitation of microbialgenomic information, including a platform of techniques to study the proteins expressed within a bacterial cell at agiven time. This work has involved collaboration with leading scientists at the University of Georgia at Athens (USA)and within the company, Applied Biosystems, a life science technology provider.This strategy has allowed us Professor McMullan and his team to identify cellular signaling mechanisms withina bacterium called Ochrobactrum anthropi, the cause of an increasing number of hospital acquired infections, thatcould allow this organism to resist ‘attack’ by macrophages used as part of the human response to infection (seeFigure below taken from Graham RL; Sharma MK; Ternan NG; Weatherly DB; Jackson PJ; Tarleton RL; McMullan G;A semi-quantitative GeLC-MS analysis of temporal proteome expression in the emerging nosocomial pathogenOchrobactrum anthropi.; Genome Biol.; 2007; 8, R110).57