Infection and immunology: from pathogenesis to treatment
Current research within this discipline starts with the detection and identification of bacterial pathogens and the detection of airborne antibacterial agents encountered during their commercial production; the investigation of bacterial biosynthetic pathways is designed to illuminate the production of toxins and novel antibiotic agents, which informs and shapes the design, synthesis and evaluation of novel antibacterial agents; the screening and isolation of natural antibiotics from plants is a further area of recent and current study that offers potential application in the production of natural agents for cosmetic purposes; the study of inflammatory pathways is of interest in improving organ transplantation outcomes and in the characterisation of psoriasis and other inflammatory conditions, which leads into the design and development of anti-psoriatic agents and novel molecules for wound healing and the treatment of eczema.