Host-pathogen interactions

Our body contains approximately 39 trillion bacteria and throughout our everyday functions we encounter even more bacteria, some of which are pathogenic. These bacterial pathogens and their products interact with our body in a variety of ways to ultimately cause disease. Research in our laboratory focuses on answering two fundamental questions

  1. how do bacteria and their products interact with the host to cause disease and
  2. how does the host detect and respond to these bacterial pathogens and their products.

Our primary research interests are focused on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms of host-pathogen interactions with particular focus on Helicobacter pylori and bacterial membrane vesicles.

Current projects

  • Biogenesis,composition and functions of bacterial membrane vesicles.
  • Pathogenesis mediated by bacterial membrane vesicles
  • Immune responses to the human gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori
  • Immune signalling by the host innate immune receptor NOD1
  • Biogenesis and functions of exosomes

Team members

Research leader: Associate Professor Maria Kaparakis Liaskos

Post docs: Dr Natalie Bitto

PhD students: Ella Johnston, Lauren Zavan, William Gilmore