Research Interests
1. Mucosal integrity and inflammation
and infection at mucosal surfaces.
Prostatitis in a rat model is
being used to study the effect of loss of mucosal integrity
on inflammation and infection of the prostate. Current
studies include; the role of specific bacterial virulence
factors on inflammation and infection, the role of
protease activated receptors (PARs) on inflammation,
and biofilm formation at mucosal surfaces.
NSERC funded
2. Biofilm formation and susceptibility.
We have developed new technology
to study biofilms and their susceptibility to antimicrobials.
We study both mono-species and multi-species biofilms
associated with nature, industrial contamination, and
infection. Current projects include; biocide susceptibility
of industrial and hospital biofilms, B. cenocepacia
and P. aeruginosa co-biofilms in cystic fibrosis infections,
biofilm expressed genes as next generation antibiotic
targets, biofilm susceptibility to metals, and new
antimicrobial testing.
CIHR, CCFF, and Corporate funding
3. Molecular Archaeology.
We are applying both immunological
and ancient DNA approaches to archaeological questions.
Currently we are using aDNA technology to look at the
difference of animal usage in two different Alberta
communities, a trading post and a religious settlement.
SSHRC funded
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