Biomedical Sciences
Inspired minds, inspired places
The Division of Biomedical Sciences has a vision to build world-class Discovery Science and Translational Medicine programmes in partnership with the University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire (UHCW), deliver interdisciplinary educational programmes and transmit new knowledge to the wider world through an exciting public engagement interface. The divison is home to 36 Principal Investigators including both clinical and non-clinical academics, several jointly appointed with other departments to drive interdisciplinary work.
Leading edge research centres and programmes
Our Principal Investigators lead key University-wide research centres, externally supported research programmes and innovative education initiatives:
Biomedical Sciences News
The influence of extrachromosomal elements in the anthrax "cross-over" strain Bacillus cereus G9241
We have now published back to back two papers on the so called anthrax “cross over strain Bacillus cereus G9241. The first paper (From cereus to anthrax and back again: The role of the PlcR regulator in the “cross-over” strain Bacillus cereus G9241) has already been highlighted. This current paper is titled, “The influence of extrachromosomal elements in the anthrax “cross-over” strain Bacillus cereus G9241.”
The work investigates the contribution of anthrax-like plasmids and a lysogenic phagemid to the pathogenic potential of the normally relatively harmless Bacillus cereus. We investigated the role of temperature and carriage of the pBCXO1 plasmid (which is homologous to the pXO1 anthrax toxin plasmid) in regulation of chromosomal genes, heavily affecting metabolism. In addition we have shown that sporulation of G9241 is very rapid at 37’C, which is characteristic of B. anthracis but unlike the ancestral B. cereus strains. Finally we isolated phagemid virions which are produced at 37’C and visualised them with electron microscopy.
Read the paper here.
From cereus to anthrax and back again: The role of the PlcR regulator in the “cross-over” strain Bacillus cereus G9241
Darius Koester, Assistant Professor in the Division of Biomedical Sciences, tells us about his research looking at the interaction and dynamics of the cell surface.
Inspired minds, inspired places
The Division of Biomedical Sciences has a vision to build world-class Discovery Science and Translational Medicine programmes in partnership with the University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire (UHCW), deliver interdisciplinary educational programmes and transmit new knowledge to the wider world through an exciting public engagement interface. The divison is home to 36 Principal Investigators including both clinical and non-clinical academics, several jointly appointed with other departments to drive interdisciplinary work.
Leading edge research centres and programmes
Our Principal Investigators lead key University-wide research centres, externally supported research programmes and innovative education initiatives:
Leading edge research centres and programmes
Our Principal Investigators lead key University-wide research centres, externally supported research programmes and innovative education initiatives:
Events and seminars
BMS Seminar: Blood vessel functions in bone health and disease, Dr Saravana Ramasamy, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London
BMS Seminar: The Nagoya Protocol: Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) in the UK, Dr Natasha Kriznik, Research Governance Officer, Research & Impact Services
Biomedical Sciences News
The influence of extrachromosomal elements in the anthrax "cross-over" strain Bacillus cereus G9241
We have now published back to back two papers on the so called anthrax “cross over strain Bacillus cereus G9241. The first paper (From cereus to anthrax and back again: The role of the PlcR regulator in the “cross-over” strain Bacillus cereus G9241) has already been highlighted. This current paper is titled, “The influence of extrachromosomal elements in the anthrax “cross-over” strain Bacillus cereus G9241.”
The work investigates the contribution of anthrax-like plasmids and a lysogenic phagemid to the pathogenic potential of the normally relatively harmless Bacillus cereus. We investigated the role of temperature and carriage of the pBCXO1 plasmid (which is homologous to the pXO1 anthrax toxin plasmid) in regulation of chromosomal genes, heavily affecting metabolism. In addition we have shown that sporulation of G9241 is very rapid at 37’C, which is characteristic of B. anthracis but unlike the ancestral B. cereus strains. Finally we isolated phagemid virions which are produced at 37’C and visualised them with electron microscopy.
Read the paper here.
From cereus to anthrax and back again: The role of the PlcR regulator in the “cross-over” strain Bacillus cereus G9241
Darius Koester, Assistant Professor in the Division of Biomedical Sciences, tells us about his research looking at the interaction and dynamics of the cell surface.