Dr Margaret Cooley
	B.Sc (Hons), Ph.D. (A.N.U.); Grad Cert Higher Ed (UNSW).
	Senior Lecturer
	Room No:	351
	Office:	Room 351 Biological Sciences Building
	Phone:	9385 3761
	Fax:	9385 1591
	Email:	m.cooley@unsw.edu.au

Teaching Responsibilities:

MICR3041  Course Coordinator
MICR3641  Course Coordinator
BIOS1201   Course Coordinator
GENS6033  Course Coordinator
MICR3228  Course Lecturer
MICR2201  Course Lecturer
 

Research Interests

Research in my laboratory is focussed on the interaction of the immune system with bacterial pathogens, and particularly the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. However, rather than being focussed on the way the immune system recognises and deasl with these pathogens, we are focussing on the effects of bacterial products, including signalling molecules, on mammalian immune responses.  We have identified immune - modulatory effects of small signal molecules (acyl homoserine lactones) produced by P aeruginosa, and are currently studying the mechanisms of theese effects, and the way in which they influence the immune response to P. aeruginosa infection. We are also expanding our work to look at products from a range of other microorganisms of both environmental and medical importance.

Selected references

Adam J. Ritchie, Andrew O. W. Yam, Kara M. Tanabe, Scott A. Rice, Margaret A. Cooley (2003). Modification of in vivo and in vitro T and B cell mediated immune responses by the Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum sensing molecule N-(3-oxododecanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone (OdDHL). Infection and Immunity 71(8):4421-31.

A.J. Ritchie, A. Jansson, J. Stallberg, P. Nilsson, P. Lysaght, M.A. Cooley (2005) The P. aeruginosa quorum sensing molecule N-3-(oxododecanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone (OdDHL) inhibits T cell differentiation and cytokine production by a mechanism involving an early step in T cell activation. Infection and Immunity 73: 1648-55.