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Pathogenic Mechanisms of Infectious Diseases
My focus is on the molecular pathogenesis and epidemiology of periodontal disease, a multi-microbial disease caused by anaerobic bacteria such as Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis.
Dr Song Keang Peng song. keang. peng @ monash. edu
Associate Professor and Program Director( Postgraduate Coursework)
Expertise
Molecular pathogenesis and epidemiology of periodontal disease Bacterial toxins Molecular biology
Our group was the first to identify introns in A. actinomycetemcomitans, which may potentially play a role in the onset of periodontal disease.
Our studies have also demonstrated the presence of a toxin gene in P. gingivalis, which may interfere with the repair of bone tissue damaged by other oral pathogenic bacteria.
Another focus of our research is the pathogenesis of Clostridioides difficile. We aim to understand the mechanisms by which C. difficile causes pseudomembranous colitis, an inflammatory disease of the colon.
Our group was the first to identify introns in A. actinomycetemcomitans, which may potentially play a role in the onset of periodontal disease
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