Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences

Research - General Microbiology

Microbiology deals with the majority of organisms with immense importance in infectious diseases, ecology and basic biological sciences. The research is divided into three major areas. In bacterial pathogenesis, the main focuses are on molecular and cellular events associated with bacterial invasiveness and on development of display systems. The work in microbial ecology aims at defining the function of microbes in plant pathogenesis, promotion of plant growth, bioremediation and biodiversity. The third area of interest is molecular virology with emphasis on virus structure, assembly and evolution. This Major hosts, together with Institute of Biotechnology, one National Center of Excellence (Program on Structural Virology) and is associated with another one (Plant Molecular Biology and Forest Tree Biotechnology). The basic research within the Major has also led to innovations in biotechnology with significant commercial potential.

Research Groups

Professor Timo K. Korhonen and University lecturer Benita Westerlund-Wikström: Bacterial Adhesion Programme
The programme focuses on evolution and structure-function relationships in bacterial surface proteases a nd adhesins as well as on design and application of novel bacterial surface display techniques. >> Read more

Academy professor Dennis Bamford: Program on Structural Virology
The program focuses on structure, assembly and function of biological macromolecule complexes using prokaryote infecting viruses as model organisms. >> Read more

Professor Kielo Haahtela and PhD Pasi Haansuu: Bacteria in Rhizosphere: Diversity, Plant-Growth Promoting Activities, and Molecular Interactions with Plant Cells
The research work focuses on the ecology and physiology of bacteria present in Finnish forest soils. >> Read more

PhD Jarmo Juuti and PhD Jussi Heinonsalo: Mycorrhiza research group
Mycorrhiza group is studying the different aspects of symbiotic interaction between forest trees and mycorrhizal fungi from molecular interactions up to the ecosystem level. >> Read more

Docent Suvi Taira and professor Martin Romantschuk: Plant pathogenic bacteria
Plant pathogen group focuses on type III secretion system of  plant-infecting bacteria.
>> Read more

Docent Kim Yrjälä: Molecular environmental microbiology group
The focus of the reserach is on environmental processes in soil and water that are discerned by molecular genetic tools. >> Read more