Mikael Skurnik, PhD
Professor of Bacteriology (Emeritus), Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki.
Mobile: +358 50 336 0981
E-mail: mikael.skurnik@helsinki.fi
Since 1980 his studies have focused on the genetics and molecular biology of bacterial virulence factors with pathogenic Yersinia as model organisms with specific attention to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) genetics and biosynthesis. Bacteriophages have taken up increasingly his interest, and all the last projects in his laboratory dealt with different aspects of phages. A major goal was to start a phage therapy unit in Helsinki, that has been continued by Saija Kiljunen, after his retirement.
Born 1952. MSc (1977) majoring biochemistry, University of Oulu). PhD (1985) University of Oulu. Post-doc (1985-87) with Hans Wolf-Watz, Umeå, Sweden. Head of DNA Laboratory (1987-1993) Dept Medical Microbiology, University of Turku. Academy fellow (1993-1996). Director (1996-1997) Turku Centre for Biotechnology. Academy Fellow (1998-2002). Professor of Bacteriology (2002-2020), University of Helsinki.