Mark Walker Position:   Professor Room:   35 104 Phone No:   +61 2 4221 3439 Email:   mwalker@uow.edu.au Lab/other loc:     Lab Phone:   +61 2 4221 3438

Research Interests

Development of recombinant human vaccines

Development of recombinant veterinary vaccines

Vaccine delivery systems

Additional Research Information

 

Representative Publications

MONOGRAPHS

Walker, M.J., McKay, D. (2000) Unravelling genes: the layperson's guide to genetic engineering. 1st edition. 6 chapters 132 pages (ISBN 1 86508 086 1), Allen and Unwin, Sydney.

REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS:

1. Walker, M.J., Rohde, M., Brownlie, R.M., Timmis, K.N. (1990) Engineering upstream transcriptional and translational signals of Bordetella pertussis serotype 2 fimbrial subunit protein for efficient expression in Escherichia coli: in vitro autoassembly of the expressed product into filamentous structures. Molecular Microbiology 4: 39-47.

2. Walker, M.J., Rohde, M., Wehland, J., Timmis, K.N. (1991) Construction of mini-transposons for constitutive and inducible expression of pertussis toxin in Bvg-negative Bordetella bronchiseptica. Infection and Immunity 59: 4238-4248.

3. Walker, M.J., Rohde, M., Timmis, K.N., Guzman, C.A. (1992) Specific lung mucosal and systemic immune responses after oral immunization of mice with Salmonella typhimurium aroA, Salmonella typhi Ty21a and invasive Escherichia coli expressing recombinant pertussis toxin S1 subunit. Infection and Immunity 60: 4260-4268.

4. Dalla Pozza, T., Yan, H., Walker, M.J. (1997) Expression of a synthetic pertussis toxin operon in E. coli. Vaccine 15:968-975.

5. West, N.P., Jungnitz, H Fitter, J.T., McArthur, J.D., Guzman, C.A. Walker, M.J. (2000) Role of phosphoglucomutase of Bordetella bronchiseptica in lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis and virulence. Infection and Immunity 68: 4673-4680.

Searchable Publication List

 

Current Students

Ph.D. Students

J. Wilton 1997-present,

Development of a recombinant Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae subunit vaccine. Currently enrolled at the University of Wollongong. (Co-supervision with Dr. J. Chin and Dr. S. Djordjevic)

R. Leving 2002-present,

Detection of class I integrons in Salmonella spp. Currently enrolled at the University of Wollongong. (Co-supervision with Dr. S. Djordjevic and Dr. M. Hornitsky).

 F. Dawes 2003-present,

Molecular analysis of antibiotic resistance genes associated with integrons in Escherichia coli. Currently enrolled at the University of Wollongong.  (Co-supervision with Dr. S.Djordjevic).

J. Liu 2004-present,

Molecular analysis of non-integron associated resistance genes associated in Salmonella typhimurium. Currently enrolled at the University of Wollongong.  (Co-supervision with Dr. S. Djordjevic).

C. Venturini 2004-present,

Molecular analysis of non-integron associated antibiotic resistance genes associated in Escherichia coli. Currently enrolled at the University of Wollongong.  (Co-supervision with Dr. S. Djordjevic).

A. Cork 2004-present,

Molecular analysis of group A streptococcal SEN and GAPDH:contribution to virlence.Currently enrolled at the University of Wollongong.

D. Bogema 2005-present,

Molecular and proteomic analysis of Mycoplasma hyopneumonie.  Currently enrolled at the University of Wollongong. (Co-supervision with Dr. S. Djordjevic).

A. Bazun 2005-present,

Molecular analysis of a Mycoplasma hyopneumonie heparin binding protein. Currently enrolled at the University of Wollongong. (Co-supervision with Dr. S. Djordjevic).

A. Henningham 2005-present,

Group A streptococcal vaccine development. Currently enrolled at the University of Wollongong. 

A. Hollands 2006-present,

Molecular analysis of a Mycoplasma hyopneumonie heparin binding protein. Currently enrolled at the University of Wollongong. (Co-supervision with Dr. S. Djordjevic).

L. Seymour 2007-present,

Molecular analysis of a Mycoplasma hyopneumonie ECM binding proteins. Currently enrolled at the University of Wollongong. (Co-supervision with Dr. S. Djordjevic).

P. Maamary 2008-present,

Invasive disease initiation by non-group A streptococci. Currently enrolled at the University of Wollongong. (Co-supervision with Dr. J. Cole).

L. Wooley 2008-present,

Development of intranasal and DNA vaccines against Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. Currently enrolled at the University of Wollongong. (Co-supervision with Dr. S. Djordjevic).

 

Suggested Topics for Future Students

Development of recombinant human vaccines,

Development of recombinant veterinary vaccines

Vaccine delivery systems.

See Also the Honours Topics Page

 

Abbreviated CV

Positions held

2002 to present: Professor in Molecular Genetics

2000 to 2005: Head of Department

Jan 1998 to 2002: Associate Professor in Molecular Genetics

Jan 1994-97: Senior lecturer in Molecular Genetics, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong

Dec 1991 to Dec 1993: Lecturer in Molecular Genetics, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong

May 1989 to Sept 1991: Project leader in Medical Microbiology (tenured), Department of Microbiology, German National Research Centre for Biotechnology

1988: Alexander Von Humboldt fellowship (declined)

May 1988 to May 1989: Postdoctoral research scientist, Department of Microbiology, German National Research Centre for Biotechnology

 

Awards and memberships

1984 to present Member of the Australian Society for Microbiology

1990 to present Member of the American Society for Microbiology

1993 to present Member of the Australian Biotechnology Association

1983 to 1987 University of Queensland graduate tutorial scholarship

1984 to 1987 Commonwealth Postgraduate Research Award

1989 Gesellschaft für Biotechnologische Forschung research prize for outstanding scientific contribution (Division Microbiology)

1990 Gesellschaft für Biotechnologische Forschung research prize for outstanding scientific contribution (Division Microbiology)

1991 Gesellschaft für Biotechnologische Forschung research prize for outstanding scientific contribution (Division Microbiology)

1991 to 1996 Member of the editorial board of the Journal of Bacteriology

1998 Alexander Von Humboldt fellowship

2000 Australian College of Education (Illawarra/South Coast NSW Chapter) excellence in tertiary teaching award

 

Academic Degrees

1980-1982 Bachelor of Science Degree, Major: Microbiology
Department of Microbiology, University of Queensland

1983 Bachelor of Science Honours Degree, First class, Major: Microbiology
Department of Microbiology, University of Queensland

1984-1987 Doctoral Degree. Department of Microbiology, University of Queensland.
Dissertation Title: Genetic and Molecular Analysis of a Klebsiella oxytoca Clinical Isolate