Overview
Background
Dr Kobe's research interests are in protein structure and function, focussing particularly on proteins involved in the processes of infection and immunity.
The primary techniques used in the laboratory are X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy, combined with a plethora of other molecular biology, biophysical and computational techniques.
Current projects include:
- Structural basis of signalling by cooperative assembly formation (SCAF) in innate immunity and cell-death pathways, in particular Toll-like receptors and interleukin-1 receptors
- Structural basis of plant disease resistance - particularly plant NLRs and the correponding pathogen effector proteins
- Molecular and structural basis of function of proteins from pathogens (fungal, bacterial and viral pathogens)
Availability
- Professor Bostjan Kobe is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science, University of Ljubljana
- Doctor of Philosophy of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Research interests
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Protein structure and function
The group’s research theme is protein structure and function, with the emphasis on understanding the structural basis of intra- and intermolecular interactions formed by these macromolecules and inferring function from structure. The biological focus is on proteins involved in infection and immunity. The goal of the research is to use structural and molecular information to understand the molecular and cellular functions of proteins, validate proteins as therapeutic targets or biotechnological products, and to design new therapeutics and biotechnological applications. The primary techniques used in the laboratory are X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy, combined with a plethora of other molecular biology, biophysical and computational techniques
Research impacts
We focus on basic research that provides a foundsation for applications in medicine (inflammatory, neurodegenerative and infectious disease) anf agriculture (improving plant disease resistance).
Works
Search Professor Bostjan Kobe’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Book Chapter
Bacterial TIR domain-containing proteins as drug targets
Li, Sulin, Singh, Mandeep, Liu, Siyuan, Pandey, Vishal, Ve, Thomas and Kobe, Bostjan (2025). Bacterial TIR domain-containing proteins as drug targets . Bacterial enzymes as targets for drug discovery: meeting the challenges of antibiotic resistance. (pp. 419-428) edited by Punit Kaur and Priyanka Sharma. London, United Kingdom: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-443-22222-1.00022-2
2024
Journal Article
Correction to: The JAK-STAT pathway: from structural biology to cytokine engineering (Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy, (2024), 9, 1, (221), 10.1038/s41392-024-01934-w)
Lv, You, Qi, Jianxun, Babon, Jeffrey J., Cao, Longxing, Fan, Guohuang, Lang, Jiajia, Zhang, Jin, Mi, Pengbing, Kobe, Bostjan and Wang, Faming (2024). Correction to: The JAK-STAT pathway: from structural biology to cytokine engineering (Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy, (2024), 9, 1, (221), 10.1038/s41392-024-01934-w). Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy, 9 (1) 290, 290. doi: 10.1038/s41392-024-01975-1
2024
Journal Article
Structural characterization of TIR-domain signalosomes through a combination of structural biology approaches
Bhatt, Akansha, Mishra, Biswa P., Gu, Weixi, Sorbello, Mitchell, Xu, Hongyi, Ve, Thomas and Kobe, Bostjan (2024). Structural characterization of TIR-domain signalosomes through a combination of structural biology approaches. IUCrJ, 11 (5), 695-707. doi: 10.1107/s2052252524007693
2024
Journal Article
Microcrystal electron diffraction structure of Toll-like receptor 2 TIR-domain-nucleated MyD88 TIR-domain higher-order assembly
Li, Y., Pacoste, L. C., Gu, W., Thygesen, S. J., Stacey, K. J., Ve, T., Kobe, B., Xu, H. and Nanson, J. D. (2024). Microcrystal electron diffraction structure of Toll-like receptor 2 TIR-domain-nucleated MyD88 TIR-domain higher-order assembly. Acta Crystallographica Section D Structural Biology, 80 (9), 699-712. doi: 10.1107/s2059798324008210
2024
Journal Article
Exon shuffling and alternative splicing of ROCO genes in brown algae enables a diverse repertoire of candidate immune receptors
Teng, Linhong, Sun, Yuhuan, Chen, Jiayi, Wang, Chenghui, Urbach, Jonathan M., Kobe, Bostjan, Ye, Naihao and Zeng, Qiangcheng (2024). Exon shuffling and alternative splicing of ROCO genes in brown algae enables a diverse repertoire of candidate immune receptors. Frontiers in Plant Science, 15 1445022. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1445022
2024
Journal Article
The JAK-STAT pathway: from structural biology to cytokine engineering
Lv, You, Qi, Jianxun, Babon, Jeffrey J., Cao, Longxing, Fan, Guohuang, Lang, Jiajia, Zhang, Jin, Mi, Pengbing, Kobe, Bostjan and Wang, Faming (2024). The JAK-STAT pathway: from structural biology to cytokine engineering. Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy, 9 (1) 221, 221. doi: 10.1038/s41392-024-01934-w
2024
Journal Article
SARM1-dependent axon degeneration: nucleotide signaling, neurodegenerative disorders, toxicity, and therapeutic opportunities
McGuinness, Helen Y., Gu, Weixi, Shi, Yun, Kobe, Bostjan and Ve, Thomas (2024). SARM1-dependent axon degeneration: nucleotide signaling, neurodegenerative disorders, toxicity, and therapeutic opportunities. The Neuroscientist, 30 (4), 473-492. doi: 10.1177/10738584231162508
2024
Journal Article
Structural characterization of macro domain–containing Thoeris antiphage defense systems
Shi, Yun, Masic, Veronika, Mosaiab, Tamim, Rajaratman, Premraj, Hartley-Tassell, Lauren, Sorbello, Mitchell, Goulart, Cassia C., Vasquez, Eduardo, Mishra, Biswa P., Holt, Stephanie, Gu, Weixi, Kobe, Bostjan and Ve, Thomas (2024). Structural characterization of macro domain–containing Thoeris antiphage defense systems. Science Advances, 10 (26) eadn3310, eadn3310. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adn3310
2024
Journal Article
Small molecule drug discovery targeting the JAK-STAT pathway
Lv, You, Mi, Pengbing, Babon, Jeffrey J., Fan, Guohuang, Qi, Jianxun, Cao, Longxing, Lang, Jiajia, Zhang, Jin, Wang, Faming and Kobe, Bostjan (2024). Small molecule drug discovery targeting the JAK-STAT pathway. Pharmacological Research, 204 107217, 107217. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107217
2024
Journal Article
o-Vanillin binds covalently to MAL/TIRAP Lys-210 but independently inhibits TLR2
Rahaman, Md. Habibur, Thygesen, Sara J., Maxwell, Michael J., Kim, Hyoyoung, Mudai, Prerna, Nanson, Jeffrey D., Jia, Xinying, Vajjhala, Parimala R., Hedger, Andrew, Vetter, Irina, Haselhorst, Thomas, Robertson, Avril A. B., Dymock, Brian, Ve, Thomas, Mobli, Mehdi, Stacey, Katryn J. and Kobe, Bostjan (2024). o-Vanillin binds covalently to MAL/TIRAP Lys-210 but independently inhibits TLR2. Journal of Enzyme Inhibition and Medicinal Chemistry, 39 (1) 2313055, 2313055. doi: 10.1080/14756366.2024.2313055
2024
Journal Article
Mixed-organism enzyme in plant defense
Thynne, Elisha and Kobe, Bostjan (2024). Mixed-organism enzyme in plant defense. Science, 383 (6684), 707-708. doi: 10.1126/science.adn8306
2024
Journal Article
Hfe permease and Haemophilus influenzae manganese homeostasis
Ganio, Katherine, Nasreen, Marufa, Yang, Zihao, Maunders, Eve A., Luo, Zhenyao, Hossain, Sheikh Imamul, Ngu, Dalton H. Y., Ellis, Daniel, Gu, Jin, Neville, Stephanie L., Wilksch, Jonathan, Gunn, Adam P., Whittall, Jonathan J., Kobe, Boštjan, Deplazes, Evelyne, Kappler, Ulrike and McDevitt, Christopher A. (2024). Hfe permease and Haemophilus influenzae manganese homeostasis. ACS Infectious Diseases, 10 (2), 436-452. doi: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00407
2024
Journal Article
The design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of 5,6,7,8-tetrahydropteridines as anti-inflammatory compounds
Chen, Rachel M., Emming, Stefan, Cinnamon, Roseanna, Cameron, Jacob P., Schroder, Kate, Kobe, Bostjan and Robertson, Avril A. B. (2024). The design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of 5,6,7,8-tetrahydropteridines as anti-inflammatory compounds. Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry. doi: 10.1039/d4ob01453g
2023
Journal Article
Mildew RALPHs up in arms with cereals
Maruta, Natsumi, Outram, Megan A. and Kobe, Bostjan (2023). Mildew RALPHs up in arms with cereals. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120 (36) e2311817120, 1-3. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2311817120
2023
Conference Publication
Structure determination of TLR2 TIR domain induced MyD88 TIR domain higher-order assembly revealed by microcrystal electron diffraction (microED)
Li, Y., Nanson, J. D., Pacoste, L. C., Xu, H. and Kobe, B. (2023). Structure determination of TLR2 TIR domain induced MyD88 TIR domain higher-order assembly revealed by microcrystal electron diffraction (microED). XXVI IUCr Congress, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 22-29 August 2023. Hoboken, NJ United States: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1107/s2053273323093993
2023
Conference Publication
Allosteric regulation of SARM1, the executioner of axon degeneration
Gu, W., Luo, Z., Nanson, J. D., Ve, T. and Kobe, B. (2023). Allosteric regulation of SARM1, the executioner of axon degeneration. XXVI IUCr Congress, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 22-29 August 2023. Hoboken, NJ United States: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1107/s2053273323089398
2023
Conference Publication
Structural basis of an anti-cancer biological warhead bound to its target CDCP1 for the diagnosis and treatment of epithelial cancers
Kwah, Kayden, Gu, Weixi, Arachchige, Kasun S. A., He, Yaowu, Landsberg, Michael, Kobe, Bostjan and Hooper, John (2023). Structural basis of an anti-cancer biological warhead bound to its target CDCP1 for the diagnosis and treatment of epithelial cancers. XXVI IUCr Congress, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 22-29 August 2023. Hoboken, NJ United States: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1107/s2053273323084449
2023
Conference Publication
Structural and functional characterisation of plant TIR domains and their role in plant innate immunity
Lim, Bryan Y. J., Sorbello, Mitchell, Ngu, Dalton H. Y., Burdett, Hayden, Maruta, Natsumi and Kobe, Boštjan (2023). Structural and functional characterisation of plant TIR domains and their role in plant innate immunity. XXVI IUCr Congress, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 22-29 August 2023. Hoboken, NJ United States: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1107/s2053273323087752
2023
Conference Publication
Development of 3D-ED/MicroED facility at the University of Queensland
Arachchige, K. S. A., Koifman, N., Gu, W., Kobe, B., Clegg, J. K., Xu, H. and Wepf, R. (2023). Development of 3D-ED/MicroED facility at the University of Queensland. XXVI IUCr Congress, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 22-29 August 2023. Hoboken, NJ United States: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1107/s2053273323086461
2023
Conference Publication
Structural and functional analysis of the TIR-domain in Toll-like receptors 7, 8 and 9 signaling and the interactions with adaptor proteins
Qian, Xiaoqi, Nanson, Jeffrey and Kobe, Boštjan (2023). Structural and functional analysis of the TIR-domain in Toll-like receptors 7, 8 and 9 signaling and the interactions with adaptor proteins. XXVI IUCr Congress, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 22-29 August 2023. Hoboken, NJ United States: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1107/s205327332308662x
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Bostjan Kobe is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
-
Structure and function of proteins involved in infection and immunity
The projects involve protein expression and purification, structual biology and biophysical techniques.
- Molecular and structural basis of innate immunity in animals, plants and bacteria
- Molecular and structural basis of bacterial, fungal and viral pathogenesis
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Structure and function of bacterial TIR domain-containing proteins
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Structural biology of TIR domain-containing proteins
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Structural basis of plant immune receptor signaling
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Natsumi Maruta
-
Doctor Philosophy
Molecular mechanisms of signalling by plant immune receptors
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Proteins in innate immunity pathways: from protein structure to therapeutic targeting
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Michael Landsberg, Professor James Fraser
-
Doctor Philosophy
Structure and function of mammalian TIR domain-containing proteins
Principal Advisor
-
Master Philosophy
Structure and function of proteins involved in Toll-like receptor signalling
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Structural and biochemical characterization of dual enzymatic activity of TIR domains from plant innate immune receptors
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Natsumi Maruta, Professor Mehdi Mobli
-
Doctor Philosophy
Structure and function of bacterial TIR domain-containing proteins
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Structure and Function of SARM1
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Structural and molecular basis of signalling by plant immune receptors
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Natsumi Maruta
-
Doctor Philosophy
Structural basis of plant immune receptor signaling
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Natsumi Maruta
-
Doctor Philosophy
Structural and functional analysis of TIR domain enzymatic activity
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kate Stacey, Dr Parimala Vajjhala
-
Master Philosophy
Therapeutic targetting of proteins involved in Toll-like receptor signalling
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Avril Robertson
-
Doctor Philosophy
Structural basis of plant immune receptor signaling
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Natsumi Maruta
-
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the molecular pathway of SARM1 mediated axon degeneration
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Methods for protein structure analysis using spin labelling, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and molecular modelling
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Craig Bell, Dr Rhia Stone, Associate Professor Jeffrey Harmer
-
Doctor Philosophy
Gene fusion in the de novo purine biosynthesis pathway: an investigation for potential antifungal drug targets
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor James Fraser
-
Doctor Philosophy
Purine biosynthesis as an anti fungal target
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor James Fraser
-
Doctor Philosophy
Structure and Function of ScCAD, the first step of Pyrimidine Synthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Benjamin Schulz, Associate Professor Michael Landsberg
-
Doctor Philosophy
Resolving a Dichotomy: A Journey between the Laboratory and the Classroom
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor James Fraser
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Structure determination of TIR-domain higher-order assembly in the Toll-like receptor 1, 2, and 6 signalling pathways
Principal Advisor
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the structural basis of TIR-domain assembly formation in TRAM- and TRIF-dependent TLR signalling
Principal Advisor
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Study of interactions between TIR domains and EDS1 immune regulatory complex
Principal Advisor
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Determining the role of TIR domains of interleukin-1 receptors in TLR/IL-1R signalling
Principal Advisor
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Structural characterisation of virulence factors involved in metal transport from Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Principal Advisor
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Structural and biochemical characterisation of the periplasmic copper chaperone AccA in Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Principal Advisor
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Structural and biochemical basis of NAD+ nucleosidase activity of TIR domain- containing proteins.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Michael Landsberg
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Structural characterisation of the Toll-like receptor TRIF-dependent pathway
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Michael Landsberg
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Targeting TIR domain assemblies in TLR signalling pathways to design anti-inflammatory compounds
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mehdi Mobli
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Structural basis of SARM1 function in axon degeneration, cell death and immunity
Principal Advisor
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Structural basis of SARM1 regulation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Michael Landsberg
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Elucidating the structural basis of effector-triggered susceptibility in the wheat-Parastagonospora nodorum interaction
Principal Advisor
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Novel antifungals selectively targeting the purine metabolic pathway
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor James Fraser, Professor Avril Robertson
-
2018
Doctor Philosophy
Structural characterisation of the eukaryotic CAD multienzyme complex
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Michael Landsberg, Dr Ian Ross, Professor Ben Hankamer
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
Conservative interpretation of small-angle X-ray scattering data from biological macromolecules.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alan Mark
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
The structural characterisation of proteins MAL and Sr33 involved in innate immunity
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mehdi Mobli
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
Structural And Functional Study Of Key Proteins In Animal And Plant Innate Immunity
Principal Advisor
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
Structural studies of metal-binding proteins in pathogenic bacteria
Principal Advisor
-
2015
Master Philosophy
PreDiZ: a PDZ domain-peptide interaction prediction method
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mikael Boden
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
The structural basis of effector recognition and defence signalling in plant disease resistance and susceptibility
Principal Advisor
-
2014
Doctor Philosophy
Structural basis of interactions of the TIR domain-containing proteins in TLR signaling pathways in humans
Principal Advisor
-
2014
Doctor Philosophy
Structural basis of binding specificity between nuclear localization signals and importin alpha
Principal Advisor
-
2014
Doctor Philosophy
Structural and functional studies of TcpB, a protein involved in Brucella pathogenesis
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Matt Sweet, Professor Mark Schembri
-
2013
Doctor Philosophy
Development of bioinformatics tools to analyse peptide-protein interactions: Immunoinformatics applications in next generation vaccine design
Principal Advisor
-
2011
Doctor Philosophy
Structural and functional characterisation of nuclear transport protein complexes
Principal Advisor
-
2011
Doctor Philosophy
Structural basis of disease resistance in flax against flax rust
Principal Advisor
-
2008
Doctor Philosophy
Insights into nuclear localization sequence binding by importin a
Principal Advisor
-
2007
Doctor Philosophy
Structural Basis of Plant Disease Resistance in Flax against Flax Rust
Principal Advisor
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Structure and Function of ScCAD, the first step of Pyrimidine Synthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Benjamin Schulz, Associate Professor Michael Landsberg
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Molybdenum-Containing Sulfur- and Nitrogen-Oxide Reductases as Virulence Determinants in Human Pathogens
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ulrike Kappler
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Kinase Inhibitors for the Treatment of Inflammatory Disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Avril Robertson
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Towards Improved Barley, Beer and Wine Production Using Expanded Proteomic Analysis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Benjamin Schulz
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Molecular analysis of TLR4 signalling
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Parimala Vajjhala, Professor Kate Stacey
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Purine metabolism as an antifungal target
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Benjamin Schulz, Professor James Fraser
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Targeting metabolic pathways for new antifungals: Purine biosynthesis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor James Fraser
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
The application of phospholipid nanodiscs to study peptide-lipid binding interactions
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mehdi Mobli
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Protein structural phylogeny, a missing chapter in molecular evolutionary biology
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mikael Boden
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
Classical and rational approaches to antifungal drug design
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor James Fraser
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
Bacterial ketol-acid reductoisomerase: structure, catalytic mechanism and thermal stability
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mark Schembri, Professor Luke Guddat
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
Disruption of de novo ATP biosynthesis abolishes virulence in Cryptococcus neoformans
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor James Fraser
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
Molecular interaction motifs in a system-wide network context: Computationally charting transient kinase-substrate phosphorylation events
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mikael Boden
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
Molecular mechanisms regulating N-glycosylation site selection by yeast oligosaccharyltransferase: Role of Ost3p and Ost6p
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Benjamin Schulz
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2012
Doctor Philosophy
Examining the role of dengue E glycoprotein domain III in cell receptor binding and viral fusion
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Paul Young
-
2009
Doctor Philosophy
Application of a bioinformatic/biochemical hybrid approach to determine the structure of protein complexes and multi domain proteins.
Associate Advisor
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2009
Doctor Philosophy
Cellular roles for Developmentally Regulated G-proteins in plants: Heat stress and protein renaturation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jimmy Botella
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2008
Doctor Philosophy
Mechanisms of fusion and cell entry mediated by dengue virus prM and E proteins
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Paul Young
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2008
Doctor Philosophy
STRUCTURE BASED DEVELOPMENT OF ANTIVIRAL DRUGS TARGETING THE DENGUE VIRUS FUSION MECHANISM
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Paul Young
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2007
Doctor Philosophy
THE STRUCTURAL BASIS FOR INTERACTION BETWEEN COLONY- STIMULATING FACTOR-1 AND ITS RECEPTOR, CSF-1R
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Mark Smythe, Professor David Hume, Dr Ian Ross
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Bostjan Kobe directly for media enquiries about:
- bacterial
- bioinformatics
- innate immunity
- nucleo-cytoplasmic transport
- protein-protein interactions
- structural biology
- viral infection
- x-ray crystallography
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