The MRL molecular laboratory has an ongoing research interest
in the development of real-time PCR assays for the detection of
specific mycobacterial pathogens in clinical specimens, including
paraffin-embedded formalin-fixed tissues.
In particular, sensitive and specific assays have been developed
to detect M. tuberculosis complex, M. ulcerans and
M. genavense, the latter in collaboration with the Melbourne
Zoo.
Other collaborative research interests include the molecular detection
and characterization of drug resistance mutations in M. tuberculosis,
in association with the University of Melbourne.
The evaluation of rapid PCR-based typing methods for particular
M. tuberculosis isolates and the provision of reliable
data for epidemiological purposes is also ongoing within the molecular
laboratory.
