Dr Kristine Arnvig
Associate Professor
Structural & Molecular Biology
Div of Biosciences
- Joined UCL
- 1st May 2008
Research summary
Mycobacterium tuberculosis(Mtb) is one of the biggest killers throughout times and currently the world’s number one killer due to a single infectious agent. Yet, very little is known about the RNA biology of this pathogen. Research over the last two decades has demonstrated that RNA is much more than an intermediary between genes and proteins. This multi-functional molecule has turned out to perform regulatory roles that affect all levels of gene expression in all domains of life. Bacterial RNA-based regulators (riboregulators) come in different shapes and sizes including small RNAs (sRNAs), antisense RNA, 5’ leaders and riboswitches, and they form an extensive network of co- and post-transcriptional regulators that modulate and fine-tune the protein-based regulation of gene expression mediated by e.g. transcription factors. Our aim is to obtain a deeper understanding of the basic (RNA) biology of Mtb, which in time will support the development of novel diagnostics, drugs and vaccines. By combining high-throughput methods with a range of genetic and molecular biology approaches, we aim to characterize the expression, processing, degradation and regulatory role of different Mtbriboregulators.
Teaching summary
I am course organiser for BIOC0004 (Introduction to microbiology) in addition to teaching on BIOC0003, BIOC0005, BIOC0014, BIOC0015 and BIOC0020. I supervise third year student literature projects and fourth year MRes and MSci lab projects.
Education
- Other Postgraduate qualification (including professional), ATQ03 - Recognised by the HEA as a Fellow | 2015
Biography
I received my scientific training at The University of Copenhagen, Denmark and at the National Institute for Medical Research, UK, where I continued working with M. tuberculosis until I moved to UCL in spring 2013.