Ms Tanya D'Cruze (PhD student) Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Monash University Clayton, Victoria, 3800 Email: Tanya.D'Cruze@med.monash.edu.au
		Research areas Tanya's research is focused on the mechanisms employed by the bacteria Burkholderia pseudomallei which enables it to evade its host defense system. Burkholderia pseudomallei is the causative agent of Melioidosis. The ability of B. pseudomallei to invade phagocytic and non-phagocytic cells, and escape into the cytosol through lysis of the endosomal membrane is dependent on the Type III Secretion System (TTSS). Once inside the host cell, B. pseudomallei tends to evade the host's immune response by essentially escaping from the endosome into the cytosol, thus evading the process of autophagy.