Integrative Microbiology Research Centre is an interdisciplinary research institute which is dedicated to understanding the pathogenicity of microbes (bacteria, fungi, viruses) causing serious diseases in human, animals, and especially the plants in the tropical and subtropical regions of South China with an emphasis on the microbial communication and signal transduction systems. 

　　(1) Microbial quorum sensing system

　　Uncover novel microbial quorum sensing signals and reveal the communication mechanisms; investigate the role of quorum sensing systems in regulating the expression of virulence genes.

　　(2) Host-pathogen communication

　　Explore host-pathogen communication systems and the host-pathogen interactions based on the communication systems. 

　　(3) Regulation of microbial biofilm formation and drug resistance

　　Investigate the regulatory roles of different environmental signals as well as quorum sensing signals and the second messenger cyclic-di-GMP in biofilm formation/degradation, drug resistance, cellular metabolism etc.