Bacteriology

I currently have a broad portfolio of interests including the epidemiology of foot-and-mouth disease and bovine tuberculosis and using molecular tools to understand transmission and spread at different scales in LMICs.  

Use of genomic and molecular tools to examine the evolution and pathogenesis of clinically important species of Staphylococci and Legionella

My research aims to define the genetic determinants that contribute to the spread of important zoonotic diseases such as those caused by enterohaemorrhagic E. coli and Salmonella.  Current work is applying machine learning and phylogenomics to predict the source and disease threat of isolates. The other main focus of our research is to understand the expression of bacterial colonisation factors and apply this knowledge to develop vaccines to limit bacterial zoonotic diseases. 

Immune responses to Mycobacterial infections in cattle.

Infectious disease models; Intervention strategies; Pathology; Veterinary diagnostics; Pigs.

Studies intracellular bacterial pathogens, with specific interest in the bacterial genes required for intracellular survival and evasion of innate immune responses.

Salmonella, Campylobacter and Escherichia coli infections in farm animals, with emphasis on the bacterial and host factors that influence persistence, pathogenesis and protection.

Host-pathogen interactions and immunomodulation in avian species.

In vitro/ex vivo organ cultures - organoids.

Molecular epidemiology of zoonotic and emerging pathogens, surveillance and disease control.

Pathogen Phylodynamics - evolution and epidemiology of viruses and bacteria using bayesian and machine learning methods.