Research leader
The major aims of our research are to understand the pathogenesis of diarrhoeal diseases caused by enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) and Shigella spp.
The World Health Organisation estimates that these two bacteria are responsible for almost half of the 4-6 million deaths caused by diarrhoeal disease every year.
ETEC diarrhoea is a major public health burden in developing countries lacking the infrastructure to provide clean water supplies. The development of cheap and effective vaccines for ETEC is a strategy that has been encouraged and facilitated by the World Health Organisation.
Recent vaccine trials using whole, killed bacteria to stimulate immunity have failed to protect against ETEC infections in 80% of individuals who developed “vaccine-preventable” diarrhoea, however. Alternative strategies are required to prevent ETEC infections, but we are hampered by our incomplete understanding of ETEC pathogenesis. The major focus of our research on ETEC involves:
- identifying novel ETEC virulence genes
- elucidating the mechanisms by which ETEC colonises hosts
- identifying conserved surface proteins in ETEC that be may be suitable for the development of broadly effective vaccines
The virulence of Shigella spp. is influenced by a number of laterally acquired genetic elements including pathogenicity islands (PAIs). The she-PAI carries encodes three autotransporter proteins, with established or putative roles in bacterial virulence.
The main aim of our current work in this area is to analyse the structure-function relationships of these proteins and to determine how they contribute to disease development.
School of Biomedical, Biomolecular and Chemical Sciences
University information
CRICOS Code: 00126G
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Last updated:
Tuesday, 23 June, 2009 4:35 PM
