Microbial sciences research in Leicester is carried out by a team of clinical and non-clinical academics from both University and NHS backgrounds engaged in internationally competitive research.

Major areas of research

• Infectious diseases: Tuberculosis, pneumonia, meningitis, seasonal and pandemic influenza, gastrointestinal infections
• Vaccine and drug development
• Bacteriophages: exploitation to combat antibiotic resistance in bacterial pathogens and investigations into the environmental impact of 'photosynthetic' phages
• Innate immunity

3i Microbial Sciences theme membership

For more information on specific research interests click on the links:

Professor Peter Andrew Molecular and cellular studies of host and bacterial responses in infection and disease and pathogen/environmental interactions especially involving Streptococcus pneumoniae and Listeria monocytogenes.

Professor Mike Barer Interface between bacterial physiology and human infections, principally those involving the gastrointrestinal tract and tuberculosis.

Professor Karl Nicholson Respiratory viral infections, viral vaccines and antiviral agents and influenza vaccine evaluation studies.

Professor Chris O'Callaghan Research into Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD) and runs the national diagnostic service for PCD. Studies of ciliated respiratory epithelium during chronic diseases (asthma and cystic fibrosis) and infectious disease.

Professor Wilhelm Schwaeble Molecular mechanisms involved in the induction and maintenance of inflammation and neurodegeneration in the central nervous system. Characterisation of a novel pathway of the innate anti-microbial immune response, the lectin pathway of complement activation. Development of therapeutic approaches to treat inflammatory disease and limit tissue injury. Analysis of human gene polymorphisms leading to predispositions for infectious disease.

Dr Bernie Burke The effect of hypoxia (low oxygen) on macrophage gene expression and use of macrophages for hypoxia targeted gene therapy.

Dr Martha Clokie Ecology and molecular biology of bacteriophages and their relationship with bacterial hosts.

Dr Primrose Freestone Studies into 'Microbial Endocrinology', relationship between stress and stress hormones and the progress of human and animal infection.

Dr Ed Galyov Molecular basis and mechanisms of bacterial diseases in particular Burkholderia pseudomallei.

Dr Shaun Heaphy Measuring environmental genetic diversity of prokaryotes, pico-eukaryotes and viruses and subsequent biotechnological investigations.

Dr Roger James Pancreatic islet isolation and transplantation for treatment of diabetes and the development of human insulin producing cell lines. Production of conventional and recombinant monoclonal antibodies for bio-medical research.

Dr Simon Kilvington

Dr Galina Mukamolova Molecular mechanisms of bacterial domancy and resuscitation.

Dr Helen O'Hare Essential serine threonine protein kinases of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Dr Hitesh Pandya Paediatric clinical pharmacology, in particular investigations of biomarkers associated with management and treatment of childhood asthma.

Dr Kumar Rajakumar Molecular bacterial pathogenesis, mobilomics and development of molecular diagnostics.

Dr Iain Stephenson Serological responses to 'bird flu' and evaluation of flu candidates.

Dr Cordula Stover Role of complement in chronic disease. Special interest in the role of properdin, a key regulator of complement activation.

Dr Russell Wallis  Understanding the molecular changes that occur during initiation of the classical and lectin pathways of complement activation. Specific interests include characterising the interactions between components that trigger complement activation.