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Infection, Inflammation & Immunity theme

The Infection, Inflammation and Immunity theme which incorporates the Centre for Applied Entomology and Parasitology excels in several related areas of basic, translational and clinical research. It utilises state-of-the art laboratory as well as field-based approaches in the study of disease and disease control.

Within the Infection element of the theme there is basic research in entomology to understand the biology, physiology and ecology of insect vectors of human, veterinary and agricultural diseases. Primarily these insects are vectors of parasites which cause malaria and leishmaniasis, the two most important insect transmitted parasitic diseases. Specifically, research is undertaken to understand the molecular genetics of mosquitoes and their interactions with malarial parasites as well as the ecology and population genomics of African malaria vectors. We also have active research programmes to understand the population structure, vector competence and communication of Old and New World sand fly vectors of leishmaniasis using behavioural ecology, chemical ecology and molecular biology. In addition, we undertake research in biology and ecology of insect pests of the agriculture and horticulture industry. We also have related research programmes in parasitology to understand the molecular mechanisms that govern the gene expression of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum and the pathogenesis of malaria, with a focus on blood brain barrier pathology in cerebral malaria. Our infection research also includes the medically relevant glycosaminoglyan (GAG) carbohydrates (and their derivatives) as potential therapeutic agents against infectious diseases and a major research programme into fish pathogens and their interaction with environmental factors to determine fish health.

The Immunity and Inflammation elements of our theme include a diverse range of research activities including for example the physiology and immunology of infants (in utero and neonatal) and adults, with a focus on inflammatory conditions and autoimmunity. The defects of T cell development in primary immunodeficiency and clinical allergy. The role of leucocytes in inflammatory lung and bowel diseases, the responses of human eosinophils to specific chemoattractants and the direct interactions between eosinophils and epithelial cells, and their involvement in severe asthma and inflammatory bowel disease. The formulation and evaluation of drug delivery systems and the ability of β-glucans as a dietary supplement to offer protective immune modulation of warm water fish.

Translational research is an important element of all our theme activities and we aim to apply the outcomes of laboratory and field based research into new approaches to reduce or control human, animal and plant disease. For example, a transgenic approach to reduce the ability of Anopheles gambiae to transmit malaria, enhanced control of Lutzomyia longipalpis to reduce transmission of visceral leishmaniasis and enhanced monitoring of Frankliniella occidentalis to improve disease control by growers in the UK and around the world.