Keywords
Neurological infection, gastro-intestinal infection,
respiratory infection, HIV, hepatitis, sepsis, infection
pharmacology, vaccines
Expertise
The University of Liverpool has a broad range of
expertise addressing infectious diseases of national
and global importance in adults and children. Major
areas of interest include: the central nervous system,
gastrointestinal and respiratory infections; blood-borne
virus infections; sepsis; infection pharmacology and
vaccines. We benefit from extensive local, national
and international collaborations which provide us with
access to diverse patient cohorts for clinical trials and
opportunities to compare infection dynamics in
different populations. We have overseas research
programmes, with strong centres of expertise in Malawi,
India and Nepal.
Key areas of expertise:
•
Pathogenesis: understanding the mechanisms
contributing to the virulence of bacteria
including
Streptococcus pneumoniae,
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
and
E. coli
using human
and murine models of infection and viruses
including Japanese encephalitis virus
•
Population biology: studies of
P. aeruginosa,
S. pneumoniae, Salmonella
and
Campylobacter
using next generation sequencing and
biofilm models
•
Immunology: understanding host response to
major respiratory, gastrointestinal and central
nervous system pathogens using mouse and
human models
•
Epidemiology and transmission: strain
surveillance of pathogens in the hospital
(
P. aeruginosa, Clostridium difficile),
environment
(
Campylobacter)
and between people
(
Streptococcus pneumoniae,
HIV and hepatitis
)
•
Diagnosis: use of molecular biological techniques
and biomarkers for diagnosis of major bacterial
and viral infections, including encephalitis/
meningitis, gastroenteritis, sepsis and infections
in cystic fibrosis
•
Treatment: novel pharmacological approaches to
the treatment of tuberculosis
•
Prevention: development and evaluation
through clinical trials of vaccines against
infection with
Streptococcus pneumoniae
,
Group B Streptococcus and rotavirus.
Capabilities and facilities
•
Murine models of infection (
Streptococcus
pneumoniae, pseudomonas
)
for pre-clinical
studies of pathogenesis and immune protection.
•
Clinically relevant strains and biofilm models for
anti-infective testing of respiratory infections
•
Real-time PCR and next generation sequencing –
allows study of viral and bacterial populations in
patient samples, including microbiome analysis
•
Comparative genomics applied to bacterial and
viral pathogens
•
Established clinical research facilities and access
to patient cohorts locally, nationally and globally
•
Expertise in cystic fibrosis infections
•
Containment level three facilities.
Relevant centres and groups
•
Centre for Genomic Research
•
BBSRC Proteomics Facility
•
Wellcome Trust Tropical Centre
•
National Centre for Zoonosis Research
•
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
•
Wolfson Centre for Personalised Medicine.
Health & Wellbeing
25
4.
Infections and global health
APPLICATION AREAS
•
Healthcare and pharmaceuticals
•
Food supply
•
Sustainability
•
Biotechnology
•
Society and community
4.1
Infectious diseases of adults and children
