Disease transmission

Infectious diseases are classically transmitted through direct or indirect contacts. Understanding of the factors determining infectious disease transmission will path the way towards better control and preventative measures.

Pneumococcal disease transmission

Nasopharyngeal colonisation is recognised as both a prerequisite for the development of life-threatening diseases and a means for disease transmission. Although the pathogenesis of S. pneumoniae is relatively well studied, the factors that drive pneumococcal transmission are still largely unknown. Using mouse models, this project investigates the role of pneumococcal virulence factors and host immune responses in host-to-host horizontal transmission, and explore the role of influences such as vaccination, environmental factors, and co-infection.

Mother-to-infant vertical disease transmission

Using a mouse model that mimics the vertical transmission of S. agalactiae, we seek to elucidate the ascending mechanisms of GBS from vaginally colonised pregnant females to their progeny and open new avenues towards the identification of new therapeutic and preventative strategies. In an effort to reduce and replace the use of animal models in research, we also aim to develop a novel 3D placental model based on the use of a commercial platform i.e., the 3-lane Organoplate® (Mimetas BV), amenable to high-throughput assays and imaging capabilities, in a manner that will reduce and/or substitute the prevalent use of animal models and address the limitations of current in vitro systems. We anticipate that our unique model will serve as a robust yet versatile research tool for the in vitro investigations of the human placenta in a wide range of pathological, immunological and pharmacological applications.