Research
The Campbell lab is currently engaged in
(1) Identifying receptors for bacterial fimbriae that target interaction, internalization and translocation across microfold (M)-cells of the follicle-associated epithelium (FAE) overlying Peyer’s patches– the likely portal for initial invasion through the gut wall in intestinal inflammation and infection
(2) Assessing if E. coli found more commonly to be interacting with the inflamed and cancerous tissue of bowel can support an environment for a transformed/pre-cancerous cell in the bowel to flourish (e.g. oncogenic NFkappaB activation, Wnt pathway activation, escaping apoptosis, promotion of cell growth and angiogenesis).
(3) Identifying environmental modifiers of potential ‘genotoxic’ bacteria and their contribution to tumorigenesis in the bowel, and investigation of interventions to modulate microbial composition and prevent tumour development, including prebiotic, probiotic and ‘contrabiotic’ (dietary supplementation with soluble plant fibre) strategies.
(3) Characterisation of intestinal epithelial health, cell damage and shedding (and gap formation) following inflammatory and en(‘in’)vironmental stimuli and examining how key transcription factors (NFkappaB family and LRH-1) regulate this process, and whether bacteria can gain entry via these gaps and translocate to the systemic circulation.
(4) Understanding the role of interleukin-10 in epithelium and immune compartments of the intestine in health and inflammatory/infective disease
(5) Further examining the therapeutic potential of probiotics and soluble dietary compounds in the treatment of infective diarrhoeas caused by Salmonella, Shigella, ETEC and C. difficile (developed from past work undertaken during BBSRC Link and CASE awards).
(6) Examining the mycobiome in gut inflammation and investigating the impact of fungi on bacterial microbiota and their interaction with phagocytic leucocytes.
(7) Using state-of-art imaging and ultrastructural analysis of key pathogen interactions with specific gut cells of infected intestinal epithelium in vivo and in 3-D organotypic/organoid ‘mini guts’ from mice, human and production animals, examining interactions of enteric bacterial pathogens, including enteric viruses and parasites, such as Cryptosporidium and Toxoplasma.
Self-funded/Government sponsored PhD applications welcome in all these areas of research
The Campbell lab research
I have a long-standing interest in gut secretory cell biology, epithelial glycobiology, mucosal immunology, bacteria-host interaction and microbiome in gut inflammation, cancer and infectious disease.
My independent research has led to specific understanding of the altered mucosal glycosylation that occurs in colorectal inflammation and neoplasia including exploration of the causes and consequence of these changes, including recruitment of enteric pathogens/pathobionts that perpetuate epithelial inflammation and drive/facilitate colon cancer progression. We are one of the key international teams leading research into the role of adherent, invasive E. coli (AIEC) seen in increased in numbers in the mucosae of patients with bowel inflammation and cancer. Research findings at the bench are being translated to the bedside, examining interventions such as probiotics, cannabinoids, environment modulating agents and dietary components, such as use of soluble dietary fibres in maintenance of gut health and in treatment of Crohns disease and infective diarrhoeas.
Imaging enteric bacteria-host interactions in vivo
Research focuses on enteric clinical isolates of Crohn’s disease- and colorectal cancer-mucosa associated AIEC, ETEC, Salmonella spp., Shigella sonnei, C. difficile etc. Studies include understanding of key bacterial adhesin-host glycan interactions, activation/suppression of cell signal pathways using reporter assays, and translational projects studying effects of small molecule inhibitors, antibiotics, probiotics, environment modulating agents and dietary components. We undertake high resolution imaging of bacteria-gut epithelium interactions through confocal microscopy, confocal endomiscroscopy, and electron microscopy approaches (TEM and SEM, Gatan 3View and the Array Tomography EM systems). TEM and SEM has already been of immense value in establishing a role for AIEC outer-membrane vesicle-associated flagellin in driving mucosal inflammation, their ability to replicate within phagocytic vesicles of macrophages and dendritic cells, and use of long polar fimbriae to target and translocate across microfold cells overlying lymphoid follicles to induce early stages of Crohn’s disease.
Mini gut 3D organoid models of the intestinal barrier function and bacteria interactions
Model approaches include studies on gut epithelial and immune cell cell-lines, 3D aggregates, spheroids and organoid cultures, ex vivo tissue explants and in vivo models.
Microinjection of conventional 3D cultures, or application to transwell open format or reverse polarity cultures allows for the measurement/monitoring of epithelium barrier function and enteric pathogen/pathobiont interactions, and the impact of immune cells using co-culture approaches.
Research grants
CF- TRAILFINDER (CF- TRAILFINDER)
CYSTIC FIBROSIS TRUST (UK)
December 2024 - November 2029
Liverpool array tomography: revitalising and strengthening the capabilities of a national hub for biomedical volume EM research (Liverpool AT: vEM)
MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
July 2024 - February 2025
Bench Fees for Sumeia Ghannay (201382673)
LIBYAN EMBASSY IN LONDON🚩
January 2021 - January 2025
MECNUT: Impact of dietary exposure to emulsifiers on the intestinal mucosa - implications for inflammatory bowel disease and metabolic syndrome
MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
November 2017 - September 2021
Wellcome Trust Four-Year PhD Studentship with the Cellular and Molecular Physiology PhD Programme
WELLCOME TRUST (UK)
October 2014 - September 2018
Targeting intestinal epithelial cell shedding using NF-kB inhibitors to ameliorate sepsis
FIONA ELIZABETH AGNEW TRUST (UK)
June 2016 - May 2017
Examination of the fungal microbiome in Crohn’s disease and an investigation of the impact of fungi on bacterial microbiota and their interaction with phagocytic leucocytes
NAT ASSOC FOR COLITIS & CROHNS DISEASE (UK)
September 2015 - August 2017
New tools for investigating enteric host-pathogen interactions in livestock species
BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE RESEARCH COUNCIL
October 2015 - February 2017
A pilot IBD biomarker study: analysis of serum levels of four proteins in IBD patients and healthy people
ROYAL LIVERPOOL AND BROADGREEN UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS TRUST (UK)
April 2015 - March 2016
Identification and propagation of stem cell-rich sites of the conjuctiva.
THE GUIDE DOGS FOR THE BLIND ASSOCIATION (UK)
August 2007 - August 2012
Increasing the Potency of RNA Interference Using RNA Mimics
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
October 2007 - April 2010
The role of Adherent, Invasive Escherichia coli in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease: Evaluation of new therapeutic approaches targeting E.coli replicating within the macrophage phagolysosome
ROYAL LIVERPOOL AND BROADGREEN UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS TRUST (UK)
April 2012 - March 2013
Evaluation of novel therapies targeting adhesive/invasive E.Coli
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (UK)
November 2007 - March 2012
Investigating bacteria-induced Wnt signalling as a mechanism for malignant development in the gut epithelium.
NORTH WEST CANCER RESEARCH FUND
September 2013 - September 2016
Identifying the molecular mechanisms of interaction between colonic Crohn's disease mucosa-associated Escherichia coli and the intestinal epithelium
NAT ASSOC FOR COLITIS & CROHNS DISEASE (UK)
May 2008 - April 2010
Liverpool 3View: a national hub for 3D-EM bioscience research
BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE RESEARCH COUNCIL
January 2014 - December 2014
Four-year PhD programme in cellular and molecular physiology.
WELLCOME TRUST (UK)
October 2004 - September 2008
Assessment of the functional impact of Crohn's associated genetic polymorphisms
SHIRE PHARMACEUTICAL DEVELOPMENT INC (USA)
February 2012 - March 2013
Identifying intestinal receptors for Crohn's Escherichia coli
NAT ASSOC FOR COLITIS & CROHNS DISEASE (UK)
June 2013 - January 2015
Identifying intestinal epithelium glycoconjugate receptors for adherent, invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC).
BIOCHEMICAL SOCIETY (UK)
June 2014 - August 2014
The potential role of soluble plantain fibre and its components in preventing colonisation and invasion of the intestinal mucosa by S.Typhimurium.
BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE RESEARCH COUNCIL
October 2009 - December 2012
Characterising the molecular mechanisms of Crohn's disease associated Escherichia coli that enable their survival and replication within the macrophage phagolysosome
MINISTRY OF HIGHER EDUCATION (LIBYA) 🚩
February 2013 - January 2016
Ocular Mucins and infections of the Eye.
ROYAL LIVERPOOL AND BROADGREEN UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS TRUST (UK)
April 2006 - January 2008
The role of mucosa-associated cnf1-expressing Escherichia coli on colorectal tumour development and progression
NORTH WEST CANCER RESEARCH FUND
May 2006 - April 2008
Systems medicine of chronic inflammatory bowel disease (SysmedIBD)
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
December 2012 - November 2017
Epithelial cell shedding induced gut barrier dysfunction
LIBYAN EMBASSY IN LONDON🚩
October 2014 - September 2015