Research Content

• Salmonella, Campylobacter and Escherichia coli infections in farmed animals, with emphasis on bacterial and host factors that influence persistence, pathogenesis and protection.

Key Words

• Salmonella
• Campylobacter
• Campylobacter
• Animal disease
• Foodborne zoonoses

Overview of Research

• Identification of Salmonella, Campylobacter and E. coli genes required for colonisation of farmed animals and pathogenesis. This has included the use of novel strategies and surgical models to simultaneously assign functions to hundreds of bacterial genes with minimal animal use.
• Understanding why Salmonella enterica serovars and Escherichia coli pathotypes vary in host or tissue tropism and virulence.
• Defining the mode of action of key virulence factors.
• Development and evaluation of vaccines for Salmonella, E. coli and Campylobacter for use in animal hosts.
• Analysis of the intestinal microbiome of farmed animals, including during infection and as a reservoir of antimicrobial resistance genes