Infectious diseases

Our research in infectious diseases targets global health problems affecting human and animal health through interdisciplinary expertise and cutting-edge technologies. Our research efforts focus on bacterial pathogens as well as parasites and viruses and their insect vectors cause of deadly diseases and serious threat to both human and animal health.

The School of Life Sciences and the Centre for Applied Entomology and Parasitology (CAEP) at Keele University have long-established expertise in insect genetics, entomology, epidemiology, virology and parasitology. We conduct fundamental and applied research on a range of infectious diseases through worldwide collaborations including research partners in low-income and disease-endemic countries. A few examples of collaborative networks we lead or contribute to are:

ECLIPSE

The NIHR-funded ECLIPSE applied healthcare programme aims to reduce stigma and improving the patient journey for people living with cutaneous leishmaniasis in Brazil, Ethiopia and Sri Lanka.

PANDORA

The PANDORA project, funded by the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership, aimed to develop and strengthen effective outbreak response to emerging infections in sub-Saharan Africa.

WIMANET

The EU COST-funded WIMANET (Wildlife Malaria Network) aims to consolidate global research efforts into understanding wildlife malaria and associated blood parasites in wildlife.

Multiple UKRI and Wellcome Trust funded collaborations with leading scientists in the UK and US, focused on the development of new technologies to combat insect pests and vector-borne pathogens causing substantial economic losses as well as serious human and animal illnesses.

Key areas of our research in infectious diseases include the following:

Parasitic and bacterial pathogens

Our research focuses on the investigation of the biological mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis and transmission of bacterial pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) protozoan parasites (such as Leishmania, Trypanosoma and Plasmodium spp.) as well as the development of new therapeutics urgently needed against these harmful microorganisms. Through the ECLIPSE programme, community-based interventions are being developed to raise awareness, improve treatment access and reduce stigma associated with cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Staff: Dr Emily Stevens Belcher – Dr Jenny Dunn – Dr Douglas Fraser Pitt – Prof Paul Horrocks – Prof Helen Price – Dr Ilaria Russo – Dr Christiaan van Ooi

Insect pests and disease vectors

Our research spans from quantitative ecology and entomology to the investigation of the key mechanisms that regulate insect reproduction and their ability to transmit pathogens. We are also developing new methods to genetically control insect vector populations either by interfering with their ability to reproduce or to impair their capacity to transmit diseases. Our researchers are developing and applying new technologies involving the genetic transformation of insects or the manipulation of their microbiome using cutting-edge gene editing tools such as CRISPR.

Staff: Professor James Bell – Dr Tim Harvey-Samuel – Dr Shivanand Hegde – Dr Roberto Galizi

Viral pathology and epidemiology

Our viral and arboviral disease research focuses on the molecular interactions between viruses, their human or animal hosts and the highly specialised insect vectors that are responsible for their transmission. An additional area of our research examines the role of environmental and ecological factors affecting the distribution and spread of the diseases that they transmit to human, animals and plants.

Staff: Prof Pip Beard – Dr Najmul Haider – Dr Vishwanatha Reddy – Dr Christine Reitmayer – Dr Trisna Tungadi