Pathogen biology
Using cutting-edge cellular, structural and molecular biology techniques, we are investigating viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites; their structure; and the ways they survive and cause disease.
- Microbes have evolved with us, developing a multitude of strategies to spread from one person to another as well as avoiding or overcoming attempts to eradicate them. In the process, they cause disease by many different routes.
- Vaccines stimulate protective mechanisms that target components of viruses, bacteria and parasites. It is therefore essential that we understand the structure of these components so targeting can be improved.
- Furthermore, by defining how pathogens promote transmission and cause disease, vaccines can be designed to specifically reduce spread between individuals and disease severity when absolute prevention cannot be achieved.
Key members of this theme
Professor Charles Bangham

Professor Charles Bangham
Chair of Immunology
Professor Wendy Barclay

Professor Wendy Barclay
Action Medical Research Chair in Virology
Professor Jake Baum

Professor Jake Baum
Professor of Cell Biology and Infectious Diseases
Dr Andrew Blagborough

Dr Andrew Blagborough
Research Fellow
Dr Christopher Chiu

Dr Christopher Chiu
Clinical Senior Lecturer
Dr Aubrey Cunnington

Dr Aubrey Cunnington
Reader
Professor Gad Frankel

Professor Gad Frankel
Professor of Molecular Pathogenesis
Dr Carolina Herrera

Dr Carolina Herrera
Senior Research Fellow
Professor David Holden

Professor David Holden
Regius Professor of Infectious Disease
Professor Paul Langford

Professor Paul Langford
Professor of Paediatric Infectious Diseases
Dr Kirsty Le Doare

Dr Kirsty Le Doare
Clinical Senior Lecturer in Paediatric Diseases
Dr Sandra Newton

Dr Sandra Newton
Senior Research Fellow
Professor Peter Openshaw

Professor Peter Openshaw
Clinical Consul for the Faculty of Medicine
Dr Karen Polizzi

Dr Karen Polizzi
Senior Lecturer
Dr Brian Robertson

Dr Brian Robertson
Reader in Systems Microbiology
Professor Murray Selkirk

Professor Murray Selkirk
Professor of Biochemical Parasitology
Dr Mike Skinner

Dr Mike Skinner
Reader in Virology
Professor Shiranee Sriskandan

Professor Shiranee Sriskandan
Professor of Infectious Diseases
Dr Dina Vlachou

Dr Dina Vlachou
Research Fellow