Summary
Clostridial Pathogens
My research group has investigated many aspects of bacterial virulence, using molecular microbiology and other approaches to identify and characterise novel virulence factors, which may lead to their exploitation as targets for novel therapeutics. Recently, the main focus of my lab was Clostridium difficile, which causes gastrointesinal infections of man and animals and which is particularly problematic in hospitals.
Although I no longer have a research group, I maintain strong interests in the subject and am still active in various ways promoting research and teaching into bacterial pathogens.
Selected Publications
Journal Articles
Lanzoni-Mangutchi P, Banerji O, Wilson J, et al., 2022, Structure and assembly of the S-layer in C. difficile, Nature Communications, Vol:13
Dembek M, Stabler RA, Witney AA, et al., 2013, Transcriptional analysis of temporal gene expression in germinating clostridium difficile 630 endospores, PLOS One, Vol:8, ISSN:1932-6203
Tierney R, Nakai T, Parkins CJ, et al., 2012, A single-dose cytomegalovirus-based vaccine encoding tetanus toxin fragment C induces sustained levels of protective tetanus toxin antibodies in mice, Vaccine, Vol:30, ISSN:0264-410X, Pages:3047-3052
Dang THT, Fagan RP, Fairweather NF, et al., 2012, Novel inhibitors of surface layer processing in Clostridium difficile, Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, Vol:20, ISSN:1464-3391, Pages:614-621
Dembek M, Reynolds CB, Fairweather NF, 2012, Clostridium difficile Cell Wall Protein CwpV Undergoes Enzyme-independent Intramolecular Autoproteolysis, Journal of Biological Chemistry, Vol:287, Pages:1538-1544
Fagan RP, Fairweather NF, 2011, Clostridium difficile Has Two Parallel and Essential Sec Secretion Systems, Journal of Biological Chemistry, Vol:286, Pages:27483-27493
Emerson JE, Reynolds CB, Fagan RP, et al., 2009, A novel genetic switch controls phase variable expression of CwpV, a Clostridium difficile cell wall protein, Molecular Microbiology, Vol:74, ISSN:0950-382X, Pages:541-556