Microbial Sciences
Microbial sciences research in Leicester is carried out by a team of clinical and non-clinical academics from both University and NHS backgrounds engaged in internationally competitive research.
Major areas of research
- Infectious diseases: Tuberculosis, pneumonia, meningitis, seasonal and pandemic influenza, gastrointestinal infections
- Vaccine and drug development
- Bacteriophages: exploitation to combat antibiotic resistance in bacterial pathogens and investigations into the environmental impact of 'photosynthetic' phages
- Innate immunity
Microbial Sciences theme membership
Professor Mike Barer
Interface between bacterial physiology and human infections, principally those involving the gastrointrestinal tract and tuberculosis.
Dr Primrose Freestone
Studies into 'Microbial Endocrinology', relationship between stress and stress hormones and the progress of human and animal infection.
Dr Galina Mukamolova
Molecular mechanisms of bacterial domancy and resuscitation.
Dr Helen O'Hare
Essential serine threonine protein kinases of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Professor Russell Wallis
Understanding the molecular changes that occur during initiation of the classical and lectin pathways of complement activation. Specific interests include characterising the interactions between components that trigger complement activation.