Department of Infection Biology and Microbiomes
We focus on how pathogens interact with their hosts at the molecular and cellular level, with the aim of designing better diagnostics, vaccines, and drugs.
Staff in the Department of Infection Biology and Microbiomes
Our ChallengesOur challenges
Vector-Borne Diseases
We are working to find new methods to control insects and other arthropods that transmit deadly diseases to humans, livestock and pets.
Veterinary Parasitology
We are working to better understand the impact of climate change on the epidemiology of a range of parasitic diseases of livestock; elucidate the mechanisms underlying anthelmintic resistance developing pen-side diagnostics for use on-farm, to improve diagnosis and targeted treatment of parasitic infections of ruminants; improve our understanding of the host-parasite relationship, particularly with a view to developing anti-parasite vaccines.
Research Centres and Networks
We're continually developing successful collaborations across our broad range of research areas.
https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/infection-veterinary-and-ecological-sciences/research/groups/vaccines/
Centre for Global Vaccine Research
The Centre is built on the success of the international clinical vaccine research conducted in Malawi, with leadership in the areas of rotavirus and pneumococcal vaccines. The work in the Centre covers a wide range of human and animal pathogens, making it one of the rare centres within the UK to promote the global prevention of vaccine-preventable diseases of both humans and animals.
https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/health-and-life-sciences/research/uk-international-coronavirus-network/
UK International Coronavirus Network (UK-ICN)
The UK-ICN is hosted at the University of Liverpool and provides and supports global co-ordination for the delivery of collaborative scientific research and sustained long-term one health approach to better investigation of coronaviruses, improved surveillance, and social policies.
Case studies
New drugs for onchocerciasis
In a collaboration with Bayer AG and L’Institut de Recherche Agricole pour le Développement, Cameroon, we have shown that a drug called emodepside can kill adults of a worm infecting African cattle, which is very closely related to the human river blindness parasite.
Do birds spread scrub typhus?
We are performing surveys of wild birds in Malaysia and Thailand to determine if they may carry Orientia-infected chiggers. We are also examining backyard chickens for chigger infestation in these countries and conducting serological studies to assess their exposure to Orientia, in case chickens constitute an overlooked reservoir of disease.
Small Animal Veterinary Surveillance Network (SAVSNET)
Research and surveillance initiative leading to behaviour change and improved companion animal and human health.
Accreditations and Partnerships
Athena Swan Silver Award
As a Faculty overall we are accredited with the Athena SWAN Silver Award, which covers each of the four institutes, recognising our commitment to advancing gender equality.
Tropical Infectious Diseases Research & Education Centre (TIDREC), Malaysia
We are collaborating with TIDREC to understand the spread of disease from wild animals and livestock to humans, especially where this involves ectoparasites (vectors) such as ticks and mites.