Photo of Professor Steve Paterson

Professor Steve Paterson

Professor of Genetics Evolution, Ecology & Behaviour

    Research

    Research Overview

    Evolution and genomics of infectious disease
    Paterson is a population geneticist working primarily on genetic diversity in host-parasite interactions. He was one of the first to apply next-generation sequencing to experimental evolution, and demonstrated that co-evolution between hosts and parasites accelerated rates of molecular evolution. He has worked on field, clinical and experimental systems, including wild rodent immune systems, liver fluke and the development of anitmicrobial resistance in chronic clinical infections.

    Environmental genomics
    Paterson is a director for the NERC Environmental Omics Facility (NEOF) and a director of the Centre for Genomic Research at Liverpool. This role provides expert advice and delivery of genomics and bioinformatics to the environmental community in the UK, particularly on non-model organisms, environmental samples and for ecological and evolutionary research. It has also allowed novel methods for genomic surveillence of pathogens in wastewater.

    Microbiome science
    Paterson established the Microbiome Innovation Centre, which draws together researchers across University of Liverpool with an interest in fundamental, animal or clinical aspects of microbiome research. It also engages with industry to match academic expertise and facilities with industrial partners. This is clearly exemplified by work with Unilever plc to understand microbiomes in the context of personal care and the development of novel products to enhance consumer health and well-being.

    PhD projects may be available in any of these areas. Please contact Paterson directly.

    Infectious disease genomics

    Paterson is a population geneticist working primarily on genetic diversity in host-parasite interactions. He was one of the first to apply next-generation sequencing to experimental evolution, and demonstrated that co-evolution between hosts and parasites accelerated rates of molecular evolution. He has worked on field, clinical and experimental systems and leads a NERC large grant of £3.2m to study immunological variation in the wild.

    Environmental Genomics

    Paterson is a node director for the NERC Biomolecular Analysis Facility (NBAF) and a director of the Centre for Genomic Research at Liverpool. This role provides expert advice and delivery of genomics and bioinformatics to the environmental community in the UK, particularly on non-model organisms, environmental samples and for ecological and evolutionary research.

    Research Grants

    NovaseqX at Centre for Genomics Research

    BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE RESEARCH COUNCIL

    August 2023 - July 2024

    Integrating clinical, data-driven and in-vitro approaches to the study of host-pathogen interactions in bovine digital dermatitis

    BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE RESEARCH COUNCIL

    July 2023 - July 2026

    KTP between The University of Liverpool and Unilever U.K. Central Resources Limited

    INNOVATE UK (UK), UNILEVER PLC (UK)

    January 2023 - March 2025

    Experimental coevolution in microbial communities

    NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL

    October 2021 - September 2024

    Bench Fees - Liu Yuchen

    CHINA SCHOLARSHIP COUNCIL (CSC)(CHINA) 🚩

    October 2021 - September 2024

    Sars-CoV-2 Genomic surveillance through wastewater

    DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (UK)

    May 2021 - September 2023

    Long read sequencing from low input DNA/RNA samples

    BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE RESEARCH COUNCIL

    July 2020 - July 2021

    COVID-19 Genomics UK

    PUBLIC HEALTH ENGLAND (UK), UK RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

    April 2020 - March 2023

    ADAPT

    DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (UK)

    September 2019 - March 2022

    The exposure of urban rodents to the human COVID-19 virus and the potential for viral recombination

    NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL

    April 2020 - September 2021

    The genetic basis of reproductive isolation through intragenomic conflict

    NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL

    April 2019 - February 2023

    How is behaviour constrained within typical sex roles?

    NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL

    July 2020 - January 2024

    Ecological drivers of intragenomic conflict resolution

    NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL

    February 2018 - October 2021

    Vaccines for animal parasites (PARAGONE)

    EUROPEAN COMMISSION

    October 2016 - March 2019

    Impacts of climate-driven evolution on plant-soil interactions and ecosystem functioning

    NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL

    September 2017 - May 2021

    Mechanisms for acquisition and transmission of successful antibiotic resistant pneumococcal clones pre- and post-vaccination

    MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL

    July 2017 - September 2021

    Community evolution in soil

    NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL

    April 2017 - March 2021

    Genetic factors contributing to White Nose Syndrome tolerance in North American and European Myotis-bats -EVOLWNS

    EUROPEAN COMMISSION

    November 2016 - October 2018

    Advanced 'omic analyses in the natural environment

    NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL

    April 2016 - March 2017

    Genetic and molecular basis of triclabendazole resistance in Fasciola hepatica

    BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE RESEARCH COUNCIL

    March 2017 - September 2021

    Limits to Adaptation

    NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL

    May 2016 - September 2021

    The NERC Biomolecular Analysis Facility (NBAF) at the University of Liverpool 2014-15 - Main Budget

    NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL

    April 2016 - March 2018

    Immunodynamics and Infectious disease risk in the natural environment

    NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL

    February 2015 - July 2020

    Research Collaborations

    Prof D Williams

    Internal

    Helminth infection

    Prof JE Hodgkinson

    Internal

    Helminth genomics

    Prof C Winstanley

    Internal

    Pseudomonas infection

    Dr S Plaistow

    Internal

    Prof M Brockhurst

    External: University of Sheffield

    Experimental evolution

    Prof J Bradley

    External: University of Nottingham

    Prof G Hurst

    Internal

    Supervise PhD student, analysis of microarray data

    Prof ME Begon

    Internal

    Co-investigator Wellcome grant, zoonotic disease
    Co-supervisor NERc quota studentship (Stephanie Gebert)

    Prof J Hurst

    Internal

    Co-supervisor PhD student (Amy Sherborne)

    Prof M Boots

    External: University of California at Berkeley

    Evolutionary Biology