Professor Barry Campbell Ph.D.
Professor Infection Biology & Microbiomes
- +44 (0)151 794 6829 / +44 (0)151 794 6829 Ext. 6829
- Work email B.J.Campbell@liverpool.ac.uk
- Personal WebsiteResearch pages and Research-led teaching resources
Research
Research Overview
The Campbell lab is currently engaged in
(1) Examining the mycobiome in Crohn’s disease and an investigating the impact of fungi on bacterial microbiota and their interaction with phagocytic leucocytes.
(2) Identifying the receptor for using bacterial long polar fimbriae (Lpf) that targets interaction, internalization and translocation across microfold (M)-cells of the follicle-associated epithelium (FAE) overlying Peyer’s patches– the likely portal for initial invasion through the gut wall and the site of the earliest lesions in CD.
(3) Assessing if E. coli found more commonly to be interacting with the inflamed and cancerous tissue of bowel can support an environment for a transformed/pre-cancerous cell in the bowel to flourish (e.g. oncogenic NFkappaB activation, Wnt pathway activation, escaping apoptosis, promotion of cell growth and angiogenesis). Identifying which strains are deleterious and determining the specific microbial signature(s) of these strains, investigating whether carriage of specific E. coli strains is a risk factor in CRC onset and progression, and how potential ‘genotoxic’ bacteria contribute to the time-course of tumour process in bowel, will be the subject of further grant proposals. Discovery of novel actions for microbes in the development of CRC may lead to translational interventions to modulate microbial composition and prevent tumour development, including prebiotic, probiotic and ‘contrabiotic’ (dietary supplementation with soluble plant fibre) strategies.
(4) Characterisation of intestinal epithelial cell damage and shedding (and gap formation) following inflammatory and ‘in’-/en-vironmental stimuli and examining how members of the NFkappaB family regulate this process, and whether bacteria can gain entry via these gaps and translocate to the systemic circulation.
(5) Understnading the role of interleukin-10 in epithelium and immune compartments of the intestine
(6)Further examining the therapeutic potential of soluble plantain fibre in the treatment of infective diarrhoeas caused by ETEC and C. difficile (developed from past work undertaken during BBSRC Link and CASE awards 2007-2015).
(7) Using state-of-art imaging and ultrastructural analysis of key pathogen interactions with specific gut cells of infected intestinal epithelium in vivo and in 3-D organotypic/organoid ‘mini guts’ from mice, human and production animals, examining interactions of enteric bacterial pathogens, including parasites such as Cryptosporidium and Toxoplasma.
Research Interest 1
I have a long-standing interest in gut secretory cell biology, epithelial glycobiology and bacteria-host interaction in inflammation and cancer.
My independent research has led to specific understanding of the altered mucosal glycosylation that occurs in colorectal inflammation and neoplasia including exploration of the causes and consequence of these changes. We are currently examining how these changes might lead to recruitment of gut bacteria, perpetuating epithelial inflammation and facilitating colon cancer progression. We are now one of the key international teams leading research into the role of adherent, invasive E. coli (AIEC) seen in increased in numbers in the mucosae of patients with bowel inflammation and cancer. Research findings at the bench are being translated to the bedside, such as use of soluble dietary fibres in maintenance of gut health and in treatment of Crohns disease and infective diarrhoeas, and an ongoing trial of antibiotics/hydroxychloroquine targeting E. coli in Crohn's disease.
Research Grants
Bench Fees for Sumeia Ghannay (201382673)
LIBYAN EMBASSY IN LONDON🚩
January 2021 - January 2023
MECNUT: Impact of dietary exposure to emulsifiers on the intestinal mucosa - implications for inflammatory bowel disease and metabolic syndrome
MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
November 2017 - September 2021
Wellcome Trust Four-Year PhD Studentship with the Cellular and Molecular Physiology PhD Programme
WELLCOME TRUST (UK)
October 2014 - September 2018
Targeting intestinal epithelial cell shedding using NF-kB inhibitors to ameliorate sepsis
FIONA ELIZABETH AGNEW TRUST (UK)
June 2016 - May 2017
Examination of the fungal microbiome in Crohn’s disease and an investigation of the impact of fungi on bacterial microbiota and their interaction with phagocytic leucocytes
NAT ASSOC FOR COLITIS & CROHNS DISEASE (UK)
September 2015 - August 2017
New tools for investigating enteric host-pathogen interactions in livestock species
BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE RESEARCH COUNCIL
October 2015 - February 2017
A pilot IBD biomarker study: analysis of serum levels of four proteins in IBD patients and healthy people
ROYAL LIVERPOOL AND BROADGREEN UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS TRUST (UK)
April 2015 - March 2016
Identification and propagation of stem cell-rich sites of the conjuctiva.
THE GUIDE DOGS FOR THE BLIND ASSOCIATION (UK)
August 2007 - August 2012
Increasing the Potency of RNA Interference Using RNA Mimics
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
October 2007 - April 2010
The role of Adherent, Invasive Escherichia coli in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease: Evaluation of new therapeutic approaches targeting E.coli replicating within the macrophage phagolysosome
ROYAL LIVERPOOL AND BROADGREEN UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS TRUST (UK)
April 2012 - March 2013
Evaluation of novel therapies targeting adhesive/invasive E.Coli
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (UK)
November 2007 - March 2012
Investigating bacteria-induced Wnt signalling as a mechanism for malignant development in the gut epithelium.
NORTH WEST CANCER RESEARCH FUND
September 2013 - September 2016
Identifying the molecular mechanisms of interaction between colonic Crohn's disease mucosa-associated Escherichia coli and the intestinal epithelium
NAT ASSOC FOR COLITIS & CROHNS DISEASE (UK)
May 2008 - April 2010
Liverpool 3View: a national hub for 3D-EM bioscience research
BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE RESEARCH COUNCIL
January 2014 - December 2014
Four-year PhD programme in cellular and molecular physiology.
WELLCOME TRUST (UK)
October 2004 - September 2008
Assessment of the functional impact of Crohn's associated genetic polymorphisms
SHIRE PHARMACEUTICAL DEVELOPMENT INC (USA)
February 2012 - March 2013
Identifying intestinal receptors for Crohn's Escherichia coli
NAT ASSOC FOR COLITIS & CROHNS DISEASE (UK)
June 2013 - January 2015
Identifying intestinal epithelium glycoconjugate receptors for adherent, invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC).
BIOCHEMICAL SOCIETY (UK)
June 2014 - August 2014
The potential role of soluble plantain fibre and its components in preventing colonisation and invasion of the intestinal mucosa by S.Typhimurium.
BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE RESEARCH COUNCIL
October 2009 - December 2012
Characterising the molecular mechanisms of Crohn's disease associated Escherichia coli that enable their survival and replication within the macrophage phagolysosome
MINISTRY OF HIGHER EDUCATION (LIBYA) 🚩
February 2013 - January 2016
Ocular Mucins and infections of the Eye.
ROYAL LIVERPOOL AND BROADGREEN UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS TRUST (UK)
April 2006 - January 2008
The role of mucosa-associated cnf1-expressing Escherichia coli on colorectal tumour development and progression
NORTH WEST CANCER RESEARCH FUND
May 2006 - April 2008
Systems medicine of chronic inflammatory bowel disease (SysmedIBD)
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
December 2012 - November 2017
Epithelial cell shedding induced gut barrier dysfunction
LIBYAN EMBASSY IN LONDON🚩
October 2014 - September 2015