Infectious Diseases

Researchers in the Infectious Disease Group study:

crop and pollinator disease,
zoonotic infections, and
animal and plant diseases.

Members (Click on a member’s names to go to their individual page)

The researchers in the Infectious Diseases Group focus on bacterial and parasitic disease agents related to human health, including the impact on the host through host-pathogen and host-parasite interactions. These researchers collaborate closely with colleagues in the Biomedical Research Centre and in the School of Health and Society at the University of Salford as well as with many external partners. Collectively members of this group work collectively towards a ‘One Health’ approach to studying infectious diseases to bring together human health impact with environmental and ecological considerations. The Group’s research is aligned to international priorities, including the Sustainable Development Goals from the World Health Organisation.

The Infectious Diseases Group has a long-standing global reputation for research on cestode parasitic infectious diseases. Much of this work was focused on the development and implementation of diagnostic tools to study the transmission of these zoonotic infections (Echinococcosis and Taeniasis) in endemic areas such as China, Kenya and Central Asia. The research led to “Cestode Diagnostics” which provided a commercial service for diagnostic tests on suspect parasitic material. The Laboratory was officially recognised as a designated testing laboratory by the World Organisation for Animal Health which has been tested materials from China, North Africa, Peru, Kenya as well as the UK and the Falkland Islands.

Major areas of current research conducted by members of this Group involve:

neglected tropical diseases,
molecular diagnostic and epidemiology of infectious diseases,
host immunology in global, chronic parasitic illnesses related to Cancer and HIV/AIDS,
human nosocomial pathogens and Antimicrobial Resistance.