The Centre for Immunology and Infectious Disease was formed in 2003 from the Departments of Medical Microbiology and Immunology. Critical research mass has been achieved by recruitment of scientists into Virology (Professor Aine McKnight, Dr Jane Deayton, Dr Mattias Dittmar), Bacterial pathogenesis (Professor Francis Drobniewski, Dr David Wareham) and Immunology (Professor Tom Macdonald and Dr Dan Pennington). Research in each of these groups also falls into four major themes which reflect the major burden of infection in the community as well as existing strengths in BICMS. These are: Infection and immunity of epithelia, Anti -infective agent target discovery and resistance, Mycobacterium Tuberculosis and Human Immunodeficiency Virus. These research themes are pursued in collaboration with other research Centres in the BICMS, in particular the Centres for Digestive Diseases and Cutaneous Research, as well as colleagues in the NHS, national and international collaborators and industry.

 

Infection and Immunity of Epithelial Tissues

1. The GI tract

Pathogens which infect the GI tract and their relationship to host immunity and disease form a major research strength within the Centre. The role of aspartate proteases as virulence factors in the oral pathogen P gingivalis, which is part of a 15-year MRC funded programme within the ICMS is an ongoing area. More recently, a programme of research into disorders of gut immunity in Inflammatory bowel disease has identified key interactions between pathogens and innate immune signalling through the NOD1 pathway as important. This work is complimented by research into the function of gamma delta T cells in gut immunity.

 

2. Skin Epithelial Tissues

Pathogens, particularly viruses which infect skin, are another area of strength within the Centre. In collaboration with the Centre for Cutaneous Research, work on the replication and pathogensis of alphaherpesvirus infections using organotypic skin rafts is yielding insights into the role of keratinocyte differentiation and viral replication. The role of Human Papillomavirus in the development of non melanoma sqamous carcinomas of the skin has been another area of collaboration.

 

Mycobacterium Tuberculosis

East London has the highest number of tuberculosis cases in the United Kingdom with rates exceeding those of typically endemic countries. The TB Research Group uses genetic methods to investigate the basic biology and pathogenesis of the causative agent, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Metabolic studies currently focus on cell wall biosynthesis, isoprenoid biosynthesis, amino acid biosynthesis, proteases and glutamine metabolism. Genetic studies include an investigation into the role of two component regulatory systems and the development of new genetics systems for the identification and study of essential genes. The Health Protection Agency Mycobacterium Reference Unit, which relocated to QM/BLT in 2006, has established further critical mass in this area. Their research into the molecular epidemiology and pathogenesis of TB, interactions with HIV and mechanisms by which MDR and XDR TB develops, is synergistic with other research groupings in the Centre for Infectious Disease.

 

Human immunodeficiency virus

The diversity of HIV subtypes found in East London provides rich material for the work of the HIV group. Gates, MRC and Wellcome funded projects to investigate subtype diversity in the development of vaccines are underway. The close collaboration between clinical and non-clinical academics in HIV has allowed the development of well characterised patient cohorts. Material from these is contributing to ongoing research into host factors which restrict HIV infection. In collaboration with the Trust, issues of viral fitness and evolution are being addressed to identify putative novel therapeutic targets.

 

Antimicrobial and antiviral resistance

The molecular epidemiology, evolution and pathogensis of antimicrobial and antiviral resistance now forms a part of several groups' research activities. Molecular characterisation of drug targets is undertaken by the groups working on TB, porphyromonals gingivalis and HIV. At the same time, a cross discipline group looking at pathogen evolution and fitness in relation to resistance includes members of the TB, HIV and epithelial pathogens, as well as others working in highly resistant gram negative anaerobes.

 

For postgraduate teaching in the Centre, please refer to MSc and Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Microbiology