Wed 05 Feb 16:00: Computational Methods to Design Broad-Spectrum Medical Countermeasures Against Antigenically Diverse Pathogens
Abstract Antigenically diverse pathogens, such as coronaviruses, highlight the need for broad-spectrum vaccines that protect against a range of variants. In this talk, I will introduce Spectravax, a computational framework for designing vaccines optimised for genetic diversity in both hosts and pathogens. Using Spectravax, I designed a nucleocapsid antigen that elicited immune responses to SARS -CoV-1, SARS -CoV-2, and MERS -CoV—the three coronaviruses responsible for major outbreaks since 2002.
Bio Phil recently submitted his PhD thesis, which he completed in Prof. Jonathan Heeney’s lab, focusing on computational methods to design broad-spectrum vaccines and antibodies. He previously worked as a bioinformatician in industry, was a visiting researcher at MIT , and completed his undergraduate degree in Biology at the University of Southampton.
- Speaker: Phil Palmer, Department of Veterinary Medicine
- Wednesday 05 February 2025, 16:00-17:00
- Venue: LT1, Department of Veterinary Medicine.
- Series: Departmental Seminar Programme, Department of Veterinary Medicine; organiser: Fiona Roby.
Tue 21 Jan 16:00: Epithelial and immune cell dynamics in non-traditional models of mammary postnatal development
Ben has previously completed a BSc in Biology and a MRes in Advanced Biological Sciences at the University of Southampton. He graduated in 2020 and then worked as a laboratory technician in a COVID -19 diagnostics lab. Ben started his PhD at the Department of Veterinary Medicine in 2021, under the supervision of Dr Kate Hughes. His research was funded by the Anatomical Society and investigates epithelial and immune cell dynamics in non-traditional models of mammary postnatal development.
- Speaker: Ben Davies, Department of Veterinary Medicine
- Tuesday 21 January 2025, 16:00-17:00
- Venue: LT1, Department of Veterinary Medicine.
- Series: Departmental Seminar Programme, Department of Veterinary Medicine; organiser: Fiona Roby.
Wed 08 Jan 16:00: Epithelial and immune cell dynamics in non-traditional models of mammary postnatal development
Ben has previously completed a BSc in Biology and a MRes in Advanced Biological Sciences at the University of Southampton. He graduated in 2020 and then worked as a laboratory technician in a COVID -19 diagnostics lab. Ben started his PhD at the Department of Veterinary Medicine in 2021, under the supervision of Dr Kate Hughes. His research was funded by the Anatomical Society and investigates epithelial and immune cell dynamics in non-traditional models of mammary postnatal development.
- Speaker: Ben Davies, Department of Veterinary Medicine
- Wednesday 08 January 2025, 16:00-17:00
- Venue: LT2, Department of Veterinary Medicine.
- Series: Departmental Seminar Programme, Department of Veterinary Medicine; organiser: Fiona Roby.
Wed 29 Jan 16:00: Epidemiology and modelling to support the routine infant immunisation programme in England
Abstract not available
- Speaker: Lauren Adams, Department of Veterinary Medicine
- Wednesday 29 January 2025, 16:00-17:00
- Venue: LT2, Department of Veterinary Medicine.
- Series: Departmental Seminar Programme, Department of Veterinary Medicine; organiser: Fiona Roby.
Wed 08 Jan 16:00: Title to be confirmed
Abstract not available
- Speaker: Ben Davies, Department of Veterinary Medicine
- Wednesday 08 January 2025, 16:00-17:00
- Venue: LT2, Department of Veterinary Medicine.
- Series: Departmental Seminar Programme, Department of Veterinary Medicine; organiser: Fiona Roby.
Wed 05 Feb 16:00: Computational Methods to Design Broad-Spectrum Medical Countermeasures Against Antigenically Diverse Pathogens
Pre-viva talk
- Speaker: Phil Palmer, Department of Veterinary Medicine
- Wednesday 05 February 2025, 16:00-17:00
- Venue: LT1, Department of Veterinary Medicine.
- Series: Departmental Seminar Programme, Department of Veterinary Medicine; organiser: Fiona Roby.
Thu 28 Nov 14:00: Gene-based vaccines to combat bacterial diseases, hurdles and opportunities
- Speaker: Professor Christine Rollier, Professor of Vaccinology, University of Surrey
- Thursday 28 November 2024, 14:00-15:00
- Venue: LT2, Department of Veterinary Medicine.
- Series: Departmental Seminar Programme, Department of Veterinary Medicine; organiser: Fiona Roby.
Wed 29 Jan 16:00: Lauren Adams - pre-viva talk
Abstract not available
- Speaker: Speaker to be confirmed
- Wednesday 29 January 2025, 16:00-17:00
- Venue: LT2, Department of Veterinary Medicine.
- Series: Departmental Seminar Programme, Department of Veterinary Medicine; organiser: Fiona Roby.
Wed 27 Nov 16:00: Infection- and Vaccine-induced Immune Responses to SARS-CoV-2 and Other Human Coronaviruses.
Abstract not available
- Speaker: Ernest Aguinam, Department of Veterinary Medicine
- Wednesday 27 November 2024, 16:00-17:00
- Venue: LT2, Department of Veterinary Medicine.
- Series: Departmental Seminar Programme, Department of Veterinary Medicine; organiser: Fiona Roby.
Wed 27 Nov 16:00: Ernest Aguinam Pre-viva talk
Abstract not available
- Speaker: Ernest Aguinam, Department of Veterinary Medicine
- Wednesday 27 November 2024, 16:00-17:00
- Venue: LT2, Department of Veterinary Medicine.
- Series: Departmental Seminar Programme, Department of Veterinary Medicine; organiser: Fiona Roby.
Tue 03 Dec 16:00: Disarm and disengage: Understanding Aurodox - a Type III Secretion System inhibitor from Streptomyces
Aurodox is an elfamycin-like natural product from the soil bacterium Streptomyces goldiniensis, that can block translation through inhibition of elongation factor (EF-Tu) but has also recently been shown to inhibit Type III Secretion Systems. To gain a better understanding of its mechanism of action and to assess the utility of this compound as an anti-virulence molecule we have been using a multidisciplinary approach to understand the mode of action and biosynthesis of aurodox. Investigating the mode of action of aurodox in Shiga Toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) we have shown that it downregulates expression of T3SS , inhibits epithelial colonisation and does not activate the SOS response that results in Shiga toxin production. We have also shown that aurodox protects mice from Shiga-toxin mediated renal injury and colonic hyperplasia. In parallel we have identified and cloned the biosynthetic gene cluster responsible for the biosynthesis of aurodox by Streptomyces goldiniensis, predicting, characterising and dissecting its biosynthetic pathway, opening routes to engineering novel aurodox derivatives. These data suggest that aurodox may represent a useful candidate therapeutic for the treatment of STEC infections.
Biography Professor Paul A Hoskisson Paul Hoskisson is the Royal Academy of Engineering Research Chair in Engineering biology at the University of Strathclyde. Paul completed his first degree at Liverpool John Moores University in 1997 in Applied Microbiology, before a short period in the industry developing Influenza vaccines. He completed his PhD in 2001, studying gentamicin production by the bacterium Micromonospora. Post-doctoral work at the John Innes Centre (Norwich) and University of Aberdeen – working on various aspects of Streptomyces biology was followed by a move to the University of Strathclyde in 2007. The research in Paul’s laboratory is focused on evolution of antibiotic biosynthesis, evolution and domestication of antibiotic producing strains by Streptomyces, bacteriophage resistance in Streptomyces and antimicrobial resistance.
You can follow Paul on Twitter/X @paulhoskisson
- Speaker: Professor Paul A Hoskisson, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow.
- Tuesday 03 December 2024, 16:00-17:00
- Venue: LT2, Department of Veterinary Medicine.
- Series: Departmental Seminar Programme, Department of Veterinary Medicine; organiser: Fiona Roby.