Christoph Tang

Bacterial Pathogenesis: Molecular Mechanisms to Prevention

Human bacterial pathogens are a specialized subset of bacteria which are usually part of our flora. The group seeks to understand how pathogens colonise specific niches in the body, evade elimination by the immune system, and cause disease. We study Neisseria spp., which are leading causes of bacterial meningitis and gonorrhoea, and enteric pathogens, such as Shigella spp.. Many of these pathogens possess plasmids which confer virulence and/or resistance, and we are now defining mechanisms that promote plasmid maintenance. We take advantage of knowledge of these pathogens to develop vaccines and novel therapeutics that target the bacterium or their plasmids. We have designed vaccines against the meningococcus which are currently in clinical development.

Understanding fundamental aspects of pathogen biology should allow use to design interventions to eliminate virulence/resistance. We also continue to develop vaccines against these important pathogens.

Group members

  • Christoph Tang (Group leader)
  • YuGeng Zhang (PhD student)
  • Lindsay Stimson (Lab manager)
  • Tanuka Sen (Postdoc)
  • Phuong Pham (PhD student)
  • Samantha McKeand (Postdoc)
  • Lulu Liu (Postdoc)
  • Qian Lin Lee (PhD student)
  • Hayley Lavender (Postdoc)
  • Kacper Kurzyp (PhD student joint with D. Greaves)
  • Rebekah Jones (Postdoc)
  • Rachel Exley (Postdoc)
  • Suthida Chuenklin (PhD student)
  • Tabea Elsener (PhD student)
  • Veronika Bakulova (PhD student)

Selected Publications

Latest news

Available student projects