Pneumococcal Infections, Virulence Studies, Host-Pathogen Interactions, Microbial Metabolism
ID: 728618
United Kingdom
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Expert. Expert has been researching to understand how pathogens cause disease in respiratory tract, particullarly Streptococcus pneumoniae. This pathogen colonises nasopharynx and spreads to sterile and non-sterile body sites, causing diseases with high morbidity and mortality rates, including bacteremia, meningitis, otitis media and pneumonia. Expert believes that the interaction of the pathogen with mucin, high molecular weight glycoprotein found in mucus, is detrimental to the microorganism's virulence, since mucin is a good source of nutrient, and influences microbial attachment and gene regulation. The sugars found in mucin has fundemental impact on pneumococcal metabolism. Expert's research has been published in reputable journals.