People & pathogens
We continue to work on the genomics, pathobiology of and immunological response to malaria infection, melioidosis and rickettsioses. Our work in 2018 included:
- An analysis of clinical Burkholderia pseudomallei isolates demonstrated conservation of unique lipid A structure and TLR4-dependent innate immune activation;
- We produced six new complete genomes of Orientia tsutsugamushi (making eight in total) using long-read sequencing and characterised the extraordinary genomic variation in this species; and
- A molecular epidemiological study showed the prevalence of asymptomatic naturally acquired P. cynomolgi and P. knowlesi infections in humans.