Research Interests The molecular pathogenesis of enteric bacteria. Investigation of potential virulence determinants, regulatory systems and host-pathogen interactions of the important enteric pathogens, Camplyobacter jejuni and Vibrio cholerae. Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli are important aetiological agents of acute diarrhoeal disease in humans. In the developed world the incidence of disease due to Campylobacters is at least double that due to the more newsworthy Salmonella and consequently the cost to the nation in terms of health and lost industrial output is high. Although a few putative virulence characteristics, namely toxin production, adherence and invasion have been described, the mechanisms by which Campylobacter cause disease remain poorly understood. Recently, the genome sequence of C. jejuni has been derived at the Sanger Centre and this has given a fascinating insight into the biology of the campylobacters.