School of Infection & Immunity

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School of Infection & Immunity

Scientists & clinicians working together to develop research, drug discovery & improvements in patient care in this globally important area.

Basic, applied, clinical and translational research

Infectious, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases place an enormous global burden on human and animal health. The Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation comprises scientists and clinicians working together to promote and develop research, drug discovery and ultimately improvements in patient care in this area of critical international importance. To achieve this, our aims are ambitious. To understand the basic science of the immune system and how the immune system can in turn promote disease
To understand the biology of parasites, viruses and bacteria and the interactions with their hosts, that in turn leads to high levels of infectious disease worldwide
To develop therapies (drugs and vaccines) targeted on these processes
To explore new treatments and strategies in clinical and translational medicine. All opinion expressed on this page is the personal opinion of those involved and not necessarily representative of the Institute of III or the University as a whole.

25/12/2025

🎄 | Wishing all School of Infection & Immunity staff and students, and colleagues across The University of Glasgow College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences and University of Glasgow, a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy new year!

15/12/2025

🆕 | A collaborative study led by the School of Infection & Immunity, in partnership with Eli Lilly and Company and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, has uncovered how immune features in artery tissue at diagnosis can help predict whether patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) will respond to standard steroid treatment.

Published in EULAR's Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases in October, this study, titled Spatial profiling of giant cell arteritis tissues reveals immune heterogeneity and potential predictors of glucocorticoid response, is the first to combine spatial transcriptomics and advanced imaging with clinical outcome data in GCA.

Dr Cecilia Ansalone, first author and Sii Research Fellow, said: “By mapping the immune environment of inflamed arteries in unprecedented detail, we have identified molecular patterns that can predict how patients respond to treatment.

"This means that a routine biopsy, already part of standard diagnosis, could also guide treatment decisions.

"It has the potential to revolutionise how we care for people with giant cell arteritis by enabling more personalised and effective therapies from the very beginning.”

🔗 Full story: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/infectionimmunity/newsevents/headline_1229749_en.html

📜 Read the paper: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0003496725044140

10/12/2025

🆕 | The School of Infection & Immunity's Dr Eve Smith recently co-led an important milestone for paediatric rheumatology: the International Treat-to-Target (T2T) Consensus Meeting for childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE).

This two-day workshop, supported by the Experimental Arthritis Treatment Centre for Children (EATC4Children) and held in Liverpool on Tuesday, 11 and Wednesday, 12 November, brought together rheumatology experts, nephrologists, and patient partners to shape the direction of a future T2T trial.

The gathering was made possible through a Medical Research Foundation award to Clinical Senior Lecturer in Paediatric Rheumatology Dr Smith, recognising her as an Emerging Lupus Leader.

🔗 Full story: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/infectionimmunity/newsevents/headline_1228659_en.html

05/12/2025

🆕 | We are delighted to report that a paper by School of Infection & Immunity academics has been shortlisted for Arthritis UK Research Highlight of the Year 2025!

The research, by Dr Lucy MacDonald, Dr Aziza Elmesmari, Dr Domenico Somma, and Mr Jack Frew, under the leadership of Professor Mariola Kurowska-Stolarska and Dr Stefano Alivernini, was published in Immunity in December 2024.

🗳️ Voting is open! (✅Option 6): https://www.arthritis-uk.org/our-research/research-we-fund/research-highlight-of-the-year/

🔗 Read the full story: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/infectionimmunity/newsevents/headline_1228602_en.html

📜 Read the paper, Synovial tissue myeloid dendritic cell subsets exhibit distinct tissue-niche localization and function in health and rheumatoid arthritis: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1074761324005193?via%3Dihub

28/11/2025

🆕 | The School of Infection & Immunity's Professor Gwo-tzer Ho recently joined College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences colleague Professor Konstantinos Gerasimidis on the Catherine McEwan Foundation : All in for Crohn's & Colitis podcast to discuss the latest advances in Inflammatory Bowel Disease research.

🔗 Full story: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/infectionimmunity/newsevents/headline_1226994_en.html

🎙️ Watch the podcast episode: https://youtu.be/i51kE4Nvslc?si=jgpsMt7fIlIK0g2V

26/11/2025

🆕 | Professor Daniel Streicker and his team at MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research were recently featured across BBC television, radio, and online coverage, showcasing their work on vampire bat-transmitted rabies in Latin America.

A live interview took place on BBC Radio Scotland on the afternoon of 11 November 2025, with additional filmed interviews of postdocs Jocelyn Perez and Hollie French, alongside Professor Streicker, in the CVR labs and fieldwork in Peru.

🔗 Full story: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/infectionimmunity/newsevents/headline_1227148_en.html

📰 BBC News: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c74015ll09yo

🔗 More info: https://streickerlab.com/

24/11/2025

🆕 | School of Infection & Immunity's Professor Donal Wall has been acknowledged for his expert review of a recently published microbiome briefing by the Microbiology Society.

Released in September and titled 'Where are microbiomes, and why are they important?' the report explores the role of microbiomes across human, animal, and environmental health.

Highlights include discussion of cutting-edge research into soil, human, and animal microbiomes and the examination of the opportunities and challenges in harnessing microbial communities for health, agriculture, and environmental sustainability.

Sii Head of Bacteriology Professor Wall was credited among the experts who reviewed the briefing, providing scientific advice and insight to ensure the accuracy and relevance of the content.

His contributions helped shape a briefing that also explores practical applications of microbiome research, such as using nitrogen-fixing bacteria to boost crop productivity, developing probiotics for animal health, and employing microbiomes as potential biomarkers for human disease.

The briefing, which was also reviewed by Dr Daniel Henk (University of Bath), Professor Lesley Hoyles (Nottingham Trent University), Dr Jack Whitehouse (University of Surrey), is available on the Society’s website and at the links below.

🔗 Full story: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/infectionimmunity/newsevents/headline_1223897_en.html

📝 Briefing: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/777867516/

17/11/2025

🦠 | School of Infection & Immunity Level-3 Microbiology students are hosting a coffee afternoon tomorrow to raise funds and awareness for AMR Action UK as part of .

📆 Tuesday, 18 November
🕐 12.30–4pm
🏢 Sir Graeme Davies Building Level 2 meeting room

Drop in for a coffee and pastry to support AMR Action UK.

11/11/2025

👻 | A spooktacular trio of School of Infection & Immunity professors took part in the GU Infection and Immunity Society's recent Halloween-themed Terrifying Microbes event.

Held on Wednesday, 27 October 2025, in the Boyd Orr Building, the evening featured a series of short talks exploring the spooky side of microbiology.

Representing Sii were:

🎃 Professor Andrew Roe: The Many Faces of E. Coli

🦇 Professor Richard Burchmore: Leishmania: Ghosts and Exorcism

🕸️ Professor Edward Hutchinson (MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research): Influences from Beyond the Grave

The event was well attended, with students and staff enjoying an engaging mix of presentations, discussion, and pizza.

Afterwards, Gerardo Mateo Guio Archila, Vice President of the GUIIS, thanked the speakers for their contributions and expressed interest in future collaborations for talks and social events.

06/11/2025

🆕 | School of Infection & Immunity Lecturer in Microbiology Dr Leighann Sherry is part of a College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences team that has been shortlisted in the ‘Outstanding Industry Engagement’ category at the Brilliant Festival Awards 2025.

Alongside Fiona Stubbs, the University of Glasgow Careers and Employability Manager, and the UofG School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health's Nairn Scobie, Dr Sherry has been recognised for pioneering work in embedding internship projects into the final year of Life Sciences degrees.

The BRILLIANT Festival Awards are an annual UK-wide awards programme dedicated to recognising excellence in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) education and industry engagement.

The six award categories this year are Innovators in Science, Creative Visionaries in Art & Design, Tech Excellence, Outstanding Industry Engagement, Maths Mastery, and Engineering Changemakers.

The winners will be announced on Tuesday, 11 November in Liverpool, where our nominees will join colleagues from across the UK for the BRILLIANT Awards Ceremony.

🔗 Full story: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/infectionimmunity/newsevents/headline_1223002_en.html

28/10/2025

🆕 | School of Infection & Immunity postgraduate researchers have taken top honours in the 2025 Microbiology Society Sir Howard Dalton Early Career Microbiologist of the Year competition.

Widely regarded as the most prestigious of its kind in the UK and Ireland, the award is presented each year at the MS Annual Conference or Irish Division meeting.

The prize recognises and rewards excellence in science communication by a member in the early stages of their career.

At the final, held at the MS Executive Committee meeting on Tuesday, 7 October 2025, both first and third place went to Sii PGRs in what is a major achievement for our school.

MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research PhD student Emma Davies was named 2025 Early Career Microbiologist of the Year for her outstanding presentation ‘Alternative splicing diversifies the antiviral activity of OAS proteins’.

The project showcases her cutting-edge work on antiviral immunity and gene regulation, and was supervised by Dr Adam Fletcher, who has now mentored back-to-back finalists in this highly-competitive award.

Phoebe Crossley, Microbiology PhD student at Sii, received third prize for her talk ‘Multi-omic analysis of the vaginal microenvironment: Revealing mechanisms of vulvovaginal and sexual health symptoms in women with benign gynaecological conditions’.

Remarkably, this work was based on her undergraduate research project undertaken prior to joining Glasgow, highlighting her exceptional potential and early contribution to microbiology.

This double win not only reflects the calibre of the school’s early career researchers but also the supportive environment that enables them to thrive in national and international arenas.

🔗 Full story: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/infectionimmunity/newsevents/headline_1221601_en.html

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