Researchers at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and at the MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM, alongside partner institutions in the UK and in Africa have been awarded £5.2m LSHTM will be allocated £1.4m to lead the Campylobacter Control Campaign.  

Campylobacter bacteria are a common cause of foodborne diarrhoeal disease and can be dangerous and sometimes fatal for vulnerable groups, such as children, the elderly or those immunosuppressed. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 550 million people fall ill each year due to diarrhoeal diseases and Campylobacter being one of four main causes of the disease globally. 

The research teams will aim to sample Campylobacter jejuni/coli genomes worldwide. Using this genomic data, they will then determine the source of infection in people. By integrating epidemiological and genomics information they hope to describe the antigenic landscape for reverse vaccinology, this is method of vaccine design which uses the bacteria’s genome sequence to identify potential vaccine targets.  

This will enable the development of affordable Campylobacter and Salmonella vaccines for poultry, which will be tested in both the UK and The Gambia. 

Additionally, the eight-year grant will aim to train and support current researchers in the field of Campylobacter genomics, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.  

Dr Ozan Gundogdu, Associate Professor at LSHTM, who is leading the study, said: “Using the latest integrative omics-based methods (genomics, metagenomics and metabolomics), we will characterise the source of infections leading to campylobacteriosis, and the antigen targets that will underpin a vaccination programme against this disease, paving the way for interventions to significantly reduce childhood morbidity and mortality in endemic regions of the world.” 

Dr Abdul Sesay, Assistant Professor at LSHTM and based at the MRC Unit The Gambia commented: “This study is significant for The Gambia and other African nations involved, as it will offer valuable research and training opportunities in genomics and vaccine development.”  

Brendan Wren, Professor of Microbial Pathogenesis at LSHTM, added: “We are delighted to be receiving this grant as it will provide a global model for novel vaccine development that could also be applied to other pathogens including those that cause AMR.”