The TB Research Group

The VLA’s TB Research Group is headed by Professor Glyn Hewinson. The group’s research focuses on developing novel vaccines and diagnostics against tuberculosis in cattle and badgers, and in the application of molecular epidemiology to disease control.

A key facet of our work exploits the recently determined genome sequences of Mycobacterium bovis and the vaccine strain M. bovis BCG Pasteur. Using comparative genomics we have identified gene differences between M. bovis and M. bovis BCG. These differences offer insight into the genetic basis for the attenuation of the vaccines strain; indeed, although BCG was derived almost 100 years ago and is the most widely used vaccine in the world, the reason for it’s attenuation is not known.

To further increase our understanding of M. bovis we have constructed microarrays that contain every gene of the pathogen. Using these arrays we have identified genes of the pathogen that are upregulated in response to stress conditions, and have used this information to identify new antigens that are recognised by infected cattle. These ‘post-genomic’ approaches are therefore yielding exciting new information about the interaction of M. bovis with its host.

The group contains over 20 staff involved in bacterial molecular genetics, cellular immunology, animal models, and molecular epidemiology, and we have published over 100 peer-reviewed papers.

Recent relevant publications

Ewer K, Cockle P, Gordon S, Mansoor H, Govaerts M, Walravens K, Marche S, Hewinson G, Vordermeier M. Antigen mining with iterative genome screens identifies novel diagnostics for the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2006 Jan;13(1):90-7.

Hewinson RG, Vordermeier HM, Smith NH, Gordon SV. Recent advances in our knowledge of Mycobacterium bovis: A feeling for the organism. Vet Microbiol. 2005 Dec 27

Renshaw PS, Lightbody KL, Veverka V, Muskett FW, Kelly G, Frenkiel TA, Gordon SV, Hewinson RG, Burke B, Norman J, Williamson RA, Carr MD. Structure and function of the complex formed by the tuberculosis virulence factors CFP-10 and ESAT-6. EMBO J. 2005;24(14):2491-8.

Smith NH, Dale J, Inwald J, Palmer S, Gordon SV, Hewinson RG, Smith JM. The population structure of Mycobacterium bovis in Great Britain: clonal expansion. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003; 100(25):15271-5.

Skinner MA, Buddle BM, Wedlock DN, Keen D, de Lisle GW, Tascon RE, Ferraz JC, Lowrie DB, Cockle PJ, Vordermeier HM, Hewinson RG. A DNA prime-Mycobacterium bovis BCG boost vaccination strategy for cattle induces protection against bovine tuberculosis. Infect Immun. 2003; 71(9):4901-7.

Garnier T, Eiglmeier K, Camus JC, Medina N, Mansoor H, Pryor M, Duthoy S, Grondin S, Lacroix C, Monsempe C, Simon S, Harris B, Atkin R, Doggett J, Mayes R, Keating L, Wheeler PR, Parkhill J, Barrell BG, Cole ST, Gordon SV, Hewinson RG. The complete genome sequence of Mycobacterium bovis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003;100(13):7877-82.