Research Fellows Directory
James Naismith
Professor James Naismith FRSE, FMedSci, member of EMBO
Research Fellow
Organisation
University of St Andrews
Research summary
Our first highlight may open up new avenues to reduce food poisoning caused by Campylobacter. This is is the leading cause of UK food poisoning and is a particular problem with chickens.The bacteria naturally lives in chickens colonizing the gut, to do this it first has to stick to cell surface. It is important to state that the problem can be eliminated by proper handling and cooking of food. However, the over half million cases per year suggests that simply repeating the message around hygiene is not going to solve the problem. The UK poultry industry is keen to identify new methods of reducing the amount of bacteria in commercial flocks. We have started a study of a protein which has been implicated in allowing the bacteria to live inside chickens. If we can block this protein binding to the chicken gut, then it may be possible to reduce the amount of this bacterium in chicken greatly enhancing food safety.
Interests and expertise (Subject groups)
Subject groups
Grants awarded
Characterising membrane proteins by biophysical methods.