Research Interests

We focus on understanding the antibody response to rotavirus infection and vaccination.

Protective rotavirus antibodies

Rotavirus is a common cause of gastroenteritis in children, especially in the developing world. Rotavirus vaccines have recently become available, but the exact mechanisms by which these work are poorly understood. We use a variety of molecular approaches to examine antibody activity during rotavirus infection, with the overall aim of elucidating correlates of protection.

Maternal antibodies

Antibodies are passed from the mother to infant via the placenta and breast milk to protect the infant from infectious disease. However, maternal antibodies also block vaccine efficacy. This apparent paradox has been reported not only for rotavirus vaccination but also for many other viral vaccines of human and veterinary importance.

It is not yet known how maternal antibodies prevent vaccines from working in infants. Multiple theories have been proposed in recent decades, from vaccine neutralisation to FcyRIIb activity. We are using a combination of in vitro and in vivo models for rotavirus infection to unravel the mechanisms of maternal antibody blockade. It is anticipated that understanding the activity of maternal antibodies will lead to rational design of improved neonatal vaccines.

Key Publications

Complement C4 prevents viral infection through capsid inactivation.
Cell Host Microbe 2019

Caddy SL et al. Characterization of innate immune viral sensors in patients following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Innate Immunity 2018;
DOI: 10.1177/1753425918757898

Caddy S et al. Genogroup IV and VI canine noroviruses bind to histo-blood groups antigens.
Journal of Virology 2014; DOI: 10.1128/JVI.01008-14

Emmott E … Caddy S … Goodfellow; -Mediated Modification of the Translational Landscape via Virus and Host-Induced Cleavage of Translation Initiation Factors. Molecular Cell Proteomics 2017; DOI: 10.1074/mcp.M116.062448