Alasdair Nisbet

Alasdair Nisbet

Head of Vaccine Development

Moredun Research Institute, UK

Tel: 0131 445 6125

Email: Alasdair.Nisbet@moredun.ac.uk

 

 

 

VALIDATE Role:

Network Affiliate

 

Research Keywords: 

Nematode Vaccines, Ectoparasite Vaccines, Q Fever

 

Biography:

Throughout the last 30 years, my research focus has been on novel methods of controlling pathogens with an emphasis on understanding and exploiting the unique physiology of pathogens of veterinary significance, in particular by understanding their interactions with the host. I am an innovative Head of Department in charge of a team of Principal Investigators and have my own team of 2 postdoctoral scientists, 2 technical support staff and 2 PhD students. I have worked in, and with, some of the most forward-thinking and effective academic research groups in the field (e.g. Prof Robin Gasser’s group at The University of Melbourne; The Veterinary Parasitology Group, University of Ghent). I have had national and international collaborations with, and funding from, UKRI, NC3Rs, The UK Department of Health and industry partners (e.g. BBSRC, Zoetis, Benchmark, Akita Co. Ltd) and have fruitful collaborations with public sector and stakeholder groups nationally and internationally (e.g. USDA, NFUS).

 

Recent Research Highlights:

  • The development, testing and refinement of a vaccine to control Teladorsagiosis, which provides the highest levels of protection observed in any system using a nematode recombinant sub-unit vaccine in the definitive host.
  • The development and testing (in collaboration with Dr. Stewart Burgess) of a vaccine to control sheep scab, which reduced lesion size by >60% in vaccinated animals after challenge.
  • The development and testing (in collaboration with Dr. John Huntley) of an autogenous vaccine to control poultry red mite, which reduced mite numbers by ca. 75% in vaccinated hens after challenge.

 

Related Websites: 

Moredun Research Institute Profile

 

Key Publications:

  • Nisbet, A.J., McNeilly, T.N., Wildblood, L.A., Morrison, A.A., Bartley, D.J., Bartley, Y., Longhi, C., McKendrick, I.J., Palarea-Albaladejo, J., Matthews, J.B., 2013. Successful immunization against a parasitic nematode by vaccination with recombinant proteins. Vaccine 37, 4017-4023.
  • Nisbet, AJ, McNeilly, TN, Greer, AW, Bartley, Y, Oliver, EM, Smith, S, Palarea-Albaladejo J, Matthews JB. 2016. Protection of ewes against Teladorsagia circumcincta infection in the periparturient period by vaccination with recombinant antigens. Veterinary Parasitology. 228, 130-136.
  • Nisbet AJ, McNeilly TN, Price DRG, Oliver EM, Bartley Y, Mitchell M, Palarea-Albaladejo J, Matthews JB. 2019. The rational simplification of a recombinant cocktail vaccine to control the parasitic nematode Teladorsagia circumcincta. International Journal for Parasitology 49, 257-265  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpara.2018.10.006
  • Burgess ST, Nunn F, Nath M, Frew D, Wells B, Marr EJ, Huntley JF, McNeilly TN, Nisbet AJ. 2016. A recombinant subunit vaccine for the control of ovine psoroptic mange (sheep scab). Vet Res. 47, 26. doi: 10.1186/s13567-016-0315-3.
  • Bartley, K., Turnbull, F., Wright, H.W., Huntley, J.F., Palarea-Albaladejo, J., Nath, M., Nisbet, A.J. 2017. Field evaluation of poultry red mite (Dermanyssus gallinae) native and recombinant prototype vaccines. Veterinary Parasitology 244, 25-34.
  • Price DRG, Kuster T, Øines Ø, Oliver EM, Bartley K, Nunn F, Lima-Barbero JF, Pritchard J, Karp-Tatham E, Hauge LH, Blake DP, Tomley FM, Nisbet AJ. 2019. Evaluation of vaccine delivery systems for inducing long-lived antibody responses to Dermanyssus gallinae antigen in laying hens. Avian Pathology 48 (sup 1) S60-S74,. https://doi.org/10.1080/03079457.2019.1612514