Dr
Alasdair
Nisbet
Alasdair Nisbet is a principal investigator in the Vaccines and Diagnostics pillar of the Moredun Research Institute, near Edinburgh where he has been involved in research into parasite vaccines since 2004. He has been involved in veterinary and medical parasitology and insect physiology research since 1989. Throughout these years, his research focus has been on novel methods of controlling invertebrate pests and parasites with an emphasis on understanding and exploiting the unique physiology of parasites of veterinary significance, in particular by understanding their interactions with the host. He has national and international collaborations with, and funding from, RCUK and industry partners (BBSRC, Zoetis, Benchmark, Akita Co. Ltd) and fruitful collaborations with public sector and stakeholder groups nationally and internationally (e.g. USDA, NFUS). His recent research highlights, which relate directly to his involvement in the BBSRC Veterinary Vaccines Network, include:
Transcriptomics, immunogen identification, recombinant protein production, vaccine trials in livestock • The development and testing (in collaboration with Prof. Jacqui Matthews and Dr. Tom McNeilly) of a prototype 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 prototype vaccine to control sheep scab; • 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.