Background: Michael Jones obtained a BSc (Hons) in Microbiology from the University of Sheffield. He carried out his postgraduate degrees at the University of East Anglia graduating in 1994. He then worked as a research fellow at the Institute for Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, studying stretch activated channels. He then moved to work at the Institute for Animal Health, Compton Laboratory in 1997 where he worked on host pathogen interactions in gastrointestinal disease in farm animals, vaccine development and host genetics. While at IAH he set up his first group on Campylobacter infection biology.

Current position and work: In 2006 Dr Jones moved as a foundation lecturer to help establish the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science. Dr Jones planned, implemented and convenes microbiology components of the BVM BVS and BVMedSci course. During this time he has obtained his PGCHE and an MA in higher education from the University of Nottingham and has carried on his research on intestinal pathogens and host interactions. He also convenes the principles of Veterinary Sciences module which combines a number of areas of teaching on pharmacology, pathology, immunology, microbiology and parasitology.

Dr Jones’s research includes studies on both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria their molecular biology physiology and virulence. His current research can be split into infection and immunity and antimicrobial research. These cover the following research areas:

(1) The understanding of bacterial physiology and virulence factors required for causing disease and persistence. This work has looked at respiration, and phase variation and its impact on virulence. This has focuses on the zoonotic diseases Campylobacter, Salmonella.

(2) Host responses to infection and host genetics in infection. This work has been focused around avian response to disease focusing on the Campylobacter, Salmonella and Mycobacterium avium. Leading to the first demonstration inflammatory response to Campylobacter in poultry. He has also developed project on vaccines bacterial phase variation in poultry.

(3) Antimicrobial resistance in the environment and risk factors for its spread. This recent work has focused on both farm and wildlife AMR. Including projects on the role of bacteriophage in the environment in gene (AMR) transfer. Working on Enterococci, Staphylococci and Salmonella.

Additional: Michael Jones has extensive experience of health and safety in biological/veterinary research. He is school safety officer and has previously been biological safety officer, chair genetic modification committees both at Nottingham and IAH. He currently co-chair on the University of Nottingham Biological safety committee.

To contact Michael Jones email: michael.a.jones@nottingham.ac.uk