Biography
I received my BSc (Hon) in Biochemistry from University of Aberdeen, then did a PhD in Virology at University of Cambridge. I undertook post-doctoral positions in University of Cambridge and Edinburgh before coming to University of Cambridge as a University Fellow then lecturer.
Research
I have a long term interest in the immune response to persistent viral infections. Presently we are studying the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal viruses using murine norovirus as a model virus. This can establish both acute and persistent infections. It may also spread from the gut to cause a systemic infection that can lead to pathology in different organ systems. As such it is both a good model system for studying gastrointestinal immunity and mechanisms of viral persistence. We are investigating the role of different cell types and factors in the gut that protect from infection as well as properties of the virus itself that affect its pathogenesis.
Previously I have worked with visna maedi virus, a lentiviral infection of sheep. This is a model lentiviral infection with a strict tropism for macrophages and dendritic cells and as such allows the study of viral control mechanisms in the absence of immune deficiencies as is seen with HIV.
A common theme of my work is infection of dendritic cells and macrophages and how these infections alter the biology of these important immune cell types. This includes studies with Salmonella enterica as well as the virus infections above.
Recent work has moved into metagenomic sequencing to identify viruses, and study the microbiome (which links to gastrointestinal viruses). We are also currently using metagenomic sequencing of non-invasive samples in conservation studies of Juan Fernandez Fur seals to derive information on the microbiome, diet and population genetic structure.
Publications
Seroprevalence and assessment of public awareness of Brucella spp., Toxoplasma gondii and Chlamydia abortus in small ruminants from selected smallholder commercial farms of Zimbabwe. Tarusikirwa D.F., Blacklaws, B. & Trotter, C.L. (2023) PLoS One 18(6):e0287902. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287902. PMID: 37384775; PMCID: PMC10310052.
Heavy metal contamination in pristine environments: lessons from the Juan Fernandez fur seal (Arctocephalus philippii philippii). Toro-Valdivieso, C., Jugdaohsingh, R., Powell, J.J., Hoffman, J.I., Forcada, J., Moore, C. & Blacklaws, B. (2023) R. Soc. Open Sci. doi: 10.1098/rsos.221237. PMID: 36998770; PMCID: PMC10049756.
Clinical manifestations of chronic pancreatitis in English cocker spaniels. Coddou, M.F., Blacklaws, B. and Watson, P.J. (2024) J. Vet. Int. Med. doi: 10.1111/jvim.17100.
Immunogenicity of a trivalent haemorrhagic fever vaccine candidate against Sudan virus, Marburg virus and Lassa virus in an mpox vaccine. Pfranger, M., Krause, N., Asbach, B., Meier, J., Carnell, G., Scheer, L., Kalender, A., Brenner, D., Tonks, P., Frost, S., Wright, E., Jordan, I., Kennedy, E., Hewson, R., Blacklaws, B., Chan, A., Parthasarathy, S., Dowall, S., Carroll, M., Sandig, V., Fedosyuk, S., Kinsley, R., Heeney, J. and Wagner, R.J. (2025) Gen Virol. 106(10):002157. doi: 10.1099/jgv.0.002157.
Enhanced virucidal activity of quaternary ammonium compound-thymol combinations: influence of mucin and mucoadhesive polymers. Ahmady, A., Mickleburgh, I., Bryant, N., Carnell, G.W. and Blacklaws, B.A. (2026) Arch Virol. 171(7):215. doi: 10.1007/s00705-026-06672-8.
Peters, S. E., G. K. Paterson, E. S. Bandularatne, H. C. Northen, S. Pleasance, C. Willers, J. Wang, A. K. Foote, F. Constantino-Casas, T. J. Scase, B. A. Blacklaws, C. E. Bryant, P. Mastroeni, I. G. Charles and D. J. Maskell Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium trxA mutants are protective against virulent challenge and induce less inflammation than the live-attenuated vaccine strain SL3261. Infect Immun 2010 78(1): 326-36.
Banham, A.H., Lyne, L., Scase, T.J. and Blacklaws, B.A. Monoclonal antibodies raised to the human FOXP3 protein can be used effectively for detecting Foxp3+ T cells in other mammalian species. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology 2009 127, 376-381
De Andrés, X., Reina, R., Ciriza, J., Crespo, H., Glaría, I., Ramírez, H., Grilló, M.-J., Pérez, M.-M., Andrésdottir, V., Rosati, S., Suzan-Monti, M., Luján, L., Blacklaws, B., Harkiss, G., De Andrés, D.-F. & Amorena, B. (2009) Use of B7 costimulatory molecules as adjuvants in a prime-boost vaccination against Visna / Maedi ovine lentivirus. Vaccine 27, 4591-600.
Reina, R., C. Barbezange, H. Niesalla, X. de Andres, H. Arnarson, E. Biescas, M. Mazzei, C. Fraisier, T. N. McNeilly, C. Liu, M. Perez, M. L. Carrozza, P. Bandecchi, C. Solano, H. Crespo, I. Glaria, C. Huard, D. J. Shaw, I. de Blas, D. de Andres, F. Tolari, S. Rosati, M. Suzan-Monti, V. Andresdottir, S. Torsteinsdottir, G. Petursson, L. Lujan, M. Pepin, B. Amorena, B. Blacklaws and G. D. Harkiss. Mucosal immunization against ovine lentivirus using PEI-DNA complexes and modified vaccinia Ankara encoding the gag and/or env genes. Vaccine 2008 26(35): 4494-505. [
Banham, A.H., Lyne, L., Scase, T.J. and Blacklaws, B.A. Monocolnal antibodies raised to the human FOXP3 protein can be used effectively for detecting Foxp3+ T cells in other mammalian species. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology 2009 127, 376-381
Wu C, Barbezange C, McConnell I, Blacklaws BA. Mapping and Characterization of Visna Maedi Virus Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Epitopes. J. Gen. Virol 2008 (89):2586–2596
Teaching and Supervisions
Veterinary Virology
Immune response to viruses
Biology of disease
