Maurizio Labbate

I’m an internationally-recognised researcher in antimicrobial resistance and infectious disease. Regarding the former, I am particularly interested in movement of antimicrobial resistance genes between bacteria and their contamination in the wider environment thereby acting as a reservoir. Regarding the latter, I predominantly focus on a group of marine bacteria called Vibrio species that cause disease in humans (e.g. diarrhoeal disease such as cholera) and marine animals (e.g. aquaculture diseases).

My work spans multiple disciplines and is focussed on the interface that microbes have with their environment and how this drives disease processes (e.g. how environmental parameters lead to disease outbreaks by Vibrio pathogens) or evolution/emergence of pathogens (e.g. selection pressure and lateral gene processes driving emergence of virulence and antimicrobial resistance).

Recognising that antimicrobial resistance is an anthropogenic as well as a microbial problem, my most recent research interest, in collaboration with diverse researchers from different disciplines (e.g. medicine, pharmacy, veterinary sciences etc) is focussed on identifying the socio-cultural factors that drive stakeholder demand for antimicrobials and using this information to develop successful interventions.