Paul Langford

Professor Paul Langford is a Professor of Paediatric Infectious Diseases at the Department of Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London. His research focuses on respiratory and meningitis-causing pathogens such as Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and animal pathogens like Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (APP). Collaborations include work with the Royal Veterinary College London, University of Portsmouth, and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Centre.

Key research areas include vaccine development, antimicrobial strategies, and understanding bacterial pathogenicity. Techniques employed include transposon-directed insertion site sequencing (TraDIS), sRNA inhibition studies, and genomic analysis of antibiotic resistance genes. His group investigates novel antimicrobial peptides and monoclonal antibodies for targeting pathogens like M. tuberculosis and Neisseria meningitidis.

Research highlights include identifying APP genes essential for in vivo growth, developing CRISPR-based diagnostic platforms for Streptococcus suis, and creating biosafety-compliant tuberculosis infection models using Galleria mellonella. The team also explores phase-variable DNA methyltransferases in APP and biofilm formation dynamics.

Collaborations span institutions globally, including the Animal and Plant Health Agency (UK), National University of Singapore, and University of Viçosa (Brazil). His work bridges veterinary and human medicine, addressing zoonotic pathogens and agricultural pathogen control strategies.