Introduction
The project is coordinated by Moredun Research Institute and is managed by a team of work package leads with expertise in Coxiella burnetii, ranging from disease surveillance and diagnosis to bacterial genomics.
Project Coordinator
Prof. Tom McNeilly
Tom is the Scientific Director of Moredun Research Institute, UK. A qualified veterinary surgeon, his work focuses on control of ruminant endemic diseases through the development of improved vaccines and diagnostic tests.
WP1 leads: Coxiella burnetii strain collection
Dr. Rene van den Brom
René is the manager of the department for small ruminant, equine, and companion health at Royal GD, Netherlands. He is also a veterinary specialist in small ruminant health management with an interest in health surveillance of small ruminants and infectious causes of abortion in small ruminants.
WP1 leads: Coxiella burnetii strain collection
Dr. Ana Hurtado
René is the manager of the department for small ruminant, equine, and companion health at Royal GD, Netherlands. He is also a veterinary specialist in small ruminant health management with an interest in health surveillance of small ruminants and infectious causes of abortion in small ruminants.
WP2 leads: Optimisation of Coxiella burnetii isolation methods
Dr. Katja Mertens-Scholz
Katja is the head of the National Reference Laboratory for Q-Fever at the Friedrich-Loeffler Institute, Germany. Her work focuses on surveillance and molecular characterization of Coxiella burnetii.
WP2 leads: Optimisation of Coxiella burnetii isolation methods and WP5 Leads: Establishment of a Pan-European Coxiella burnetii Surveillance Network
Dr. Marcella Mori
Marcella is a molecular microbiologist and heads the Bacterial Zoonoses Unit at Sciensano, Brussels. She directs two National Reference Centres (Coxiella burnetii and Brucella spp.) for human health and multiple National Reference Laboratories for animals. Her research interests include enhancing animal diagnostics for C. burnetii and studying immune responses to improve disease control strategies.
WP3 Leads: Coxiella burnetii whole genome sequencing
Dr. Stephen Fitzgerald
Stephen is a molecular bacteriologist specialising in zoonotic bacterial pathogens at the Moredun Research Institute, UK. His work focuses on genetic and phenotypic characterisation of Coxiella burnetii.
WP3 Leads: Coxiella burnetii whole genome sequencing and WP4 Leads: Functional genomics of Coxiella burnetii isolates
Dr. Xavier Bailly
Xavier is a molecular epidemiologist of animal and zoonotic pathogens at INRAE, France. His work uses high-throughput DNA sequencing to understand and characterise livestock pathogens.
WP4 Leads: Functional genomics of Coxiella burnetii isolates
Prof. Christian Menge
Christian is head of the Friedrich-Loeffler Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany and Administrative Local Representative of the President of FLI. His work focuses on phenotypic characterisation of zoonotic bacteria and development of vaccines and interventions.
WP5 Leads: Establishment of a Pan-European Coxiella burnetii Surveillance Network
Dr. Elodie Rousset
Elodie is head of National reference laboratory for Q-Fever and deputy head of the Animal Q-Fever unit at ANSES, France. Her work focuses on the characterisation, surveillance and epidemiology of Coxiella burnetii.