Molecular basis of receptor targeting by mucosal pathogens which colonise the human nasopharynx and oropharynx. Principally studies focus on Neisseria meningitidis, Moraxella catarrhalis and Haemophilus influenzae. Interactions of Neisseria meningitidis with serum components. Epithelial cell responses to neisserial infection. Bacterial interplay during adhesion to human respiratory epithelia. Structure and function analyses of Moraxella catarrhalis surface proteins. Bacterial-stem cell interactions in osteomyelitis

Hill, D.J., Griffiths, N.J., Borodina, E. and Virji, M. (2010) Cellular and molecular biology of Neisseria meningitidis infection and Meningitis. Journal of Clinical Science, 118, 547-564. Carbonelle, E,. Hill, D.J., Morand, P., Griffiths, N.J., Bourdoulous, S., Murillo, I., Nassif, X., Virji, M. (2009) Meningococcal interactions with the host. Vaccine, 27, B78-89. Connors, R., Hill, D.J., Borodina, E., Agnew, C., Daniell, S.J., Burton, N.M., Sessions, R.B., Clarke, A.R., Catto, L.E., Lammie, D., Wess, T., Brady, R.L. and Virji, M. (2008) The Moraxella adhesin UspA1 binds to its human CEACAM1 receptor via a deformed trimeric coiled coil. EMBO J. 27, 1779-1789. Villullas, S., Hill, D.J., Sessions, R.B., Rea, J. and Virji, M. (2006) Mutational analysis of human CEACAM1: The potential of receptor polymorphism in increasing host susceptibility to bacterial infection. Cellular Microbiology 9, 329-346. Rowe, H.A., Griffiths, N.J., Hill, D.J. and Virji, M. (2006) Coordinate action of bacterial adhesins and human carcinoembryonic antigen receptors in enhanced cellular invasion by capsulate serum resistant Neisseria meningitidis. Cellular Microbiology 9, 154-168. Hardy, A.R., Hill, D.J. and Poole, A.W. (2005) Evidence that the purinergic receptor PY12 potentiates platelet shape change by a Rho kinase-dependent mechanism. Platelets 16, 415-429. Hill, D.J., Edwards, A.M., Rowe, H.A. and Virji, M. (2005) Carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule (CEACAM)-binding recombinant polypeptide confers protection against infection by respiratory and urogenital pathogens. Molecular Microbiology 55, 1515-1527. Hill, D.J. and Virji, M. (2003) A novel cell binding mechanism of Moraxella catarrhalis ubiquitous surface protein UspA: specific targeting of the N-domain of carcinoembryonic antigen related cell adhesion molecules by UspA1. Molecular Microbiology 48, 117-129. Virji M. and Hill, D.J. (2003) In vitro models of Infection II - Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial cells (Huvecs) system. In: Haemophilus influenzae Protocols, Methods in Molecular Medicine. pp. 297-314. Eds : M. Herbert, D.W. Hood and E.R. Moxon. Humana Press (New Jersey). Hill, D.J., Toleman, M.A., Evans, D.J., Villullas, S., Van Alphen, L. and Virji, M. (2001) The variable P5 proteins of typable and non-typableHaemophilus influenzae target human CEACAM1. Molecular Microbiology 39, 850-862. Virji, M., Evans, D., Griffith, J., Hill, D.J., Serino, L., Hadfield, A. and Watt, S.M. (2000) Carcinoembryonic antigens are targeted by diverse strains of typable and non-typable Haemophilus influenzae. Molecular Microbiology 36, 784-795.