Bacterial infections cause a significant disease burden in humans. We know that the disease spectrum can vary from asymptomatic carriage to life threatening infections.

Our aim is to gain understanding on reasons why certain individuals develop a disease and the others do not, why pathogens spread and cause epidemics and what could be the means to prevent this from happening. My long standing research interest has also resided in antimicrobial resistance, especially in molecular epidemiology and spread of MRSA, VRE and ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae both in health care setting and community.

Our current research areas cover:

• Invasive Group A streptococcal disease
• Molecular epidemiology and disease burden of Group A streptococcal infections
• Molecular epidemiology and spread of MRSA
• Surveillance of AMR

Research group members:

• Kirsi Gröndahl-Yli-Hannuksela, Ph.D., Adjunct professor, University teacher
• Johanna Vilhonen, M.D., Ph.D., specialist in IDs
• Tiina Hirvioja, M.D., Ph.D. fellow, specialist in IDs
• Mirva Virolainen. M.D., Ph.D. fellow
• Jaakko Silvola, M.D., Ph.D. fellow
• Ville Kaila, M.D., Ph.D. fellow, specialist in IDs (based at Tampere University Hospital, Tampere)
• Erastus Haindongo, M.Sc., Ph.D. fellow (based at University of Namibia, Windhoek)
• Laura Lindholm, M.Sc., Ph.D. fellow (based at Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare)