Ash Otter is the group leader/principal investigator of the Emerging Pathogen Serology group. This group was formally established during the COVID-19 pandemic as a high-throughput serology laboratory to aid in understanding the spread of SARS-CoV-2 through population-level serosurveillance. Since then, the laboratory has conducted over 1.3 million SARS-CoV-2 tests to support serosurveillance and research, whilst expanding our remit and research to support the response to a number of national and international outbreaks including Lassa, Mpox (formerly known as Monkeypox), and H5N1.

Emerging Pathogens

As a laboratory, our research interests are primarily within emerging (and reemerging) pathogens, as aligned with WHO's priority pathogen list and the CEPI 100-day mission. In particular, these pathogens include Orthopoxviruses (Mpox, Smallpox), Arboviruses (Dengue, Zika, Chikungunya, Tick-borne encephalitis, West-Nile virus), and Viral-haemorrhagic fevers (Ebola, Lassa, CCHF).

Whilst not classified as emerging, we are also interested in common respiratory pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2, seasonal coronaviruses, RSV and Influenza, using serology to further understand long-term immune responses, vaccine breakthroughs, and reinfections. 

Immunoassay development, utilising high-throughput methods 

At the core of our research are immunoassays, for which we employ diverse methods (ELISA, ECLIA, inhibition, flow cytometry, end-point titres) for a range of internal and externally funded projects. Our expertise is in the development of immunoassays at speed, and moving these assays from low-throughput and manual assays into high-throughput, fully automated systems, providing essential data to support public health responses to outbreaks and ongoing incidents.

Novel technologies and the application of these to emerging pathogens

Whilst traditional serology methods are the mainstay of our work, we are keen to integrate new, emerging, and novel technologies to support public health responses to emerging pathogens. These methods currently focus on high-throughput screening of antigens (yeast-display, CFE, PhIP-seq), but also utilising machine-learning algorithms to provide a mechanism to analyse massively multiplexed (>100) immunoassays. 

Using basic discovery research on emerging pathogen immunology to inform on serosurveillance, vaccine, and diagnostic design 

In our first instance within an outbreak, we undertake basic discovery research on the immunology of emerging pathogens. We utilise this data to inform on additional research (either through core funding or external grant applications) spanning serosurveillance strategies (e.g., discrimination of vaccination from infection), therapeutic and vaccine development (e.g., antigen discovery, targets), and diagnostic development (e.g., antigen choice).