Research on Infection and Immunity aims to enhance understanding of the mechanisms of host defence against infection, and translate this understanding into prevention and treatment. The research programmes include a wide range of activities including studies of host/pathogen interactions (including work on viruses, bacteria, parasites and spongiform encephalopathy agents), the immune systems of animals and how they respond to pathogen challenge, genetic resistance to disease and epidemiology of disease. These activities are underpinned by major programmes in animals genomics and bioinformatics.