Edit your staff profile

Your staff profile is made up of information taken from systems including Pure and Subscribe.  This page explains how to update each section of your profile.

Dr Jay Laver

Principal Research Fellow

Research interests

  • 1. Drugs in bugs: The main focus of my research is developing applications for genetically modified Neisseria lactamica, as a means to deliver molecules of biological importance to the upper respiratory mucosa of humans. My work into the use of this genetically modified commensal as an antigen delivery platform has shown it generates systemic and localised humoral responses (i.e. antibodies) and immunological memory against a specific, heterologous antigen during a controlled human infection model experiment (CHIME). The technology has a broad range of potential applications in the field of vaccine development and delivery, which I am exploring through collaborations with biotech companies specialising in recombinant antigen presentation. As part of the continued evolution of the NTT platform, I am interested in the development of new molecular tools. I utilise synthetic biology and reporter systems to generate new methods to control gene expression and create simplified and streamlined cloning systems in this commensal.
  • 2. Bugs as drugs: An interesting observation from previous CHIMEs is that Neisseria lactamica is able to exclude a closely related bacterial species, Neisseria meningitidis, from the nose and throat of people it colonises. Neisseria meningitidis is a pathbiont, and the causative agent of meningococcal disease. Colonisation of an individual’s nose and throat with the pathobiont is prerequisite for the onset of disease, which can be rapidly lethal. First displacing and then preventing the reacquisition of the meningococcus in the nose and throat can therefore disrupt a critical stage in the pathogenesis of meningococcal infection. The displacement of Neisseria meningitidis by Neisseria lactamica is rapid and non-discriminatory, insofar as it is not limited to any particular subgroup of the pathobiont. Therefore, it is plausible that controlled infection with normal, unmodified, so-called wild type Neisseria lactamica could have a positive impact on the incidence of meningococcal disease, especially in regions of sub-saharan Africa where there are still meningococcal epidemics. I have developed a freeze-dried preparation of Neisseria lactamica, the efficacy of colonisation with which has been tested both here in Southampton and at the Centre for Vaccine Development in Bamako, Mali in association with the Mucosal Pathogens Research Unit from University College London.

More research

Accepting applications from PhD students.

Connect with Jay

Profile photo 
Upload your profile photo in Subscribe (opens in a new tab). Your profile photo in Pure is not linked to your public staff profile. Choose a clear, recent headshot where you are easily recognisable. Your image should be at least 340 by 395 pixels. 

Name 
To change your name or prefix title contact Ask HR (opens in new tab)  If you want to update an academic title you'll need to provide evidence e.g. a PhD certificate. The way your name is displayed is automatic and cannot be changed. You can also update your post-nominal letters in Subscribe (opens in a new tab).

Job title 
Raise a request through ServiceNow (opens in a new tab) to change your job title (40 characters maximum) unless you're on the ERE career pathway. If you're on the ERE path you can not change your main job title, but you can request other minor updates through Ask HR (opens in new tab). If you have more than one post only your main job title will display here, but you can add further posts or roles in other sections of your profile.

Research interests (for researchers only) 
Add up to 5 research interests. The first 3 will appear in your staff profile next to your name. The full list will appear on your research page. Keep these brief and focus on the keywords people may use when searching for your work. Use a different line for each one.

In Pure (opens in a new tab), select ‘Edit profile’. Under the heading 'Curriculum and research description', select 'Add profile information'. In the dropdown menu, select 'Research interests: use separate lines'.

Contact details 
Add or update your email address, telephone number and postal address in Subscribe (opens in a new tab). Use your University email address for your primary email. 

You can link to your Google Scholar, LinkedIn and Twitter accounts through Pure (opens in a new tab). Select ‘Edit profile’.  In the 'Links' section, use the 'Add link' button. 

ORCID ID 
Create or connect your ORCID ID in Pure (opens in a new tab). Select ‘Edit profile’ and then 'Create or Connect your ORCID ID'.

Accepting PhD applicants (for researchers only) 
Choose to show whether you’re currently accepting PhD applicants or not in Pure (opens in a new tab). Select ‘Edit profile’. In the 'Portal details' section, select 'Yes' or 'No' to indicate your choice. 

About

A brief description of who you are and what you do.

This section will only display on your public profile if you’ve added content.

You can update this in Pure (opens in a new tab). Select ‘Edit profile’. Under the heading and then ‘Curriculum and research description’, select ‘Add profile information’. In the dropdown menu, select - ‘About’.

Write about yourself in the third person. Aim for 100 to 150 words covering the main points about who you are and what you currently do. Clear, simple language is best. You can include specialist or technical terms.

You’ll be able to add details about your research, publications, career and academic history to other sections of your staff profile.