Dr Caroline Weight

Lecturer in Respiratory Infection and Immunity

Research Overview

Respiratory pathogens must interact with and negotiate colonisation of the specialised epithelial cells that line the nose. These cells form a protective barrier and contact with pathogens triggers immune responses that lead to production of protective immunity. This process changes with age, environmental factors, and the respiratory microbiome. We use state-of-the-art models and advanced imaging technology to study how interactions of bacteria such as Streptococcus pneumoniae affect the respiratory epithelium.

Selected Publications

Defining an ageing-related pathology, disease or syndrome: International Consensus Statement
International Consortium for the Classification of Ageing-Related Pathologies (ICCARP), Short, E., Calimport, S., Bentley, B. 30/04/2025 In: GeroScience. 47, 2, p. 1713-1720. 8 p.
Journal article

SARS-CoV-2 human challenge reveals biomarkers that discriminate early and late phases of respiratory viral infections
Rosenheim, J., Weight, C. 31/12/2024 In: Nature Communications. 15, 13 p.
Journal article

Bacterial surface lipoproteins mediate epithelial microinvasion by Streptococcus pneumoniae
Chan, J.M., Ramos-Sevillano, E., Betts, M., Wilson, H.U., Weight, C., Houhou-Ousalah, A., Pollara, G., Brown, J.S., Heyderman, R.S. 7/05/2024 In: Infection and Immunity. 92, 5
Journal article

Development of advanced technologies to study pneumococcal infection in the human respiratory epithelium
31/03/2025 → 30/03/2027
Research

Nature Communications (Journal)
Editorial activity

Effects of Air Particulate Matter on Susceptibility to Respiratory Infection
Invited talk

Factors Affecting Respiratory Responses to Infection
Invited talk

ECRs Networking Consortium
Participation in workshop, seminar, course

What are we really breathing in? Understanding and Enhancing Respiratory Health
Invited talk

Embracing the University Experience to Power you Successful Career Path
Invited talk

Liz Jones
Hosting a Non-Academic Visitor

ECR Writing Workshop
Participation in workshop, seminar, course

Global Consortium
Participation in workshop, seminar, course

Jannatul MIA (External organisation)
Member of Advisory Panel

Effective Doctoral Supervision
Participation in workshop, seminar, course

The Gut Barrier: Protecting you from Invasion!
Oral presentation

University of Chester
Visiting an external academic institution

Human Based Models: Stem Cells and Organoids
Invited talk

Advancing technologies and physiologically relevant cell culture models to study complex human respiratory infections
Invited talk

Advancing technologies and physiologically relevant cell culture models to study complex human respiratory infections
Invited talk

Colonisation of Streptococcus pneumoniae in the human nasopharynx
Invited talk

Liz Jones
Hosting a Non-Academic Visitor

The Gut Barrier: Protecting YOU from invasion!
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar

The Gut Barrier: Protecting you from Invasion!
Oral presentation

First responders to Streptococcus pneumoniae colonisation: the role of the human respiratory epithelium
Invited talk

First responders to Streptococcus pneumoniae colonisation: the role of the human respiratory epithelium
Invited talk

Division of Infection and Immunity (External organisation)
Member of Advisory Panel

FURNESS STEM SHOW 2023
Other

London Infection Postdoc Network Symposium
Participation in conference - Academic

Europneumo2023
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience

Immunotherapy Advances (Journal)
Editorial activity

ITEX 2025 Gold Medal
Prize (including medals and awards)

Certificate of Merit
Prize (including medals and awards)

  • Microbes, Pathogens and Immunity