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Philippa Matthews

Contact information


philippa.matthews@ndm.ox.ac.uk


Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)


Peter Medawar Building

'Hepitopes' is a project to identify protein fragments (epitopes) of the hepatitis B virus that are recognised by the immune system, helping to control or clear the infection. You can access the database on-line via our publication (Lumley et al, Wellcome Open Research 2016, 1:9. doi: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.9952.1).
This graph shows the effect of important genes in the human immune system on HBV infection. We used a marker of viral infectivity called Hepatitis B e-antigen. The position of the blue line (representing HLA-A genes) shows a significant effect, while the genes in red and green (HLA-B and HLA-C) do not have an effect. This helps us to focus our attention on the immune responses that are most likely to control the infection. This result is published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases (doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiv592).
The disused diamond mine in Kimberley, South Africa. Kimberley is one of our research sites, from where we have studied children with HIV and HBV infection. The study will now expand to include sites in Bloemfontein and Cape Town.
A child's depiction of hepatitis B virus. I am running a project 'viral footprints', using themes from our research to inspire and engage members of the public, including hospital patients and students from Oxfordshire schools.


Philippa Matthews

Dr

I am a research fellow in Clinical Infection funded by the Wellcome Trust to work on a study of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, with a particular focus on populations in southern Africa.

Together with a group of collaborators at the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, I am pioneering a new pipeline to generate full length deep HBV sequences, alongside collecting human demographic, clinical and genetic data. The aim of the study is to identify factors that impact on the outcomes of chronic HBV infection, and specifically to characterise the adaptive immune response.

In the long-term, advancing this knowledge will feed into optimising therapy and developing strategies for cure.

I have a background in HIV immunology, and also have research interests in other chronic viral infections including CMV, herpes viruses and human parvovirus-4 (PARV4), and virus discovery.

I am interested in data visualisation, which includes promoting Open Access publication, and also designing my own resources for use in primary and secondary school workshops to inspire school students in topics around science and medicine.

I continue to contribute to clinical work, and teaching graduate and undergraduate medical students in Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at Oxford University Hospitals. My particular clinical interests include the management of bone and joint infection, and antimicrobial prescribing and stewardship.

Affiliations:

  • Honorary Consultant in Clinical Infection; Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.
  • Wellcome Trust Research Fellow, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford and Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford.
  • Senior Research Fellow; Harris Manchester College, University of Oxford.

Funding:

  • NIHR - Research Capability Funding (2015-2016).
  • Rosetrees Trust (small project grant, 2014-2016).
  • British Infection Association (small project grant, 2014-2016).
  • University of Oxford Medical Research Fund (small project grant, 2014-2016).
  • Wellcome Trust (Intermediate Fellowship 2016-2021).
  • Royal College of Pathologists and Wellcome Trust grants for Public Engagement (2015 onwards).