Pathogenic microbes earn Dr Edward Feil a scientific Medal

How do new pathogenic microbial strains evolve and spread? It is a question that occupies Dr Edward Feil, and it has just won him a Scientific Medal.

Dr Edward Feil spends his days trying to discover what processes underpin the evolution of pathogenic bacteria, why they form and suddenly disappear. He has spent ten years at the University of Bath, and is currently a reader in microbial evolution in the Department of Biology and Biochemistry.

The Zoological Society of London recently awarded one of three Scientific Medals - recognising outstanding achievements in the field of zoological research and conservation - to Edward.

You've just received a Scientific Medal from the Zoological Society of London – what was this for?

This is awarded to researchers with fewer than 15 years post doctoral experience who are considered to have made a significant general contribution to their fields. It is usually not linked with a single piece of work or discovery. There were 3 medals awarded this year.

How does it feel to receive such a prestigious award?

It’s a great honour, particularly given some of the great names who have received this award in the past.

You're a reader in microbial evolution at the University of Bath – tell us what you do.

I am interested in the evolution of different kinds of pathogenic bacteria, and in particular I am trying to understand the conditions which might lead to new dangerous strains emerging and spreading (and also suddenly disappearing). Much of this is based on the computer, although I still occasionally need to do "wet work" in the laboratory.

The new sequencing technologies make this a very exciting time, and we will soon be in a position to understand the rate and mechanism of bacterial transmission in much more detail. The primary aim of this is to develop new strategies to manage disease, but on a more esoteric level we are learning more about how these patterns of spread both impact – and are impacted by – genetic changes in the genome of the bacteria,

Tell us what you're working on at the moment.

My "bread and butter" work is on MRSA, the notorious antibiotic resistant hospital "superbug". I am involved in a number of studies looking at transmission patterns of MRSA over a range of scales from inter-continental, to within a single hospital. I am also working on a bacterial pathogen of honey bees, and hope to soon spend more time working on fish pathogens, particularly with respect to aquaculture. I am constantly surprised by how much overlap there are between these different systems and by how much working on one problem can help to see another in a different light.

What does this Scientific Medal mean for your research?

It is very prestigious and won't do me any harm at all!