Norman Arthur Ratcliffe, BSc, PhD, graduated in Zoology from the University of Wales, UK (1964), completed a doctorate (PhD) in Insect Physiology at Swansea University, UK (1967); post-doctoral fellow at the University of Birmingham in Cancer Research (1967–1969), post-doctoral fellow at the University of Birmingham in Innate Immunity (1969–1970); Professor of Zoology at the University of Leicester (1970–1971); Professor of Zoology at Swansea University (1971–1985); Full Professor and Researcher at Swansea University (1985–2009); Emeritus Professor at Swansea University since 2009; Head of the Biomedical Research Group at Swansea University (1985–2005), Doctor of Science (DSc) awarded in 1983, CNPq Visiting Researcher at the Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Rio de Janeiro (1992–1993, 2010–2011); Visiting Professor at Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2012–2023, Visiting Researcher at FAPERJ at UFF, 2017–2018, Visiting Researcher 2019–2021. His work was presented to Prince Phillip at St. James’s Palace, London and was the subject of major media attention in the UK on ITV News, many leading newspapers, including the Wall Street Journal, around the world. Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine and has previously run a “Health Alert” blood-testing company. Published over 200 books and research papers on immunology, cancer invasion, influenza, tropical diseases and MRSA. Played squash for Wales, ran the London Marathon and works out regularly in the gym.

Cicero Brasileiro Mello graduated in Biological Sciences from the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (1985), specialisation in Basic Course in Parasitic Biology from Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (1987), a master's degree in Parasitic Biology from Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (1991), a PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology from Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (1995), post-doctorate from the University of Wales (1997) and post-doctorate from the University of Wales (2009). He is currently a Full Professor at the Fluminense Federal University. He has experience in the area of parasitology, with an emphasis on entomology and malacology of parasites and vectors, working mainly on the following topics: Rhodnius, Trypanosoma.

Helena Carla Castro is currently the Research Coordinator of the Pro-Rectory of Research, Graduate Studies and Innovation at the Fluminense Federal University. She holds a degree in Pharmacy (1992) from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, UFRJ, with a master's degree in Biological Chemistry from UFRJ (concentration in Immunochemistry and Protein Chemistry in 1996) and a doctorate sandwich (concentration in Biology and Molecular Modeling in 2000) at the Institute of Biochemistry at UFRJ, Brazil and at the University of California in San Francisco, United States. The post-doctorate was carried out in the area of ​​Pharmacology (Biochemical and Molecular Pharmacology concentration) at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. As a Full Professor at the Institute of Biology at the Universidade Federal Fluminense (IB-UFF), she works at the vice-director levels of the IB-UFF, including coordination of undergraduate courses of the bachelor's and teaching degree in Biological Sciences at UFF. She has experience in the areas of ​​microbiology and applied parasitology, biotechnology, molecular modeling and pharmacological biochemistry with an emphasis on studies and odentification of new therapeutic targets and prototypes for antimicrobials and antiparasitics.

Paul Dyson is a Professor at the Institute of Life Science, Swansea University College of Medicine. He is a molecular microbiologist who leads a research group focussing on exploiting useful bacteria for medicine and biotechnology. Professor Dyson graduated with a BSc from the University of East Anglia, a PhD from Glasgow University and a DSc from Swansea University. His research has led to four patents covering areas such as antibiotic-producing soil bacteria, using symbiotic bacteria to silence gene expression in insects and exploiting tumour-targeting bacteria for both early detections of cancer and delivery of therapeutics. Areas of expertise include genetics, antibiotic-producing Streptomyces bacteria, gene manipulation of bacteria, RNA interference in insect vectors of disease, tumour-targeting bacteria, gene expression analysis and transposons in bacteria.

Marcela Figueiredo is a Postdoctoral Senior Research Assistant at Swansea University Medical School, Applied Molecular Microbiology group, United Kingdom. Marcela Figueiredo obtained a BSc in Biological Sciences (2004, UENF), a master's degree in Biosciences (2006, UENF) and a doctorate in Parasitology  (2010, IOC-FIOCRUZ ). The current interests of Marcela lie in understanding host–parasite interactions using a multidisciplinary approach that combines functional genomics and lipidomics with the ultimate goal of reducing disease transmission. Research keywords include insect immunity; triatomine; microbiota; symbiotic bacteria; insect physiology; lipid mediators; cellular immune reponse.