Gene activity patterns found in children with severe COVID-19 infection have been shown to be shared with other serious respiratory infections. The findings offer early clues as to how the immune system responds to severe infections, to which children are at higher risk. They also identify potential targets for treatments. The results have now been published in BMC Infectious Diseases. Dr Negusse Kitaba, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Southampton (UoS), was the l

Pregnant women and birthing people are taking part in a new study at University Hospital Southampton to see if a vaccine can help protect against Group B Streptococcus. Group B strep is a common type of bacteria that is found in around one in five pregnant women. Most people will not realise they have it, however it can cause complications during pregnancy and serious illness in babies. Despite being a leading cause of life-threatening infections in the first months of life,

The first clinical trial of a new vaccine designed to protect against mpox has reported encouraging early results. The study tested an mRNA-based candidate vaccine called BNT166a in healthy adult volunteers. Researchers found that the vaccine was generally safe and well tolerated. Crucially, the vaccine also triggered a strong immune response, producing antibodies capable of recognising and fighting the virus. These responses were seen across all dose levels and in both peopl

University Hospital Southampton (UHS) has joined the first clinical trial of a Bundibugyo Ebola vaccine developed in response to the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Bundibugyo ebolavirus causes a severe illness that can be fatal in up to half of people who become infected. There are currently no approved vaccines specifically for this species of Ebola. This makes the development and testing of new vaccines an important global health priority. The vac

The world-first trial of a fridge-free tetanus-diphtheria vaccine has produced encouraging results. Around half of vaccines are wasted globally each year, according to the World Health Organization. Millions of vaccine doses are lost because of temperature changes during storage and transport. Fridge-free vaccines have the potential to transform vaccine delivery by reducing this dependence on refrigeration. This would improve access in more isolated communities. It would also

A new ‘universal’ coronavirus vaccine trialled at University Hospital Southampton (UHS) could protect against viruses yet to emerge. Experts say this could potentially save millions of lives and avoid costly lockdowns. The study took place at the NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility (CRF) and the NIHR Cambridge Clinical Research Facility. It was sponsored by UHS. Creating a 'super antigen' The vaccine was developed by a team at the University of Cambridge and spin-out

A new blood-based testing approach could help improve early diagnosis of tuberculosis. Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the world’s deadliest infections. Earlier diagnosis could reduce the risk of severe lung damage and limit the spread of the disease. Dr Hannah Schiff is leading research into whether protein signals in the blood can reveal TB before patients become seriously ill. Dr Schiff is a Senior Clinical Lecturer in Respiratory Medicine at the University of Southampton

Deliberately infecting volunteers to test new whooping cough vaccines has been shown to be safe in research. A team at University Hospital Southampton has developed a safe method of ‘controlled human infection’, where volunteers are infected with whooping cough bacteria without causing any illness. This can be used to study the infection in detail and to help develop and test new and improved vaccines. The researchers have shown that the method was safe, even when volunteers

Researchers have delivered the UK’s first dose in a new trial using an investigational mRNA vaccine to protect people against potential influenza pandemics such as avian flu (also known as ‘bird flu’). The research will assess the safety and immune response of an investigational mRNA-based A(H5) pandemic influenza vaccine candidate, mRNA-1018, commonly circulating in birds, with pandemic potential. The study is supported by the National Insititute for Health and Care Research

A pioneering antibiotic test developed in Southampton is now certified for use with patient samples - paving the way for faster, life‑saving treatment. Doctors in hospitals throughout Great Britain can now use the test to prescribe the most suitable antibiotics. The test has been developed to determine the antibiotics that will work for treating a patient's infection in hours rather than days. The iFAST Diagnostics test could save thousands of lives and shorten hospital s

Southampton researchers are trialling a new rapid test that could cut the time to diagnose winter respiratory viral infections. If proven to be accurate, the test could provide the NHS with a highly scalable, low-cost diagnostic tool for flu, Covid-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). This would help clinicians make faster decisions and improve patient care. The is particularly important during winter periods when hospitals face intense pressure from infections. The

Pioneering rapid tests have been recognised with a national prize. iFAST Diagnostics is developing rapid blood and urine tests. These can determine which antibiotics will work for treating a bacterial infection in hours rather than days. The spinout company has won the Institute of Physics' (IoP) Lee Lucas Award. This recognises early-stage companies taking innovative products into the medical and healthcare sector. Professor Hywel Morgan is the company’s Chief Technology Off

A UK study has shown that a vaccine can protect people against paratyphoid fever. Paratyphoid fever affects over two million people globally each year. Yet no licensed vaccine is currently available. The clinical trial involved six UK sites, including University Hospital Southampton. Volunteers took part locally at the NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility (CRF). The new oral vaccine was shown to provide significant protection. There weren’t any safety concerns. ‘Major

A human challenge trial has shown a new vaccine could offer better protection against whooping cough. This follows a new report that highlights that 2024 whooping cough numbers were at their worst in 30 years. Whooping cough is a serious and sometimes deadly disease. It affects millions of people worldwide each year. Vaccines for whooping cough are already part of routine childhood immunisations in the UK. However they don’t provide lifelong protection. They also don’t

Southampton researchers are leading an international project on a potential new treatment for a serious threat in hospitals. They have found it in a surprising location - hospital toilets. The team have comprehensively catalogued a new collection of bacteria-eating viruses called phages. They have sourced these, in part, from hospital wastewater. These phages could potentially be used to treat one of the world’s most dangerous hospital superbugs. Serious threat to patients Th

Professor Tristan Clark is one of six new outstanding research leaders chosen to address urgent health challenges in the UK. He has been appointed as an NIHR Research Professor. The Professorship will provide up to £2 million to deliver ambitious, translational research. Professor Clark is a leading expert in infectious diseases. His research is reducing unnecessary antibiotic use in acute respiratory infection through rapid diagnostic tests. He is a professor at the Univer

Researchers in Southampton are part of a new Translational Research Collaboration (TRC) in Infection and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). The new network will rally research communities across the UK to help fight infections. It is backed by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Southampton’s Professor Robert Read will co-lead one of the TRC’s core workstreams. This will expand early-phase vaccine research. It will also help identify correlates of protect

Ros Gough and her son Eddie University Hospital Southampton and primary care services are leading a trial to test the nasal flu vaccine in one-year-old children . The FluSNIFF study is inviting families to take part at around 100 GP practices across the UK. Three hospital sites are also taking part. The trial is being led by co-chief investigators Professor Saul Faust and Dr Alasdair Munro from the NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility. It is exploring whether the nasal

Dr Callum Highmore is a first author on the new paper Southampton researchers have shown a technique they developed could rapidly...

Discoveries by Southampton researchers on how bacteria defend themselves against viruses could be key to tackling antibiotic resistance....