Dose matters: HIV drug could prevent coronaviruses, study finds5 December 2023Coronaviruses are a global public health risk, with three highly infectious species, including SARS-CoV-2, emerging in the last 20 years. New research by the University of Bristol has shown how an HIV drug could stop many coronavirus diseases, including the SARS-CoV-2 variants, when given to infected cells at the right concentration. The findings could strengthen the arsenal of antiviral drugs available to combat current and future coronavirus outbreaks.
New research demonstrates the ability of ADDomer™ to tackle viral infections29 November 2023New research has demonstrated the potential for the ADDomer ™ platform to produce thermostable vaccines and reagents to tackle viral infections The study led by the University of Bristol and Imophoron, a biopharmaceutical company developing thermostable nanoparticle vaccines using its ADDomer platform, is published in Antibody Therapeutics today [29 November].
COVID-19 grief disorder rates ‘higher than expected’19 September 2023Cases of Prolonged Grief Disorder among people bereaved during the COVID-19 pandemic are likely to be significantly higher than pre-pandemic, indicates new research from the University of Bristol and Cardiff University.
Long Covid not caused by COVID-19 immune inflammatory response, new research finds4 July 2023Long Covid, which affects nearly two million people in the UK (1), is not caused by an immune inflammatory reaction to COVID-19, University of Bristol-led research finds. Emerging data demonstrates that immune activation may persist for months after COVID-19.
Scientists discover critical factors that determine the survival of airborne viruses21 June 2023Critical insights into why airborne viruses lose their infectivity have been uncovered by scientists at the University of Bristol. The findings, published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface today [21 June], reveal how cleaner air kills the virus significantly quicker and why opening a window may be more important than originally thought. The research could shape future mitigation strategies for new viruses.
Genetic variation that protected against Black Death still helps protect against infection but increases autoimmune disease7 March 2023The same genetics that helped some of our ancestors fight the plague is still likely to be at work in our bodies today, potentially providing some of the population with extra protection against respiratory diseases such as COVID-19, according to research led by scientists at University of Bristol. However, there is a trade-off, where this same variation is also linked to increased autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.
Rapid research projects announced to help ease NHS winter pressures22 January 2023Patients could benefit from a programme of 16 rapid research projects announced today [22 January] that will examine how to ease winter pressures faced by the NHS – compounded this year by COVID-19 and a record flu season, and the cost-of-living crisis.
Pocket feature shared by deadly coronaviruses could lead to pan-coronavirus antiviral treatment23 November 2022Scientists have discovered why some coronaviruses are more likely to cause severe disease, which has remained a mystery, until now. Researchers of the University of Bristol-led study, published in Science Advances today [23 November], say their findings could lead to the development of a pan-coronavirus treatment to defeat all coronaviruses—from the 2002 SARS-CoV outbreak to Omicron, the current variant of SARS-CoV-2, as well as dangerous variants that may emerge in future.
Infectious disease modellers recognised for pandemic modelling work10 November 2022University of Bristol academics, Drs Ellen Brooks Pollock OBE, Leon Danon, Robert Challen, Amy Thomas and Emily Nixon have been recognised for their epidemiological modelling work supporting the UK government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Increase in non-COVID-19 respiratory infections predicted this winter9 August 2022An increase in the number of non-COVID-19 respiratory infections should be expected this winter, say scientists. The warning comes following the results of a new study, published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe, which found that over 55% of respiratory disease hospitalisations during the pandemic’s peak were caused by non-SARS-CoV-2 infections.
Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca vaccines offer high protection against severe COVID-19, six months after second doses, study finds20 July 2022Protection against severe COVID-19 by two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines remained high up to six months after second doses, finds new research which analysed NHS health record data on over seven million adults. Reassuringly, the University of Bristol-led study published in The BMJ today [July 20], found protection in older adults aged over 65 years, and in clinically vulnerable adults.
Infectivity of airborne SARS-CoV-2 could decrease by 90% within 20 minutes of exhalation, new laboratory study finds28 June 2022The SARS-CoV-2 virus can lose 90% of infectivity when in aerosol particles within 20 minutes, according to new University of Bristol findings. The study, published in the journal of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), is the first to investigate the decrease in infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 in aerosol particles over periods from seconds to a few minutes. The aim of the study was to explore the process that could change viral infectivity over short timescales following exhalation.
Study hopes to understand the impact of exposure to COVID-19 infection early in life on a child’s brain development27 June 2022More than 650,000 babies are born every year [i] in the UK, and during the pandemic some of them will have been exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus which causes COVID-19. A national study, funded by the charity Action Medical Research, will investigate the long-term impact of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in the womb or shortly after birth.
Novel host cell pathway hijacked during COVID-19 infection uncovered by Bristol researchers14 June 2022An international team of scientists, led by the University of Bristol, has been investigating how the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the coronavirus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, manipulates host proteins to penetrate into human cells. After identifying Neuropilin-1 (NRP1) as a host factor for SARS-CoV-2 infection, new findings published in the journal of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) today [14 June] describe how the coronavirus subverts a host cell pathway in order to infect human cells.
Professor Imre Berger elected Fellow of prestigious Academy of Medical Sciences 11 May 2022Imre Berger, Professor of Biochemistry and Chemistry and Director of Bristol’s Max Planck Centre for Minimal Biology has been elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences for his outstanding contributions to biomedical science and notable discoveries during the COVID-19 pandemic.
