A world-first trial has shown that nose drops of modified 'friendly' bacteria protect against meningitis.
Led by Professor Robert Read and Dr Jay Laver from the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre and the University of Southampton, the work is the first of its kind.
Together they inserted a gene into a harmless type of a bacteria, that allows it to remain in the nose and trigger an immune response. They then introduced these bacteria into the noses of healthy volunteers via nose drops.
The results, published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, showed a strong immune response against bacteria that cause meningitis and long-lasting protection.
Read more at University of Southampton
Photo Credit: British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) via Wikimedia Commons
