Topic description and stories

Combating infectious diseases and the threat of antimicrobial resistance remains one of the greatest global challenges.

Professor Sharon Peacock

Q&A with Sharon Peacock, coronavirus variant hunter

22 Feb 2021

The UK is a world leader in sequencing SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Of all the coronavirus genomes that have been sequenced in the...

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3D print of Spike protein

Study highlights risk of new SARS-CoV-2 mutations emerging during chronic infection

05 Feb 2021

SARS-CoV-2 mutations similar to those in the B1.1.7 UK variant could arise in cases of chronic infection, where treatment over an extended period can...

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Forest landscape in Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China

Climate change may have driven the emergence of SARS-CoV-2

05 Feb 2021

Global greenhouse gas emissions over the last century have made southern China a hotspot for bat-borne coronaviruses, by driving growth of forest...

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When Symptoms Don't Stop

22 Jan 2021

Treating those most severely affected by COVID-19 has necessarily taken priority during the pandemic. But could long COVID be the next wave of the...

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People sitting inside a restaurant wearing face masks

Free online tool calculates risk of COVID-19 transmission in poorly-ventilated spaces

20 Jan 2021

The vital role of ventilation in the spread of COVID-19 has been quantified by researchers, who have found that in poorly-ventilated spaces, the...

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Horseshoe bats

Study identifies genetic changes likely to have enabled SARS-CoV-2 to jump from bats to humans

08 Jan 2021

A new study, involving the University of Cambridge and led by the Pirbright Institute, has identified key genetic changes in SARS-CoV-2 - the virus...

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Ben Underwood with the COVID-19 vaccine research team

Tackling COVID-19: Dr Ben Underwood

04 Jan 2021

Ben Underwood’s expertise in delivering clinical trials became highly prized last year, as he worked on a vaccine trial the whole world was watching.

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Medical personnel putting on PPE

Aroma diffuser and plastic bag offer inexpensive method to test fit of face masks at home

16 Dec 2020

Researchers have developed a way to use a simple home aroma diffuser to test whether N95 and other types of sealing masks, such as KN95 and FFP2...

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Creative rendition of SARS-COV-2 virus particles

Remdesivir likely to be highly effective antiviral against SARS-CoV-2 for some patients

14 Dec 2020

The drug remdesivir is likely to be a highly effective antiviral against SARS-CoV-2, according to a new study by a team of UK scientists. Writing in...

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Reflections on a year of fighting COVID-19

11 Dec 2020

2020 will be forever remembered for COVID-19. As the year draws to a close, Dr Estée Török looks back at how colleagues across the NHS and the...

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Know your HIV status sign in Africa

Scientists identify warning signs over effectiveness of HIV ‘wonder drug’ in sub-Saharan Africa

01 Dec 2020

Dolutegravir, the current first-line treatment for HIV, may not be as effective as hoped in sub-Saharan Africa, suggests new research published on...

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The scientist reducing the rise of superbugs by talking to farmers

06 Nov 2020

Chioma Achi is worried about the global misuse of antibiotics in agricultural practices. Her work helping farmers in Nigeria to reduce infection in...

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