A team of researchers at the University of Southampton - led by microbiologist Dr Jeremy Webb of the School of Biological Sciences - has been awarded funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to design new vaccines that will give protection against the bacteria that cause pneumonia and meningitis. The amount of money awarded is US$100,000, which is equivalent to just over £61,000.

Researchers at the University of Southampton’s School of Biological Sciences and School of Medicine are working with colleagues at the University of Liverpool and the University of Bristol, with the aim to create vaccines to stop bacteria ‘ganging’ together and forming a defence layer, or ‘biofilm’, against antibiotics and the body’s immune system. By targeting biofilms, researchers hope to reduce the mortality associated with meningitis and pneumonia.

‘People often think of bacteria as single organisms, but in reality most bacteria cooperate to form complex communities,’ comments Dr Webb. ‘Vaccines in use today are generally based on the properties of single-celled bacteria. Our approach is new because we will target properties of the protective biofilms in order to design new vaccines.’

Dr Webb’s project is one of 76 grants announced by the Gates Foundation in the third funding round of Grand Challenges Explorations, an initiative to help scientists around the world explore ways to improve health in developing countries. Overall the grants were provided to scientists in 16 countries on five continents.

Dr Tachi Yamada, president of the Gates Foundation’s Global Health Program, says: ‘The winners of these grants show the bold thinking we need to tackle some of the world’s greatest health challenges. I’m excited about their ideas and look forward to seeing some of these exploratory projects turn into life-saving breakthroughs.’

Find out more about the School of Biological Sciences.

Find out more about the University of Southampton.

Content added on 30th October 2009.

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