The results of their study led by Professor Robert Read and Dr Jay Laver from the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre and the University of Southampton, was published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

The work is the first of its kind where they inserted a gene into a harmless type of a bacteria, that allows it to remain in the nose and trigger an immune response. It showed a strong immune response against meningococcal meningitis bacteria. They then introduced these bacteria into the noses of healthy volunteers via nose drops.

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