Another RTI Forum comes to a close. Thank you to everyone who helped make #RTI2026 such an inspiring and insightful gathering of this global community.

View Rising Star, Poster and Oral abstracts here:
rti-forum.org/2026/?page_i...

Session recordings coming soon for registered participants.

Hear Dr Collins & Prof. Loebinger share what sets #RTI2026 apart and why it’s a must-attend for global collaboration.
Late-Breaking Science Submission for poster presentations is open from 12-26 January: rti-forum.org/2026/?page_i...

📍Scotland, Glasgow, 2–4 March 2026

#RespiratoryTractInfections

Good news. Abstract deadline for this unique ‘respiratory infection-focused’ meeting, the RTI Forum, which will be held in Glasgow March 2-4, is extended until Dec 1.
Great opportunity to hear from and interact with different disciplines, and for young scientists to present your work!

I’ll never forget the horror of the Covid wards | The Observer

Powerful piece by @drrachelclarke.com on the COVID inquiry. Those who say it’s easy to be wise in hindsight are being utterly disingenuous. Many of us spoke out at the time, and it’s in the public record.
@independentsage.bsky.social

observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

Watch Prof. Anthony De Soyza talk about the critical benefits of all RTI’s being discussed, under one roof at #RTI2026.

The RTI Forum unites the global respiratory community to advance patient outcomes.

Register now: rti-forum.org/2026/?page_i...

Please like, comment, share

Professor Debby Bogaert, Scientific Committee Member, shares her thoughts on the Forum on Respiratory Tract Infections.

Submit your abstract for #RTI2026 here: rti-forum.org/2026/?page_i...

📍Scotland, Glasgow, 2-4 March 2026

@dbogaert.bsky.social

#RespiratoryTractinfections #MedicalConference

RTI Forum 2025 in Glasgow is well underway! 🚀

A great day filled with inspiring talks, meaningful connections, and insightful discussions. Looking forward to even more exciting moments ahead!

#RTI2025 #RespiratoryResearch #RespiratoryHealth #MedicalConference

Looking for help please on #LongCovid research in children (with Nathalie as below).
Our WILCO study is going brilliantly but we’re short of *controls*: aged 10-17y, London, have tested positive for Covid, but recovered fully inside 12wks.
Any noble tweens/teens who want to help research? 1/2

Here's the visual proof of why vaccines do more good than harm See year by year how vaccines beat back nine dangerous infectious diseases

Sadly, it’s a good time to once again share this amazing infographic that we ran at @science.org more than 7 years ago
🧪 #IDsky
www.science.org/content/arti...

The human body hosts trillions of microbes, collectively referred to as the microbiome, which significantly affects digestion and immunity. This diverse community can also influence mental health and weight regulation.
#Microbiome #GutHealth #MentalWellness #Science #Facts

In-room air purification to prevent respiratory infection in aged care - does it help?

Latest podcast on Infection Control Matters out now.

infectioncontrolmatters.podbean.com/e/placeholder/

#IDsky #IPsky #infectioncontrol
@emrsa15.bsky.social @1healthau.bsky.social

⚠️ BREAKING:

Marin County in California is investigating a possible H5N1 bird flu case in a child.

The county is working with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the CDC to determine how the child may have been exposed.

Lovely to see our collaborative paper on the gut-brain axis in preterm infants @jamespboardman.bsky.social out!

Vaher et al. shows clear differences in preterm infants’ gut microbiota development, and found clear microbial signatures linked to brain development, especially E. coli and Klebsiella.

➡️These bacteria may interact with brain microstructure via tryptophan and propionate metabolism

➡️New avenues for neuroprotection in preterm infants via gut microbiota modification?

Led by Dr Kadi Vaher in collab with @dbogaert.bsky.social

#TheirworldEBC

2/2

The neonatal gut microbiota: A role in the encephalopathy of prematurity Vaher et al. perform a comprehensive characterization of very preterm infant gut microbiome and its associations with MRI markers of encephalopathy of prematurity. The results suggest links between bacterial species and their functions with brain development. Because gut microbiome is modifiable, this research could offer new avenues for perinatal neuroprotection.

New paper from us about the gut-brain-axis in preterm infants.

➡️Bacterial community composition associates with MRI features of encephalopathy of prematurity esp Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp.

www.cell.com/cell-reports...

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The neonatal gut microbiota: A role in the encephalopathy of prematurity
www.cell.com/cell-reports...
@dbogaert.bsky.social @jamespboardman.bsky.social

The respiratory microbiome is linked to the severity of RSV infections and the persistence of symptoms in children
www.cell.com/cell-reports...
@dbogaert.bsky.social

This study was part of the REspiratory Syncytial virus Consortium in EUrope (RESCEU).
Credits to first authors Maartje Kristensen and Wouter de Steenhuijsen Piters for their thorough work.
We are grateful to all participating children and parents and all clinical research teams involved.

This works highlights a potential important role for resident respiratory microbes at time of RSV infection, in severity of disease, and provides novel clues how those microbes may be also be involved in longer term respiratory problems following RSV disease.

6. Importantly, also during the recovery phase, the respiratory microbiota composition was linked with the presence of residual respiratory symptoms.

3. The respiratory microbiota composition is however most strongly related with severity of RSV disease.

4. Haemophilus, Streptococcus, and Moraxella abundances are linked to severe disease, whereas

5. Dolosigranulum and Corynebacterium abundances are associated with mild disease and health.

Highlights:
1. The neonatal respiratory microbiota is not associated with risk of consecutive RSV disease risk and only modestly associated with RSV disease severity.

2. Respiratory microbiota during RSV infections are different from respiratory microbiota of healthy control children.

The respiratory microbiome is linked to the severity of RSV infections and the persistence of symptoms in children In this study, Kristensen et al. investigate the link between the respiratory microbiome and RSV severity. Although the neonatal respiratory microbiota is only modestly associated with RSV severity during the first year of life, the respiratory microbiota during RSV infection is strongly associated with disease severity and persistence of symptoms.

Happy to announce our newest paper identifying a strong link between the respiratory microbiome and severity of RSV as well as persistence of symptoms in children participating in the RESCEU study.
www.cell.com/cell-reports...

A majority of the respondents cited optimal protection for the child and knowledge of RSV disease as important factors for accepting RSV prophylaxis.

First author: Dr. Lisette Harteveld. Senior author: Dr. Marlies van Houten.

Link (temporarily open access):
authors.elsevier.com/c/1kBMj,60n7...

When the choice was given, the majority of participants, in particular those with children and the intention to breastfeed their infant, favoured maternal vaccination over passive immunization of infants (75.3 % of the pregnant women and 71.6 % of the partners).

87% of pregnant women would (likely) accept both strategies to protect infants from RSV. 75.3% of pregnant women prefer maternal over neonatal immunization.
A positive attitude (both methods) was associated with previous experience with severe RSV, parental vaccination (childhood & pregnancy).

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) prevention: Perception and willingness of expectant parents in the Netherlands Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of infant respiratory disease. Recent approval of preventive measures like a long-acting monoclon…

Happy to share the results of a survey among 1001 pregnant women and partners in the Netherlands, assessing willingness and motivation to accept maternal RSV vaccination & neonatal RSV immunization, including preferences and informational needs. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

I’m a Polio Survivor. I Don’t Want You to Get It. Polio is once again a public health threat in the United States. Grace is disappointed, though not surprised.

Since everyone’s finding old and new friends, take a moment to read my story, I’m a 32yo polio survivor because I was not vaccinated. Pass on my story, repeat it, tell it to any vaccine hesitate parent. No kid deserves vaccine preventable diseases

www.voicesforvaccines.org/as-a-polio-s...