Dr Claire Smith
@drclairesmith.bsky.social
Associate Professor @UCLchildhealth studying epithelial, neutrophil and mucosal responses to respiratory virus infections including influenza, RSV and SARS-COV2.
Pinned
Interested in respiratory infections? who isn't! Then register for this fab conference with a fantastic line-up of speakers and sessions @sangerinstitute.bsky.social Abstract submission open until 17th Nov!! @eventswcs.bsky.social
coursesandconferences.wellcomeconnectingscience.org/event/air-20...
coursesandconferences.wellcomeconnectingscience.org/event/air-20...
Reposted by Dr Claire Smith
UKHSA responds to the confirmation from @WHO that the UK has lost its measles elimination status.
Read more from WHO here: https://bit.ly/3YZuOFa
Read more from WHO here: https://bit.ly/3YZuOFa
January 26, 2026 at 2:41 PM
UKHSA responds to the confirmation from @WHO that the UK has lost its measles elimination status.
Read more from WHO here: https://bit.ly/3YZuOFa
Read more from WHO here: https://bit.ly/3YZuOFa
Reposted by Dr Claire Smith
Really excited our paper about how H5N1 rapidly adapted to cattle (and how these adaptations also increased its ability to infect cells from the human respiratory tract) is now published! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Polymerase mutations underlie early adaptation of H5N1 influenza virus to dairy cattle and other mammals - Nature Communications
Avian influenza jumped from wild birds into dairy cattle. Here, the authors report that two mutations in the viral polymerase helped the virus to quickly adapt to cattle. Mutations increased the polym...
www.nature.com
January 20, 2026 at 2:10 PM
Really excited our paper about how H5N1 rapidly adapted to cattle (and how these adaptations also increased its ability to infect cells from the human respiratory tract) is now published! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Thinking of pursuing research in Child Health sciences?
Join our upcoming online information session where you’ll find out what it’s like to study at a world-leading institution. 🌍
📅 Child Health MRes – 9 February, 17:00-18:00
🔗 Secure your place: www.ucl.ac.uk/population-h...
Join our upcoming online information session where you’ll find out what it’s like to study at a world-leading institution. 🌍
📅 Child Health MRes – 9 February, 17:00-18:00
🔗 Secure your place: www.ucl.ac.uk/population-h...
Graduate Open Events: Paediatric and Child Health
Explore Master’s degrees in Child Health and Paediatric Neuropsychology. Join our virtual open events to meet Programme Directors and plan your next career step.
www.ucl.ac.uk
January 13, 2026 at 4:47 PM
Thinking of pursuing research in Child Health sciences?
Join our upcoming online information session where you’ll find out what it’s like to study at a world-leading institution. 🌍
📅 Child Health MRes – 9 February, 17:00-18:00
🔗 Secure your place: www.ucl.ac.uk/population-h...
Join our upcoming online information session where you’ll find out what it’s like to study at a world-leading institution. 🌍
📅 Child Health MRes – 9 February, 17:00-18:00
🔗 Secure your place: www.ucl.ac.uk/population-h...
Reposted by Dr Claire Smith
If you'd like to celebrate the biology of viruses - or the fight against viral diseases - this winter, try out our free and updated #VirusSnowflake designs.
Please share, and if you have any photos of Virus Snowflakes in your area it would be lovely to see them!
cvr-engagement.co.uk/virus-snowfl...
Please share, and if you have any photos of Virus Snowflakes in your area it would be lovely to see them!
cvr-engagement.co.uk/virus-snowfl...
November 17, 2025 at 5:39 PM
If you'd like to celebrate the biology of viruses - or the fight against viral diseases - this winter, try out our free and updated #VirusSnowflake designs.
Please share, and if you have any photos of Virus Snowflakes in your area it would be lovely to see them!
cvr-engagement.co.uk/virus-snowfl...
Please share, and if you have any photos of Virus Snowflakes in your area it would be lovely to see them!
cvr-engagement.co.uk/virus-snowfl...
Deadline for abstracts extended to 1st December
Interested in respiratory infections? who isn't! Then register for this fab conference with a fantastic line-up of speakers and sessions @sangerinstitute.bsky.social Abstract submission open until 17th Nov!! @eventswcs.bsky.social
coursesandconferences.wellcomeconnectingscience.org/event/air-20...
coursesandconferences.wellcomeconnectingscience.org/event/air-20...
November 20, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Deadline for abstracts extended to 1st December
Reposted by Dr Claire Smith
Finished a virology PhD or finishing soon? Check out this job - www.healthjobsuk.com/job/UK/Londo...
Job vacancy: Healthcare Scientist, UK Health Security Agency, London | trac.jobs
www.healthjobsuk.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Finished a virology PhD or finishing soon? Check out this job - www.healthjobsuk.com/job/UK/Londo...
🚨 New preprint from the group - #Neutrophil myeloperoxidase as a functional biomarker for RSV severity: implications for in vitro therapeutic screening. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Neutrophil myeloperoxidase as a functional biomarker for RSV severity: implications for in vitro therapeutic screening.
Neutrophils play a dual role in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection, contributing to both viral clearance and lung damage. Analysis of peripheral blood-derived neutrophils from infants with RS...
www.biorxiv.org
October 15, 2025 at 8:39 AM
🚨 New preprint from the group - #Neutrophil myeloperoxidase as a functional biomarker for RSV severity: implications for in vitro therapeutic screening. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Interested in respiratory infections? who isn't! Then register for this fab conference with a fantastic line-up of speakers and sessions @sangerinstitute.bsky.social Abstract submission open until 17th Nov!! @eventswcs.bsky.social
coursesandconferences.wellcomeconnectingscience.org/event/air-20...
coursesandconferences.wellcomeconnectingscience.org/event/air-20...
October 8, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Interested in respiratory infections? who isn't! Then register for this fab conference with a fantastic line-up of speakers and sessions @sangerinstitute.bsky.social Abstract submission open until 17th Nov!! @eventswcs.bsky.social
coursesandconferences.wellcomeconnectingscience.org/event/air-20...
coursesandconferences.wellcomeconnectingscience.org/event/air-20...
Reposted by Dr Claire Smith
Please join us if you can for this year's Influenza Update Meeting, and please spread the news! It will be another fun opportunity to meet other influenza researchers, make connections and discuss our ongoing research.
SAVE THE DATE!
The 2025 Influenza Update Meeting will be held @uni-of-warwick.bsky.social on the 15th and 16th December - @nicolerobb.bsky.social is leading the organisation for this year's event.
We hope you'll join us there - please repost!
www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/...
The 2025 Influenza Update Meeting will be held @uni-of-warwick.bsky.social on the 15th and 16th December - @nicolerobb.bsky.social is leading the organisation for this year's event.
We hope you'll join us there - please repost!
www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/...
June 4, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Please join us if you can for this year's Influenza Update Meeting, and please spread the news! It will be another fun opportunity to meet other influenza researchers, make connections and discuss our ongoing research.
Reposted by Dr Claire Smith
Our study on pasteurising influenza viruses in milk is now out! It's a nice simple story: influenza viruses (including H5N1) are killed really effectively by pasteurisation, but in raw milk they stay infectious - obvious public health implications of both points... (1/2)
rdcu.be/d73te
rdcu.be/d73te
January 30, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Our study on pasteurising influenza viruses in milk is now out! It's a nice simple story: influenza viruses (including H5N1) are killed really effectively by pasteurisation, but in raw milk they stay infectious - obvious public health implications of both points... (1/2)
rdcu.be/d73te
rdcu.be/d73te
Reposted by Dr Claire Smith
Really proud to share our preprint describing early adaptation of H5N1 to US dairy cattle, and showing how these mutations enhance the ability of the virus to infect other mammals, such as pigs and humans.
With @influenzal.bsky.social @vidhid.bsky.social @drclairesmith.bsky.social and many more!
With @influenzal.bsky.social @vidhid.bsky.social @drclairesmith.bsky.social and many more!
Polymerase mutations underlie adaptation of H5N1 influenza virus to dairy cattle and other mammals.
In early 2024, an unprecedented outbreak of H5N1 high pathogenicity avian influenza was detected in dairy cattle in the USA. The epidemic remains uncontrolled, with spillbacks into poultry, wild birds...
www.biorxiv.org
January 7, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Really proud to share our preprint describing early adaptation of H5N1 to US dairy cattle, and showing how these mutations enhance the ability of the virus to infect other mammals, such as pigs and humans.
With @influenzal.bsky.social @vidhid.bsky.social @drclairesmith.bsky.social and many more!
With @influenzal.bsky.social @vidhid.bsky.social @drclairesmith.bsky.social and many more!
🚨 New paper alert! We developed a simple cell assay to evaluate drug efficacy and synergy against emerging SARS-CoV-2 strains. Here we test both novel and repurposed antiviral drugs, identifying synergies that could enhance treatment effectiveness. Read more here: journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
Efficient in vitro assay for evaluating drug efficacy and synergy against emerging SARS-CoV-2 strains | Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
Broad-spectrum antivirals approved for treating severe acute respiratory syndrome
coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), such as remdesivir, molnupiravir, favipiravir, and nirmatrelvir,
target key viral enzymes ...
journals.asm.org
December 18, 2024 at 10:04 AM
🚨 New paper alert! We developed a simple cell assay to evaluate drug efficacy and synergy against emerging SARS-CoV-2 strains. Here we test both novel and repurposed antiviral drugs, identifying synergies that could enhance treatment effectiveness. Read more here: journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
last 2 days to apply! : We have a fully funded #PhD #studentship available in my lab for Oct25 @UCLchildhealth. Project will research new treatments/targets for airway inflammation during viral infection using complex in vitro models. Deadline 13th Dec
Apply here: forms.office.com/pages/respon...
Apply here: forms.office.com/pages/respon...
UCL – University College London
UCL is consistently ranked as one of the top ten universities in the world (QS World University Rankings 2010-2022) and is No.2 in the UK for research power (Research Excellence Framework 2021).
ucl.ac.uk
December 11, 2024 at 4:48 PM
last 2 days to apply! : We have a fully funded #PhD #studentship available in my lab for Oct25 @UCLchildhealth. Project will research new treatments/targets for airway inflammation during viral infection using complex in vitro models. Deadline 13th Dec
Apply here: forms.office.com/pages/respon...
Apply here: forms.office.com/pages/respon...
I'll be speaking this morning @btsrespiratory.bsky.social in "A Winter's Tale" session about the model we have developed to study RSV infection in children which was funded by Animal Free Research UK. Come find out more in Moore/4th at 11:05 #BTSwinter2024.
November 29, 2024 at 8:32 AM
I'll be speaking this morning @btsrespiratory.bsky.social in "A Winter's Tale" session about the model we have developed to study RSV infection in children which was funded by Animal Free Research UK. Come find out more in Moore/4th at 11:05 #BTSwinter2024.
Reposted by Dr Claire Smith
Emma Johnson and Tereza Masonou for the BALR early career researcher awards! Congratulations to both and to the BTS and Asthma+Lung UK winners!
November 27, 2024 at 4:53 PM
Emma Johnson and Tereza Masonou for the BALR early career researcher awards! Congratulations to both and to the BTS and Asthma+Lung UK winners!
Reposted by Dr Claire Smith
A big day of output for the Human Cell Atlas, a global collaborative project with 100 countries to understand our ~37 trillion cells
A Wikipedia of our cells, a "remarkable achievement"
nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com/immersive/d4...
A Wikipedia of our cells, a "remarkable achievement"
nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com/immersive/d4...
November 20, 2024 at 5:04 PM
A big day of output for the Human Cell Atlas, a global collaborative project with 100 countries to understand our ~37 trillion cells
A Wikipedia of our cells, a "remarkable achievement"
nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com/immersive/d4...
A Wikipedia of our cells, a "remarkable achievement"
nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com/immersive/d4...
Reposted by Dr Claire Smith
The preliminary sequence from the H5N1 human case in British Columbia has been posted and it is not good news. The virus potentially has a quasispecies at HA residue 226 (H3 numbering). This is bad news because we know that mutations at residue 226 can increase binding to human receptors. 1/
November 16, 2024 at 3:19 PM
The preliminary sequence from the H5N1 human case in British Columbia has been posted and it is not good news. The virus potentially has a quasispecies at HA residue 226 (H3 numbering). This is bad news because we know that mutations at residue 226 can increase binding to human receptors. 1/
Reposted by Dr Claire Smith
#USDA has confirmed 3 more #H5N1 #birdflu infected dairy herds in California, bringing the state's total to 294, nearly 27% of herds in the state. All those herds were recorded in the past 2.5 months.
The cumulative national total is 508 herds across 15 states. www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-po...
The cumulative national total is 508 herds across 15 states. www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-po...
November 15, 2024 at 2:08 PM
#USDA has confirmed 3 more #H5N1 #birdflu infected dairy herds in California, bringing the state's total to 294, nearly 27% of herds in the state. All those herds were recorded in the past 2.5 months.
The cumulative national total is 508 herds across 15 states. www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-po...
The cumulative national total is 508 herds across 15 states. www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-po...
Incredibly proud of our talented postdoc Tereza Masonou for her talk on how the neutrophil response to SARS-CoV-2 differs depending on the age of the infected nasal epithelial cells @options2024. If you're here come see our posters P153, P198, P139 & P461 later today!
September 29, 2024 at 5:14 AM
Incredibly proud of our talented postdoc Tereza Masonou for her talk on how the neutrophil response to SARS-CoV-2 differs depending on the age of the infected nasal epithelial cells @options2024. If you're here come see our posters P153, P198, P139 & P461 later today!