b'Case Study RAMAN AGAINST RESPIRATORY INFECTIONHelping to support biofilm models to assess novelRaman imaging to start to interrogate how biofilms sit interventions together and interact without the use of labels. This will give us some important data for future fundamental Diagnosing a bacterial infection and determining thestudies into biofilms, particularly regarding how different best treatment for it is typically a slow process, takingspecies take prominence in infection and what that might days, while successful clinical outcomes often dependmean for patientson rapid prescription with effective antibiotics. This promotes the use of broad-spectrum or unnecessaryNBIC has also offered a valuable framework for me antibiotics, which in turn contributes to the rise ofto work with companies on several different projects, antimicrobial resistance (AMR). which pays for my time so I can work on this main Raman project for longer.Dr Callum Highmore and his team at the University of Southampton have been investigating a rapidThe team are currently working to translate their work alternative to conventional infection diagnosticstowards the clinic, by investigating clinical samples and called Raman spectroscopy. The group have usedbuilding large data libraries to build predictive models this technique to characterise bacterial pathogensfor diagnosis. In the longer term, this will require greater at the strain level and are now applying it to identifyinput from engineers and computer scientists as they phenotypic information such as AMR profiles. work towards a prototype commercial product.The team have developed and patented a new methodology for improved identification of bacteria called MX-Raman, and Dr Highmore has recently been awarded a Bridging Fellowship to transition from using pure bacterial cultures to examining clinical sputum samples using MX-Raman. This chapter of the project will be completed in summer 2024.The outcome of this work will significantly benefit the public through rapid diagnosis of infection and treatment recommendations, reducing the burden of bed space on the NHS, improving clinical outcomes, and slowing the global development of AMR. Dr Highmore said,Being an NBIC-funded research fellow has really helped with both my professional development and with the progression of my research. We received someCoherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) label-free image NBIC seed funding money, which has helped us openof a PAO1 biofilm, false colour. Excitation at 797 nm indicates the presence of lipids (red), protein (green), and DNA (blue). Image by up a new dimension for this project, where we can useDr Callum Highmore.Dr Callum HighmoreDr Highmore is an NBIC Interdisciplinary Research Fellow at the University of Southampton investigating rapid and reagentless detection methods for pathogens and biofilms. His main research focus is developing Raman spectroscopy into a clinical diagnostic tool.48'