Pathogen News and Research

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Bowel preparation for colonoscopies may temporarily alter gut balance, preclinical study suggests

New preclinical research suggests that bowel preparation procedures for colonoscopies may temporarily alter gut balance, culminating in unappreciated effects in patients with compromised gastrointestinal health.

8 Jan 2026

A high-protein diet shows strong anti-cholera effects

Cholera, a severe bacterial infection that causes diarrhea and kills if untreated, can be defeated with a diet high in protein, according to a new study from UC Riverside.

8 Jan 2026

Single-dose oral cholera vaccine shows promising results in early clinical trial

Clinical trial shows promising results for PanChol, a single-dose oral vaccine aimed at the up to 4 million annual cholera cases worldwide.

7 Jan 2026

CRISPR Cas12a3: A precise tool to halt viral protein production

Across all domains of life, immune defenses foil invading viruses by making it impossible for the viruses to replicate. Most known CRISPR systems target invading pathogens' DNA and chop it up to disable and modify genes, heading off infections at the (cellular) pass.

7 Jan 2026

Newly discovered molecule could be a game-changer in the fight against deadly fungi

Fungal infections kill millions of people each year, and modern medicine is struggling to keep up. But researchers at McMaster University have identified a molecule that may help turn the tide — butyrolactol A, a chemical compound that targets a deadly, disease-causing fungi called Cryptococcus neoformans.

7 Jan 2026

First human 'lung-on-chip' model developed using stem cells from a single donor

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute and AlveoliX have developed the first human 'lung-on-chip' model using stem cells taken from only one person.

2 Jan 2026

Periodontal bacterial load associated with disease severity in multiple sclerosis

Increasing evidence suggests that the severe gum disease, periodontitis, may contribute to central nervous system disorders through chronic inflammation.

30 Dec 2025

Antimicrobial resistance emerges as a slow-moving global pandemic

Once a medical miracle, antibiotics are now losing their power. Across the world, common infections are becoming harder-and sometimes impossible-to treat.

23 Dec 2025

Study charts the escalating spread of resistant bacteria and fungi

The success of modern medicine rests on the ability to control infections. But decades of antibiotic overuse—in hospitals, communities, and farms—have fueled a global surge in resistant microbes.

22 Dec 2025

Autophagy steers T cell fate during immune division

Researchers at the Max Delbrück Center have found that a cellular housekeeping mechanism called autophagy plays a major role in ensuring that T stem cells undergo normal cell division.

19 Dec 2025

New genetic insights could lead to treatments for Candida auris

Scientists have discovered a genetic process which could unlock new ways to treat mysterious and deadly fungal infection which has shut down multiple hospital intensive care units.

19 Dec 2025

Ants show new promise as a source of powerful antibiotics

Has a crucial component to the development of human medicine been hiding under our feet?

18 Dec 2025

SARS-CoV-2 manipulates host cell's RNA to weaken the immune response

Researchers at the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) in Brazil have discovered that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, uses a sophisticated tactic to evade the human body's defense system.

17 Dec 2025

Early life gut microbiome crucial for immune system development

Antibiotics are powerful treatments that have saved countless lives over the course of decades. New findings from Scripps Research have identified a way to preserve healthy immune development even when infants need antibiotic treatment.

17 Dec 2025

Salutogenic microbes offer new pathways to better health

Viruses and bacteria get a bad rap around the world but now Flinders University experts are identifying the positive 'upside' of powerful benefits that microbes have on human health.

16 Dec 2025

Researchers uncover how Bartonella causes deadly Oroya fever

The so-called "Oroya fever" is an extremely severe infectious disease, yet it is classified among the so-called neglected tropical diseases.

15 Dec 2025

Metagenomics reveals overlooked viral risks in treated water

Viruses are everywhere in wastewater treatment plants, quietly interacting with bacteria as sewage is cleaned and reused.

15 Dec 2025

Understanding how the immune system protects against fungal pathogenicity

The yeast Candida albicans colonizes mucosal surfaces and is usually harmless. However, under certain conditions it can cause dangerous infections.

15 Dec 2025

Virus shells use asymmetry to control RNA release and infection

Viruses are typically described as tiny, perfectly geometric shells that pack genetic material with mathematical precision, but new research led by scientists at Penn State reveals a deliberate imbalance in their shape that helps them infect their hosts.

12 Dec 2025