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Oral drug candidate blocks transmission of measles-like disease in ferrets

A new oral antiviral drug candidate administered either before or after direct contact or airborne exposure to canine distemper virus, which causes measles-like disease in ferrets, blocks transmission of the virus and reduces clinical symptoms, according to a study published in the journal Nature Microbiology by researchers in the Center for Translational Antiviral Research (CTAR) at Georgia State University.

24 Jul 2026

Filtered coffee links to slower biological aging while instant coffee shows the opposite

Filtered coffee consumption was associated with slower biological aging, while instant coffee was linked to faster aging in UK Biobank participants. The cross-sectional findings do not prove causation, but they suggest that brewing method may influence coffee’s relationship with aging biomarkers.

20 Jul 2026

New portable strip test accurately detects mosquito-borne viruses

A research team has developed a multisite bridging-mediated lateral flow immunoassay (mbLFIA) that enables highly sensitive, portable detection of mosquito-borne viruses, using Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) as a model target.

17 Jul 2026

Mitochondrial DNA mutations link to cardiometabolic parameters in metabolic syndrome

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variability, especially heteroplasmy, is believed to affect cellular immunobiogenesis, particularly in monocytes in metabolic syndrome (MetS).

14 Jul 2026

Wild carnivores reveal wider West Nile and Usutu virus exposure in the Netherlands

Researchers detected Usutu virus RNA in nine of 818 wild carnivores sampled across the Netherlands, while no animals tested positive for West Nile virus RNA. Neutralizing antibodies to one or both viruses in red foxes and stone martens indicate broader spillover exposure and suggest these species may support arbovirus surveillance.

14 Jul 2026

Rising tick-borne disease in Canada can trigger heart inflammation

Move over, Lyme disease - there's another tick-borne disease to worry about in Canada. Anaplasmosis, the second most common tick-borne disease in the country, can cause a range of health issues, including myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle).

13 Jul 2026

New study tracks early genetic changes in hepatitis E virus

Knowing how viruses change in the initial weeks of an infection can provide important information about their adaptability.

13 Jul 2026

Cold-exposed mothers pass metabolic protection to male rat offspring through milk

Maternal cold exposure during early pregnancy improved glucose control and reduced liver fat in male rat offspring, with benefits persisting into late adulthood. The findings implicate a breast milk LCA, gut microbiota, and Th17 immune pathway, while human cohort data showed an observational link between winter conception and lower MASLD risk.

12 Jul 2026

New generation approaches revive BET protein inhibitors in solid tumors

BET proteins, especially BRD4, drive oncogenic transcription in solid tumours. First‑generation inhibitors (JQ1, molibresib, birabresib) showed preclinical promise but failed clinically due to modest efficacy, dose‑limiting thrombocytopenia, and resistance (isoform switching, compensatory PI3K/AKT/WNT signalling).

11 Jul 2026

Blood circRNAs may predict Alzheimer’s before symptoms emerge

Blood-based circular RNAs showed strong potential for identifying biomarker-confirmed Alzheimer’s disease and predicting progression to symptomatic disease. When combined with pTau217, the circRNA model produced the strongest predictive performance, but larger prospective validation is still needed.

2 Jul 2026

Decades of research reveal surprising secrets about hantavirus evolution

Thirty years ago, it was our common sense understanding that hantavirus does not and perhaps cannot spread from human to human. It turns out there is one exception: a strain called the Andes virus.

2 Jul 2026

Study links severe COVID to higher TB risk, and vaccination appears to blunt the link

A nationwide Chilean cohort study of more than 3.6 million adults found that severe COVID-19 requiring hospitalization was associated with more than an eightfold higher hazard of incident tuberculosis within one year. The association was strongest in the first six months and among unvaccinated individuals, although absolute TB incidence remained low.

1 Jul 2026

Melatonin dampens fetal membrane inflammation linked to preterm birth

Melatonin reduced infection-related inflammation in human fetal membranes in an ex vivo model. The study suggests that this effect works partly through melatonin receptors and by suppressing the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway.

28 Jun 2026

US study shows updated COVID vaccines cut hospitalization odds by 55%

The 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccines were associated with 50% estimated effectiveness against COVID-19-associated emergency department and urgent care encounters among immunocompetent US adults. They were also linked to an estimated 55% effectiveness against COVID-19-associated hospitalization, providing added protection beyond existing immunity from prior infection or vaccination.

24 Jun 2026

Study links COVID-19 to higher sleep apnea risk years after infection

Researchers analyzed more than 910,000 adults and found that SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with a higher adjusted risk of new-onset obstructive sleep apnea up to 4.5 years later. The association appeared in both hospitalized and non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients, supporting targeted screening in higher-risk post-COVID groups while highlighting the need for objective sleep testing.

24 Jun 2026

Andes virus cases on MV Hondius highlight hidden risks of confined travel

A Eurosurveillance report describes a multi-country response to an Andes virus outbreak linked to the Dutch-flagged expedition cruise ship MV Hondius, with 13 cases and three deaths reported as of June 18, 2026. Investigators found evidence consistent with an initial zoonotic infection before embarkation, followed by likely person-to-person transmission among passengers and crew in a confined ship setting.

23 Jun 2026

How clinicians can identify and manage Ebola, hantavirus

Two deadly infectious diseases, Ebola https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.260834 and hantavirus https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.260789, have made headlines in recent weeks as they pose serious threats to public health.

22 Jun 2026

Australia’s diphtheria outbreak shows why boosters, antibiotics, and better housing all matter

A 131-case diphtheria outbreak in Australia’s Northern Territory showed how toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae can re-emerge even in highly vaccinated populations. Genomic and epidemiological evidence linked most cases to a dominant ST381 strain, with transmission shaped by overcrowding, poor skin health, and persistent health inequities.

15 Jun 2026

A hidden immune pathway may help explain why Alzheimer’s inflammation persists

Researchers found that KAT7 promotes CMPK2-driven mitochondrial DNA release in microglia, activating inflammatory cGAS-STING and NLRP3 pathways linked to Alzheimer’s disease.

11 Jun 2026

Scientists reveal how cGAS-STING fuels brain inflammation and neurodegeneration

The cGAS-STING pathway is emerging as a key driver of chronic neuroinflammation through its effects on glial activation, neuronal stress, blood-brain barrier integrity, and type I interferon signaling. The review highlights why selective, context-dependent modulation of cGAS-STING could help treat neurodegenerative diseases, while preserving its essential roles in antiviral defense and tumor surveillance.

10 Jun 2026