Pathogen News and Research

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Nasal protein levels may predict COVID-19 risk

Higher nasal expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 proteins can predict future SARS-CoV-2 infection.

16 Apr 2025

Bacteria engineered for remote sensing through color signatures

Bacteria can be engineered to sense a variety of molecules, such as pollutants or soil nutrients. In most cases, however, these signals can only be detected by looking at the cells under a microscope or similarly sensitive lab equipment, making them impractical for large-scale use.

11 Apr 2025

Immune system selects the best T cells for targeted defense

The research groups led by Wolfgang Kastenmüller and Georg Gasteiger employed innovative microscopy techniques to observe how specific immune cells, known as T-cells, are activated and proliferate during a viral infection.

10 Apr 2025

High fiber diet helps protect against dangerous gut infections

A study published in the journal Cell Host & Microbe by Brazilian and American researchers suggests that a diet rich in soluble fiber can protect the intestine against pathogenic bacteria.

9 Apr 2025

Genetic fusion drives unexpectedly fast growth in chronic myeloid leukemia

A new study has unveiled when chronic myeloid leukemia, a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow, arises in life and how fast it grows.

9 Apr 2025

GP38 identified as key viral toxin and vaccine target in Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus research

A recent study published in Science Translational Medicine involving scientists from the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases in collaboration with scientists from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the University of California-Berkeley have advanced discoveries surrounding the viral glycoprotein GP38 expressed by the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV).

8 Apr 2025

New guidelines aim to improve diagnosis and treatment of mycoplasma pneumoniae in children

The Chinese Medical Association has released new guidelines for diagnosing and treating Mycoplasma pneumoniae in children.

7 Apr 2025

Predicting treatment failure in cutaneous leishmaniasis with precision medicine

Nearly one million people worldwide are plagued annually by cutaneous leishmaniasis, a devastating skin infection caused by the Leishmania parasite.

7 Apr 2025

New antibody research sparks hope for better whooping cough vaccines

Whooping cough, or pertussis, was once a leading cause of death for children in the U.S. and worldwide before the introduction of vaccines in the 1940s.

7 Apr 2025

Small molecular shifts can drastically alter encephalitis virus behavior

New research shows how small shifts in the molecular makeup of a virus can profoundly alter its fate. These shifts could turn a deadly pathogen into a harmless bug or supercharge a relatively benign virus, influencing its ability to infect humans and cause dangerous outbreaks.

4 Apr 2025

New bacterial evolutionary map could lead to precision treatments for infections

The first-of-its-kind in-depth bacterial evolutionary map could pave the way for the development of precision treatments for certain antibiotic-resistant infections, such as urinary tract infections.

3 Apr 2025

Sweetener saccharin revives old antibiotics by breaking bacterial defences

Saccharin destabilizes bacterial membranes and interferes with DNA replication, causing lysis and impairing virulence traits. The sweetener also re-sensitizes multidrug-resistant pathogens to antibiotics and disrupts stubborn biofilms.

3 Apr 2025

Northwestern scientists develop rapid HIV test for point-of-care diagnosis

A team of Northwestern University scientists spanning disciplines have developed new technology that could lead to the creation of a rapid point-of-care test for HIV infection competitive with traditional lab-based HIV testing in a fraction of the time and without the need for a stressful wait while results are processed or confirmed in a clinical laboratory.

2 Apr 2025

How your skin’s microbes shape immunity, inflammation, and chronic skin disease

Skin microbes do more than coexist—they shape immune responses, repair tissue, and influence gene expression across your lifespan. This review explains how disruptions in this microbiome-immune dialogue can lead to eczema, psoriasis, or acne.

2 Apr 2025

New class of antibiotic selectively targets gonorrhea bacterium

Researchers from the universities in Konstanz and Vienna discover a new class of antibiotic that selectively targets Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the bacterium that causes gonorrhea.

2 Apr 2025

New antibiotic-resistant superbug discovered in Malaysian hospital

A virulent strain of antibiotic-resistant 'superbug' that causes severe disease has been found circulating in a Malaysian hospital - posing significant challenges to global public health, a new study reveals.

1 Apr 2025

Studies explore bioactive compounds in plants for disease prevention

Fruits and plant extracts contain bioactive compounds that can help treat or prevent diseases. To characterize and understand their mechanism of action, researchers from universities and research institutions in Brazil and Germany have conducted independent but complementary studies.

28 Mar 2025

New insights into how the immune system handles latent parasite infections

Most humans have long-lived infections in various tissues-including in the nervous system-that typically do not result in disease.

28 Mar 2025

Report shows alarming measles resurgence in Europe and US

A recent report shows cases of measles across the World Health Organization's European Region, which includes the UK, are the highest they've been for more than 25 years. At the same time, large outbreaks of measles in the US have led to the first measles deaths there since 2015.

26 Mar 2025

Global analysis of antimicrobial resistance in Campylobacter

Announcing a new article publication for Zoonoses journal. The zoonotic pathogen Campylobacter is a major foodborne bacterial species worldwide. The distribution and drivers of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in global Campylobacter strains remain largely unknown. Therefore, a comprehensive analysis of longitudinal trends and driving factors of AMR in Campylobacter is necessary at a global level.

26 Mar 2025