Infectious Diseases News and Research

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Breakthrough antibiotic targets gum disease without harming microbiome

The ADA Forsyth Institute, a leading oral health research organization, and Flightpath Biosciences Inc. are excited to announce a groundbreaking discovery in the fight against severe gum disease and related systemic conditions.

4 Sep 2024

Seasonal patterns in Valley fever cases reveal climate-driven risks

Valley fever is an emerging fungal disease in the western United States that most often causes flu-like symptoms, but can also cause dangerous or even deadly complications. By analyzing data on reported cases of Valley fever in California, which have increased dramatically over the last two decades, researchers from the University of California San Diego and the University of California, Berkeley, have identified seasonal patterns that could help individuals and public health officials better prepare for future surges in Valley fever cases.

4 Sep 2024

NIAID awards grants for 10 projects to improve diagnostic tools for syphilis

The National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has awarded grants for 10 projects to improve diagnostic tools for congenital and adult syphilis - conditions currently diagnosed with a sequence of tests, each with limited precision.

3 Sep 2024

UNICEF issues emergency tender for mpox vaccine procurement

UNICEF today announced that it has issued an emergency tender for the procurement of mpox vaccines. Vaccines can play a critical role in containing the mpox outbreak which was declared a public health emergency by both the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

2 Sep 2024

American football head impacts tied to increased brain damage and cognitive decline

Repetitive head impacts in former American football players are linked to increased perivascular space volume, which correlates with cognitive decline and neurodegeneration. The study suggests that the force of head impacts may be more critical than frequency, with potential protective effects from β-blocker use.

1 Sep 2024

New study highlights potential of childhood immunization against HIV

Research at Weill Cornell Medicine suggests that childhood immunization against HIV could one day provide protection before risk of contracting this potentially fatal infection dramatically increases in adolescence.

30 Aug 2024

Nigeria and DRC take action with new mpox vaccine rollouts

Nigeria is to begin the immediate rollout of 5,000 doses of mpox vaccines while the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) eyes its first shipment of 65,000 doses, as Africa steps up measures to control the multi-country outbreak.

30 Aug 2024

Rare genetic mutation tied to increased risk of tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is a confounding scourge. It's the leading cause of death from infectious disease in the world, and yet it's estimated that those deaths represent perhaps 5% of infections with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb).

30 Aug 2024

Mpox persists in England: Strong vaccine effectiveness, stay vigilant

Study found that mpox cases in England remained low but steady in 2023, with the MVA-BN vaccine showing 82% effectiveness in preventing severe disease, particularly among GBMSM.

29 Aug 2024

Vancomycin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus may become more stable over time

Staphylococcus aureus has the potential to develop durable vancomycin resistance, according to a study published August 28, 2024, in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens by Samuel Blechman and Erik Wright from the University of Pittsburgh, USA.

29 Aug 2024

Global study reveals widespread micronutrient deficiencies across all age groups

More than half of the global population consumes inadequate levels of several micronutrients essential to health, including calcium, iron, and vitamins C and E, according to a new study by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, UC Santa Barbara (UCSB), and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN).

29 Aug 2024

Extreme heat puts children's health at risk, urging action on adaptation measures

Study highlights the severe health risks extreme heat poses to children, including increased preterm births, low birth weight, and respiratory issues, especially for those from disadvantaged backgrounds. It emphasizes the need for adaptation measures to safeguard children's health in a warming world.

28 Aug 2024

Paris 2024 Olympics: COVID-conscious nations dominated gold medals

Study found that nations with lower excess mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly those in the Western Pacific, excelled in winning gold medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics. This success is linked to their stringent public health measures and 'COVID-cautious' approach.

28 Aug 2024

Unraveling the mystery of viral evolution

All organisms - from fungi to mammals - have the capacity to evolve and adapt to their environments. But viruses are master shapeshifters with the ability to mutate greater than any other organism. As a result, they can evade treatments or acquire resistance to once-effective antiviral medications.

28 Aug 2024

Benefits of less intensive stem cell transplants for sickle cell disease

So-called low-intensity blood stem cell transplants, which use milder conditioning agents than standard stem cell transplants, do not appear to damage the lungs and may help improve lung function in some patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), according to a three-year study of adults who underwent the procedure at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

28 Aug 2024

Healthcare workers unprepared for mpox outbreak due to knowledge gaps and vaccine inequity

Research highlights significant gaps in healthcare workers' knowledge of mpox during the 2022-2023 outbreaks, emphasizing the need for better global preparedness and equitable vaccine access.

27 Aug 2024

LSHTM receives £2.8m grant to tackle hidden malaria in India

Researchers at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) have been awarded £2.8m to study factors sustaining malaria transmission in an area of India where infections are evading detection.

27 Aug 2024

Novel bottom-up approach in synthetic immunology opens a new frontier for disease treatment

Synthetic immunology, an innovative field of research which could lead to fundamentally new approaches and methods in the treatment of infectious diseases and cancer, is the topic of an article in the "Perspectives" section of the journal "Nature Nanotechnology". Herein, Heidelberg researchers Prof. Dr. Kerstin Göpfrich, Prof. Dr. Michael Platten, Prof. Dr. Friedrich Frischknecht, and Prof. Dr. Oliver T. Fackler describe a so-called bottom-up approach that uses the toolbox of nanotechnology and synthetic biology to construct systems from molecular building blocks and specifically equip them with immune functions.

27 Aug 2024

MP Biomedicals announces the launch of advanced gastrointestinal diseases diagnostic kits

MP Biomedicals completes its range of in vitro diagnostic tests for infectious diseases with new immunochromatographic-based qualitative rapid tests.The new diagnostic kits by MP Biomedicals leverage cutting-edge technology to deliver precise results, enabling healthcare professionals a rapid and accurate detection of Helicobacter pylori, Salmonella typhi and Vibrio cholerae serogroups O1 and O139.

From MP Biomedicals, LLC 27 Aug 2024

Dengue increases risk of heart and neurological complications compared to COVID-19

People who caught dengue and recovered are more likely to face long-term health complications about a year later compared to those who contracted COVID-19, according to the findings of a nationwide study led by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore).

27 Aug 2024