Disease/Infection News

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Researchers uncover hidden roles of accessory genes in SARS-CoV-2

Viruses are lean, mean, infection machines. Their genomes are tiny, usually limited to a handful of absolutely essential genes, and they shed extra genomic deadweight extremely fast.

20 Nov 2024

New approach to stabilize RSV protein could lead to better vaccines

In most people, the lung-infecting pathogens known as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (hMPV) trigger mild cold-like symptoms. But in infants and seniors, these viruses can cause severe pneumonia and even death.

20 Nov 2024

Antiseizure medications in pregnancy tied to child neurodevelopment risks

Researchers investigate how anti-seizure medication use during pregnancy may increase the risk of neuropsychological conditions in children.

20 Nov 2024

SARS-CoV-2 hijacks cholesterol trafficking to fuel infection and evade immune responses

SARS-CoV-2 disrupts cholesterol metabolism by using its ORF3a protein to sequester cholesterol in lysosomes, reducing BMP levels and optimizing viral survival. This novel mechanism offers insights into long-term metabolic complications of COVID-19.

19 Nov 2024

WHO grants Emergency Use Listing for LC16m8 mpox vaccine

The World Health Organization (WHO) has granted Emergency Use Listing (EUL) for the LC16m8 mpox vaccine, making it the second mpox vaccine to be supported by WHO following the Director-General's declaration of an mpox public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) on 14 August 2024.

19 Nov 2024

Urgent action needed to combat AMR and achieve EU's 2030 targets

Between 2019 and 2023, antibiotic consumption in the EU increased by 1%, moving further away from the 2030 target of a 20% reduction recommended by the Council of the European Union.

19 Nov 2024

Study investigates impact of oxygen therapy on oxidative stress in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia

Severe COVID-19 pneumonia often requires high concentrations of oxygen, which can potentially lead to oxidative stress and lung injury.

19 Nov 2024

Study provides insights into trends and disparities of neonatal infectious diseases in LMICs

Researchers from Peking University have conducted an in-depth study on the epidemic status, secular trends, and risk factors of 15 common neonatal infectious diseases across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) from 1990 to 2019.

19 Nov 2024

Malaria crystal structure offers clues for more effective medications

Prof. Leslie Leiserowitz first became intrigued by malaria when he was a young boy in South Africa. His father, who scouted the continent in search of wood for the family business, brought back not only tales of elephants and gorillas but also skin rashes and ringing in his ears, side effects of the quinine he took to prevent malaria.

19 Nov 2024

New nasal vaccine could help stop the spread of whooping cough

As whooping cough cases rise in the U.S., a new nasal vaccine developed by Tulane University may hold the key to reducing the spread of the highly contagious respiratory disease.

19 Nov 2024

Rising temperatures fuel global spread of dengue infections

Climate change is having a massive global impact on dengue transmission, accounting for 19% of the current dengue burden, with a potential to spark an additional 40%-60% spike by 2050 -; and by as much as 150%-200% in some areas -; according to a new study presented today at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH).

18 Nov 2024

Study uncovers key mechanism behind HIV latency

An immune response that likely evolved to help fight infections appears to be the mechanism that drives human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) into a latent state, lurking in cells only to erupt anew, researchers at Duke Health report.

18 Nov 2024

Rare variant analysis reveals genetic spectrum of monogenic diabetes genes

This study links rare genetic variants to type 2 diabetes risk, emphasizing their role in monogenic diabetes and potential for precision medicine integration.

18 Nov 2024

Electronic nudges boost flu vaccination rates among heart attack survivors

An electronic letter, or nudge, highlighting the cardiovascular benefits of influenza vaccines improved vaccination rates among more than 2 million adults—with a greater impact on those who have had a heart attack—across three clinical trials spanning the most-recent, two consecutive influenza seasons in Denmark.

18 Nov 2024

Phase 2 study evaluates safety and efficacy of asunercept in COVID-19 patients

The ASUNCTIS trial evaluated asunercept's safety and efficacy in COVID-19, showing trends toward faster recovery despite not meeting statistical significance.

18 Nov 2024

Zinc deficiency linked to increased risk of lung infection

Dietary zinc deficiency promotes lung infection by Acinetobacter baumannii bacteria -; a leading cause of ventilator-associated pneumonia, according to a new study published Nov. 15 in the journal Nature Microbiology.

15 Nov 2024

Research sheds light on Salmonella’s ability to escape gut defenses

A new UC Davis Health study has uncovered how Salmonella bacteria, a major cause of food poisoning, can invade the gut even when protective bacteria are present.

15 Nov 2024

TB pathogen's surprising growth mechanism challenges bacterial biology

The rod-shaped tuberculosis (TB) bacterium, which the World Health Organization has once again ranked as the top infectious disease killer globally, is the first single-celled organism ever observed to maintain a consistent growth rate throughout its life cycle.

15 Nov 2024

Genomic surveillance could revolutionize the fight against antimicrobial resistance

During the COVID-19 pandemic, genomic surveillance proved vital in helping understand the evolution and spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

15 Nov 2024

Study links dating app use to increased risk of STIs among college students

In May, the WHO raised the alarm over the rise in incidence of sexually transmitted illnesses (STIs) in many regions of the world, currently running at more than a million new cases per day.

15 Nov 2024