News Feature Channel: Infectious Diseases

Study Challenges Assumptions About How Tuberculosis Bacteria Grow

Tufts University — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 14:50:59 EST

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. These findings, reported by researchers on November 15 in the journal Nature Microbiology, overturn core beliefs of bacterial cell biology and hint at why the deadly pathogen so readily outmaneuvers our immune system and antibiotics.

Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University and Hackensack University Medical Centers Achieve Excellence in Life Support Care

Hackensack Meridian Health — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 09:15:03 EST

Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center and Hackensack University Medical Center are the only New Jersey hospitals to achieve the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization's (ELSO) Gold Level Center of Excellence in Life Support Award.

Study Uncovers First Evidence of Resistance to Standard Malaria Treatment in African Children with Severe Malaria

Indiana University — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 14:45:34 EST

An international team of researchers has uncovered evidence of partial resistance to artemisinin derivatives -- the primary treatment for malaria -- in young children with severe malaria.

Optical Biosensor Rapidly Detects Monkeypox Virus

University of California San Diego — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 14:30:59 EST

Researchers at UC San Diego and their colleagues have developed an optical biosensor that detects the virus that causes mpox. The technology could make diagnosis much faster and cost-effective as the disease continues to spread worldwide.

New Roles in Infectious Process for Molecule That Inhibits Flu

Ohio State University — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 07:55:40 EST

Researchers have identified new roles for a protein long known to protect against severe flu infection - among them, raising the minimum number of viral particles needed to cause sickness.

Researchers Reveal Why a Key Tuberculosis Drug Works Against Resistant Strains

Rutgers University-New Brunswick — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 18:35:09 EST

Rutgers Health study uncovers vulnerabilities in drug-resistant TB, offering hope for improved treatments.

Nurses' Extraordinary Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic

University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 16:00:18 EST

A new book, Nurses' Extraordinary Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic: There was Something in the Air, offers a poignant and firsthand account of the challenges and triumphs faced by nurses during the most devastating pandemic of our generation.

Association for Molecular Pathology Publishes Joint Consensus Report on SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Surveillance for Hospitals and Public Health Laboratories

Association for Molecular Pathology — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 10:20:53 EST

The Association for Molecular Pathology published a joint consensus report with the Association of Public Health Laboratories that reviews and summarizes standard concepts and best practices for next-generation sequencing methods for SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance.

Lab-Grown Human Immune System Uncovers Weakened Response in Cancer Patients

Georgia Institute of Technology — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 14:55:51 EST

These miniature immune system models -- known as human immune organoids -- mimic the real-life environment where immune cells learn to recognize and attack harmful invaders and respond to vaccines. Not only are these organoids powerful new tools for studying and observing immune function in cancer, their use is likely to accelerate vaccine development, better predict disease treatment response for patients, and even speed up clinical trials.

USU Researchers Develop Highly Effective Chlamydia Vaccine

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 10:10:24 EST

Researchers from Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and Duke University have developed a promising vaccine offering strong protection against chlamydia. The study, published in npj Vaccines, shows that a whole-cell vaccine protected mice from infections, helping them clear the bacteria faster and with fewer infections, potentially reviving debates on chlamydia prevention.

Avails Medical welcomes Dan Douglas as Vice President of Finance

Avails Medical, Inc. — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 08:15:00 EST

Avails Medical, Inc., a pioneer in rapid antibiotic susceptibility diagnostic innovations, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dan Douglas as the new Vice President of Finance. Dan joins Avails with a wealth of experience as a dynamic finance leader, bringing extensive expertise in corporate finance, operational strategy, and analytics, honed in fast-paced startup environments.

Number of Whooping Cough Cases on Rise Nationally

Vanderbilt University Medical Center — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 09:15:07 EST

Whooping cough is making a comeback, and medical providers say the highly contagious bacterial infection that causes severe coughing fits is preventable. During the COVID-19 pandemic, whooping cough, also known as pertussis, declined dramatically.

Tip Sheet: A Gene Drive to Treat Herpes, Improving Clinical Trials for Immunocompromised People -- and Breast Sexual Health Clinic Opens

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 09:00:15 EST

Below are summaries of recent Fred Hutch Cancer Center research findings, patient stories and other news.

Houston Methodist Tuberculosis Expert Ed Graviss says U.S. Experiencing its Highest Number of TB Cases in 10 Years

Houston Methodist — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 16:10:09 EST

Discovery of Rapid COVID-19 Replication Mechanism and Expanded Treatment Options

National Research Council of Science and Technology — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 00:00:10 EST

Dr. Seong-Jun Kim's team from the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT) recently reported in a research paper that the rapid proliferation of COVID-19 is due to altered roles of mitochondria (responsible for energy production in human cells) and EGFR (responsible for growth signal transmission in cells).

Rutgers Study Reveals Vaccination Patterns Among LGBTQ+ Adults in New Jersey and New York

Rutgers University-New Brunswick — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 23:20:55 EST

A new study led by Rutgers Health researchers has uncovered important insights into vaccination patterns among LGBTQ+ adults in New Jersey and New York. The findings, published in the journal Vaccine, shed light on disparities in vaccine uptake within this diverse population.

Survey Finds Continued Declines in HIV Clinician Workforce

Wolters Kluwer Health: Lippincott — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 12:30:18 EST

The supply of healthcare professionals available to provide HIV care continues to decline, even as the need for HIV care and prevention is expected to increase, reports a survey study in the November/December issue of The Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (JANAC). The official journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, JANAC is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.

Houston Methodist Researchers Shed Light on Increased Rates of Severe Human Infections Caused by Streptococcus Subspecies

Houston Methodist — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 16:00:11 EST

A concerning increase in global rates of severe invasive infections becoming resistant to key antibiotics has a team of infectious disease researchers at the Houston Methodist Research Institute studying a recently emerged strain of bacteria called Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis (SDSE). SDSE infects humans via the skin, throat, gastrointestinal tract and female genital tract to cause infections ranging in severity from strep throat (pharyngitis) to necrotizing fasciitis (flesh-eating disease).

Mount Sinai Researchers Enhance Screening Methods to Prevent Spread of Drug-Resistant Fungal Infections in Hospitals

Mount Sinai Health System — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 09:05:04 EST

Expanded protocols promote early detection in high-risk patients and prevent hospital outbreaks of Candida auris

New Findings on Animal Viruses with Potential to Infect Humans

Ohio State University — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 12:20:10 EST

Scientists investigating animal viruses with potential to infect humans have identified a critical protein that could enable spillover of a family of organisms called arteriviruses.