News Feature Channel: Infectious Diseases

Visby Medical Receives Landmark FDA De Novo Authorization for First-Ever OTC PCR Test for Sexual Health

Visby Medical — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 06:10:29 EST

Visby Medical Receives Landmark FDA De Novo Authorization for First-Ever OTC PCR Test for Sexual Health

Two Johns Hopkins Medicine Researchers Named 2024 Fellows of American Association for the Advancement of Science

Johns Hopkins Medicine — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 10:55:49 EST

Two researchers from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have been elected 2024 Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the largest scientific society in the world and publisher of the Science family of journals.

AI Learns to 'Speak' Genetic 'Dialect' for Future SARS-CoV-2 Mutation Prediction

Florida Atlantic University — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 08:30:24 EST

A powerful AI model called Deep Novel Mutation Search (DNMS) predicts virus mutations more accurately and efficiently than traditional, time-consuming lab experiments. Focused on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, the model uses a specialized protein language model fine-tuned to understand the virus's specific "language." DNMS can predict mutations that cause small, functional changes - crucial for viruses like SARS-CoV-2, which evolve through subtle adjustments to maintain function.

Research Finds Potential "Molecular Mimics" Behind COVID-Induced Autoimmune Disease

University of Utah Health — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 21:00:48 EST

COVID infection has been linked to higher risk of autoimmune disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes. Scientists used advanced data analysis and machine learning to identify viral proteins that are more likely to trigger autoimmunity.

UT Southwestern Q&A: What You Need to Know About the Measles

UT Southwestern Medical Center — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 20:15:50 EST

Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that can cause serious health problems. The good news: Two doses of the vaccine developed in the 1960s are 97% effective in protecting you from getting infected, and that protection lasts a lifetime.

Lasso-Shaped Antibiotic Co-Developed by UIC Evades Standard Drug Resistance

University of Illinois Chicago — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 12:00:15 EST

A small molecule shaped like a lasso may be a powerful tool in the fight against infectious diseases, according to a new study in Nature co-authored by University of Illinois Chicago researchers.

Although Art Coverage Has Improved, Older Adults Face Considerable Barriers to HIV Prevention, Including Educational Disparities and Gender Inequities, Particularly in Rural Settings

University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 07:30:27 EST

How Zika Virus Knocks Out Our Immune Defenses

La Jolla Institute for Immunology — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 20:35:34 EST

"Our ultimate goal is to develop vaccines against these very difficult viruses. Understanding how these viruses manipulate the immune response can help guide the development of the best vaccine approach."

H5N1 Bird Flu Mutates to Better Hijack Human Cells, New UNC Charlotte Study Shows

University of North Carolina at Charlotte — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 17:30:49 EST

The latest CIPHER research on H5N1 viral lineages could have major implications for vaccine development.

No More Excuses: Break the Chain of Transmission to End Tuberculosis - World TB Day 2025

American Thoracic Society (ATS) — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 09:10:18 EST

"TB anywhere is TB everywhere," said tuberculosis expert Philip Hopewell, MD, in the latest ATS Breathe Easy podcast. The U.S. has one of the lowest incidence rates of TB in the world, yet in January, an outbreak caused 2 deaths, and 67 persons developed latent TB in Kansas, which set off alarm bells in public health.

McMaster leads Canada's first-ever guidelines for Post COVID-19 Condition

McMaster University — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 18:35:48 EST

A team of experts from McMaster University has led the creation of Canada's first-ever comprehensive guidelines for diagnosing, managing, preventing, and treating post COVID-19 condition (PCC), more commonly known as long COVID.

Four Advances That Could Change Tuberculosis Treatment

American Chemical Society (ACS) — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 17:50:54 EST

As of early 2025, tuberculosis cases are increasing in the U.S. This disease, often shortened to TB, causes significant lung damage and, if not treated, is almost always lethal. World TB Day on March 24 raises awareness about the disease and commemorates Robert Koch's discovery of the source bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. More than a century later, scientists continue refining TB diagnosis methods and treatment strategies , some of which are in these four ACS journal articles.

New Study Sheds Light on How Bacteria 'Vaccinate' Themselves with Genetic Material from Dormant Viruses

Johns Hopkins Medicine — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 17:45:44 EST

Johns Hopkins Medicine scientists say they have shed new light on how bacteria protect themselves from certain phage invaders -- by seizing genetic material from weakened, dormant phages and using it to "vaccinate" themselves to elicit an immune response.

Reflections on 5 Years Since COVID-19 Lockdown: 'One Team, One Family'

Cedars-Sinai — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 19:40:42 EST

Anxiety and elation. Uncertainty and admiration. Isolation and connection. Five years since the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, memories still are vivid and emotions, contrasting.

To Overcome Antibiotic Resistance, New Research Says to Let It Flow

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 18:15:36 EST

Some notoriously difficult to treat infections may not be as resistant to antibiotics as has been thought, according to University of Illinois research using a microfluidic device that more closely duplicates the fluid flow found in the body.

Houston Methodist Nurses Help Drive Initiative to Reclassify Penicillin Allergies at the Bedside

Houston Methodist — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 20:25:46 EST

Houston Methodist nurses help drive initiative to reclassify penicillin allergies at the bedside

Early Pandemic Vulnerability to Severe COVID Identified with Certain Immune System Genotypes

Sbarro Health Research Organization (SHRO) — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 17:45:12 EST

This updated analysis of the relationship between HLA and severe COVID looks at a 'case-control' study of HLA genotypes.

Sarampion: Lo que Debes Saber Para Proteger a Tu Familia

Cedars-Sinai — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 20:05:46 EST

El sarampion, que se creia erradicado en EE.UU., esta reapareciendo. El numero de casos de sarampion en EE.UU. sigue aumentando, debido al descenso de las tasas de vacunacion y a las dudas sobre la vacuna.

Measles: What You Need to Know to Protect Your Family

Cedars-Sinai — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 17:45:01 EST

Measles, once thought to be eradicated in the U.S., is making a comeback. The number of U.S. measles cases continues to tick upward, caused by declining vaccination rates and vaccine hesitancy.

ATS Breathe Easy - TB Anywhere is TB Everywhere

American Thoracic Society (ATS) — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 10:00:20 EST

ATS Breathe Easy - TB Anywhere is TB Everywhere