Researchers have characterized the detailed structure of prions using unconventional X-ray diffraction methods. The study found surprisingly large structural differences between natural prions and synthetic analogs, shedding new light on their infectious behavior.
Virginia Tech's CyberInfrastructure Group receives funding to integrate pathogen data, provide key resources and tools, and analyze genomic and proteomic data. The Pathogen Portal will serve as a centralized gateway for biomedical researchers.
The NIH is expanding its Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network with a new $117 million funding round. The network aims to understand the natural history, epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of over 95 rare diseases through clinical studies involving more than 5,000 patients.
A new study suggests that high aspirin dosing levels during the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic may have contributed to increased mortality. Autopsy reports from 1918 support this theory, as they show signs consistent with aspirin toxicity and viral causes of death.
The National Institutes of Health's Models of Infectious Disease Agent Study (MIDAS) has received new research expertise to simulate disease spread, evaluate intervention strategies and inform public health officials. New grants will support computational models of infectious diseases, including MRSA, flu, and seasonal illnesses.
The Harvard School of Public Health will establish a center to focus on mathematical modeling of drug resistance, seasonal infectious diseases, and intervention allocation. The center aims to increase capacity to model disease spread, evaluate different intervention strategies, and inform public health officials and policymakers.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has launched two new clinical trials to investigate the optimal use of antimicrobial drugs in various clinical settings. The trials aim to determine if shorter treatment durations can be effective while reducing the risk of bacterial resistance.
A VBI researcher has received $786,797 to develop high-performance computer models for studying infectious diseases. These simulations can provide important information before an outbreak happens, aiding policymakers in making informed decisions.
The new initiative will characterize the human immune system under normal conditions and following infection or vaccination, using systems biology approaches. Researchers will analyze human samples from well-characterized cohorts to identify specific patterns of immune molecules that reflect immune system function.
A new study found that universal influenza vaccination in Ontario, Canada, led to a 64% decline in antibiotic prescriptions and a 39% reduction in influenza-associated mortality. This suggests that increasing flu vaccination rates could help combat antibiotic overuse and related public health concerns.
The University of Pittsburgh has received a $13.4 million NIH grant to establish a Center of Excellence in Modeling of Infectious Diseases. The center will develop and test computer simulations to predict the spread of infectious diseases and evaluate effective intervention strategies.
A study on cynomolgus macaques exposed to chronic wasting disease (CWD) shows that they remain healthy after over six years of observation. The findings suggest a potential species barrier against CWD in humans, but more research is needed to confirm this.
The University of Rhode Island has been awarded a $13 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop vaccines for emerging infectious diseases. The grant will fund research on immunome-derived vaccines, which have the potential to be safer and more effective than traditional vaccines.
Syphilis is experiencing a resurgence in cases, while gonorrhea has become increasingly resistant to treatment, posing significant challenges for public health efforts. New and potentially serious(STDs) like Mycoplasma genitalium have also been identified as emerging threats.
A new international partnership aims to improve African institutions' capacity to detect infectious diseases affecting humans and animals. The Southern African Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance (SACIDS) will develop courses, research skills, and biosafety systems to tackle major livestock and wildlife diseases.
A scientific system developed by St. Michael's Hospital accurately predicted the international spread of H1N1 by analyzing flight itineraries of over 2.3 million passengers. The system, known as The BIO.DIASPORA Project, quickly integrated information on worldwide air traffic patterns with global infectious disease threats.
Dr. Maya Saleh will investigate the regulation and molecular mechanisms of NLR-mediated innate immunity using a six-year grant from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund. The goal is to identify genes needed for defense against infections, shedding light on human host interactions with infectious agents.
The Northeast Biodefense Center, a regional collaboration of major centers, will conduct interdisciplinary research on diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines to address emerging infectious diseases. The center has made significant contributions to global health, including the development of diagnostics for SARS and pandemic influenza.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has renewed funding for the 11 Regional Centers of Excellence, with a total of $455 million over five years. The centers will focus on developing countermeasures against emerging infectious diseases.
The University of California, Irvine has been awarded a $45 million grant over five years to conduct infectious disease research. The grant is the campus's largest ever and will focus on improving detection, treatment, and vaccine development for bioterrorism agents and emerging infections.
Dr. Gail Demmler-Harrison, a renowned pediatric virologist, received the Thomas Hazinski Award for her exceptional service to the Society for Pediatric Research. She has advanced the study of pediatric diseases through her dedicated work in laboratories and with patients.
The Immune Epitope Database and Analysis Resource (IEDB) is the world's largest collection of scientific data on how the immune system responds to infectious diseases. With its 2.0 launch, researchers worldwide can now easily access and analyze over 95% of published information on immune epitope responses.
Elsevier has launched a new journal called Epidemics, which will focus on infectious disease dynamics. The journal aims to bring together researchers from various disciplines and provide a platform for high-quality papers in this emerging field.
The new guidelines outline advances in diagnostic tests, treatments, and preventive care for HIV-infected individuals. Effective antiretroviral therapy is crucial in preventing and managing opportunistic infections.
The PNWRCE will focus on identifying potential therapeutic targets for infectious diseases, including those caused by pathogens categorized as A, B and C. Researchers will study defects in the immune system caused by aging and disease-host interactions through genomics and genetic analyses.
The Ocean State Clinical Coordinating Center at Rhode Island Hospital will oversee a Phase II study of CytoFab to treat severe sepsis. The center, led by Dr. Steven LaRosa, has been awarded $800,000 to coordinate the trial's international sites.
Researchers at Arizona State University have developed two new vaccine strains using Salmonella typhimurium as an antigen delivery system. These recombinant attenuated Salmonella vaccines (RASVs) trigger a powerful systemic immune response, offering a promising solution to infant bacterial pneumonia. The safety and efficacy of these no...
The Infectious Diseases Society of America warns that new drugs are desperately needed to treat six drug-resistant bacteria, including MRSA and gram-negative pathogens. The society outlines steps to tackle the shortage and urges cooperation among industry, academia, and government.
A study by NIAID authors identifies common determinants of disease emergence across time and place, including international trade, poverty, and climate change. The research highlights the need for a better understanding of these factors to prepare for future emerging diseases.
A new forecasting method predicts a significant rise in demand for anti-malarial treatments due to the loss of effectiveness of current medications. The method aims to ensure an adequate supply of effective drugs by accurately predicting future demand, particularly in Africa where malaria affects millions.
A study found that the World Health Organization's (WHO) budget allocations do not align with global disease burdens. The WHO allocated 87% of its budget to infectious diseases, while non-communicable diseases received only 12%. This disparity in funding is concerning, particularly for injuries and violence, which are largely underfunded.
A study from McMaster University found that media coverage greatly influences public perception of infectious diseases, making them appear more threatening. Researchers discovered that diseases receiving frequent press attention, like bird flu, are perceived as more serious than those without similar coverage.
MedImmune presents nine abstracts on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza, providing insight into infectious disease prevention. The research focuses on RSV therapy, healthcare costs, and mechanisms of action for the monoclonal antibodies palivizumab and motavizumab.
A new 10-point plan aims for integrated animal, human, and ecosystem health issues to combat H5N1; the One World, One Health initiative seeks an unprecedented approach to infectious diseases.
NIAID scientists will present research on various infectious diseases, including noroviruses, Crohn's disease, and antibiotic-resistant infections. The talks aim to advance our understanding of these conditions and develop effective treatments.
The Chinese early detection system for infectious diseases has identified clusters of bird-flu in humans in real time, providing authorities with early warning of the start of a pandemic. The system has been instrumental in reducing the impact of infectious diseases, with significant gains in life expectancy and infant mortality rates.
Researchers will analyze human blood samples to discover proteins that could serve as biomarkers of infectious diseases. The goal is to identify specific biomarkers present in infected individuals but absent in uninfected people, guiding diagnostics, therapies, and vaccines.
The new NIAID-funded programs aim to identify molecular features that distinguish bacterial and viral species, which may be targets for potential medical interventions. Researchers will use computational and experimental methods to analyze the dynamics of molecular components within microbes and their interactions with human cells.
Researchers found that commensal bacteria DNA binds to receptors on immune cells, boosting protective T cells and clearing pathogens. This natural adjuvant mechanism enables the immune system to distinguish between harmful and beneficial microbes.
Research highlights the importance of including incarcerated populations in health studies to improve community health outcomes. The Journal of Correctional Health Care publishes original research on correctional health care topics, featuring findings on primary care, infectious disease, and mental health.
African countries are grappling with a growing number of chronic infectious and non-communicable diseases due to scale-up of antiretroviral therapy for HIV. Mortality from all-cause diseases increased by 87% between 1992 and 2005, primarily due to rising deaths from infectious disease affecting both sexes.
Researchers have successfully created new strains of infectious proteins called prions by mixing infectious prions from one species with normal prion proteins from another. This breakthrough could provide insight into the risk of prion diseases spreading between species and has significant implications for public health.
The University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health has received a $10 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to create computer simulations of epidemics, evaluating new vaccine technologies and modes of delivery. The project will focus on diseases affecting millions of people globally.
Researchers found that deleting furin in helper T cells led to autoimmune disease in mice, highlighting the importance of regulatory and effector T cell balance. The study's findings have implications for developing drugs to increase immune response in diseases like cancer and HIV.
Clinical Research Management has secured a seven-year contract to conduct Phase I Clinical Trials for Therapeutics against Infectious Diseases at three national testing sites. The sites are Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and University Hospitals Case Medical Center, and Johns Hopkins University. Each site will recei...
The US EPA has funded three interdisciplinary teams to explore the links between biodiversity and human health, focusing on Lyme disease and West Nile encephalitis. Research will investigate how environmental factors and people's behaviors contribute to disease transmission.
Researchers at A*STAR's IMCB have identified peptidoglycan as a factor that causes Candida albicans to become infectious. The discovery may lead to the development of novel treatments for immunocompromised patients infected by the fungus.
A research study found that extreme weather events can alter normal host-pathogen relationships, leading to catastrophic mortality from multiple infectious outbreaks in wildlife. Climate extremes can trigger mass die-offs of livestock and wildlife by creating a perfect storm of infectious diseases.
A team of researchers found that infectious prions have highly flexible loops, absent in non-infectious forms, which differ significantly in their molecular structure. The study suggests that the molecular structure is a key factor in determining a protein's infectiousness.
A new study found that Mexico's southern region has the highest rates of infectious and nutritional diseases, as well as non-communicable diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. The study also identified being overweight, high blood glucose, and alcohol use as major risk factors for these diseases.
Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, director of NIAID, will be honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his decades-long work on HIV/AIDS research and treatment. The award recognizes his efforts to advance human knowledge and bring hope and healing to millions worldwide.
The Burroughs Wellcome Fund has awarded $7 million to 14 researchers studying infectious diseases. The award aims to encourage multidisciplinary approaches to understanding host-pathogen interactions.
Exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke increases the risk of severe infectious illnesses and hospital admissions in young children. Children born prematurely or with low birth weight are particularly vulnerable to these risks.
A survey of infectious diseases physicians found that patients taking immune-modulating therapies are at risk for nontuberculosis mycobacterial infections, histoplasmosis, and invasive S. aureus infections. Clinicians should be vigilant for these infections, particularly in patients with underlying lung disease.
Researchers develop a technique to coat viruses with proteins, allowing for easier tracking and treatment of infectious diseases. This breakthrough could lead to new treatments for cancer, cardiovascular, metabolic, and inherited disorders.
Researchers have developed a rapid way to produce human monoclonal antibodies against the flu, overcoming technical barriers that slowed their development. The new technique could potentially be used for diagnosis and treatment of other infectious diseases.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has outlined a research agenda to combat drug-resistant tuberculosis, a major public health concern. The agenda focuses on developing reliable diagnostics, testing new drugs, and understanding the biology of TB-causing bacteria.
Researchers have identified a common molecular disease pathway explaining how diverse non-infectious and infectious agents like anthrax, lung plague, SARS, and H5N1 avian influenza can cause severe lung failure with similar pathologies. Oxidative stress triggers the innate immune system, leading to severe lung damage.
A new species of bacteria, Leptospira licerasiae, has been identified as a cause of severe leptospirosis in the Peruvian Amazon region. The pathogen was found to have novel biological features and is significantly different from other forms of the bacteria.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is addressing the growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance through a multifaceted research approach. The institute is investing over $800 million annually in basic and translational research to understand the causes, consequences, and treatments of antimicrobial dru...