A recent study published in Nature reveals that zoonoses, disease originating in animals, are a major threat to emerging diseases. The team's analysis of 335 disease emergence incidents between 1940 and found that tropical regions with abundant wildlife species are likely next targets.
A study found that in sub-Saharan Africa, more women die from treatable infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS and malaria than from pregnancy-related complications. Effective treatment and prevention measures can greatly reduce maternal mortality rates.
Patients with severe acute pancreatitis who received probiotics had higher mortality rates than those receiving a placebo. The study suggests that probiotics may not be effective in preventing infectious complications and modulating the immune system in these patients.
A recent study found that Arctic birds carry antibiotics-resistant bacteria, highlighting the global spread of antibiotic resistance. The researchers believe immigrating birds from Southeast Asia may have introduced these resistant bacteria to the tundra.
Dr. Beth Levine, a renowned specialist in autophagy, received the award for medicine for her groundbreaking work that has propelled forward medical research on cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and infectious diseases. Her investigations have identified key genes involved in autophagy, contributing to various diseases.
Travelers to tropical regions are at risk of contracting neglected tropical diseases, including filarial infections that can cause elephantiasis and river blindness. The GeoSentinel Surveillance Network collected data on traveler diagnoses, revealing immigrants from endemic regions were most likely to acquire these infections.
A new study suggests that a vaccine targeting Epstein-Barr virus may prevent infectious mononucleosis, commonly known as “mono” or “glandular fever.” The vaccine was found to reduce the proportion of symptomatic EBV infections from 10% in control groups to 2% in vaccinated individuals.
The new software TranStat analyzes infectious disease data to determine the probability of transmission between individuals. This information helps health officials develop effective strategies to contain outbreaks and conduct further studies in real-time.
Achieving a 2% annual reduction in mortality rates due to chronic diseases could prevent 36 million deaths by 2015. The authors urge key players, including governments, industries, and NGOs, to prioritize policies and programs to tackle chronic diseases, such as tobacco control, diet modification, and physical activity promotion.
Researchers found that abnormally folded prion protein in brain tissue does not reliably predict disease infectivity; some highly infectious samples had nearly undetectable levels of abnormal PrP. This suggests alternative mechanisms or specific conformation of abnormal PrP may be responsible for prion diseases.
Scientists use NASA satellites to monitor environmental changes, predicting infectious disease outbreaks like Ebola, West Nile virus, and Rift Valley Fever. Malaria surveillance also benefits from this technology, providing public health organizations with increased warning time to respond to outbreaks.
NIAID has awarded eight contracts to strengthen and expand its VTEUs, which will carry out more clinical trials in larger populations and safely test vaccines in specific vulnerable populations. The units will have inpatient beds for isolating volunteers, making it easier to conduct trials quickly.
Scientists at Northwestern University are mapping parts of lethal bacteria in three dimensions, exposing a fresh opening into the bacteria's vulnerabilities. This view will enable scientists to create drugs to disable or vaccines to prevent deadly infectious diseases such as anthrax, plague, and Ebola.
Researchers have discovered that treating two or more neglected tropical diseases simultaneously with existing oral drug treatments can be effective and efficient. The treatment approach has the potential to save millions of lives annually, particularly in Africa where nearly 500 million people are at risk for these diseases.
Experts from the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene meet to address global health concerns and share research on infectious diseases such as Chagas and Dengue fever, which pose a threat to the US blood supply. Researchers also discuss using NASA technology to monitor deadly outbreaks like Ebola and malaria.
A team of scientists will use a systems biology approach to build a detailed picture of immune system function, focusing on innate and adaptive immunity. The research aims to develop new treatments, diagnostics, and vaccines for infectious diseases.
Researchers from Imperial College London found that people with medium levels of HIV in their blood are the most likely to spread the virus. They can remain asymptomatic for six to eight years before progressing to AIDS, infecting multiple sexual partners during this time.
Dr. Gumbo's award aims to develop a treatment regimen based on blocking the mechanisms that tuberculosis bacteria use to avoid being killed by antibiotics, potentially reducing treatment time from months to weeks.
Staphylococcus aureus infections rose from 250,000 in 1998 to 390,000 in 2003, resulting in significant economic burden on hospitals.
A new study shows that spaceflight affects the genetic responses and disease-causing potential of Salmonella typhimurium, making it more infectious. The research, led by Arizona State University, reveals a key role for a master regulator called Hfq in triggering these changes.
A team of researchers funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has solved the complete genome of Brugia malayi, a parasite that causes elephantiasis. This breakthrough reveals dozens of potential new targets for drugs or vaccines, offering new opportunities for understanding, treating and preventing the disease.
Joanna Kubler-Kielb is honored with the American Society for Microbiology ICAAC Young Investigator Award for her research excellence in microbiology and infectious diseases, including work on anthrax and Lyme disease. Her research has led to significant contributions toward developing new vaccines against these diseases.
Researchers found that prion infection influences the expression of endogenous retroviruses in mouse cells, with some sequences increasing and others decreasing. The effects could be suppressed by an anti-prion drug, suggesting a possible link between prions and retrovirus production.
Researchers used World of Warcraft to simulate a virtual epidemic, revealing the importance of individual behavior in spreading diseases. The outbreak, caused by a programming error, highlighted the limitations of computer models in predicting human behavior.
Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Pharmacy will conduct four projects to discover new medicines for bioterrorism and other infectious diseases. The Institute for Advanced Pharmaceutical Sciences will also explore natural products for therapeutic potential against anthrax and other pathogens.
Researchers identified three gene variants linked to HIV control and progression, providing new targets for therapies and vaccines. The study's findings could lead to improved treatments and more effective immune responses against the virus.
A paper by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health highlights the need for enhanced global infectious disease surveillance due to resource constraints. The authors recommend increasing resources for compatible reporting systems, providing additional support, and educating policymakers on disease surveillance as a priority.
The new publication provides up-to-date recommendations for clinicians treating patients with both HIV and TB, emphasizing the urgent challenge of integrating these two complex diseases. Key articles focus on treatment options, diagnostic tools, and prevention strategies, highlighting the need for closer collaboration between experts.
A study by University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers found that soil particles can increase the infectious nature of rogue proteins causing CWD. Binding to common soil minerals like montmorillonite significantly increases oral transmissibility, with a nearly 700-fold difference observed.
The LSUHSC School of Dentistry will lead a $3.3 million institute for infectious disease research, creating an educational component for Louisiana students and an intellectual stimulation program for faculty. The Clinical and Translational Research Education and Commercialization Program will support clinical research at the institutio...
The Infectious Diseases Society of America has released a new blueprint to prevent tens of thousands of deaths and illnesses caused by vaccine-preventable diseases. The blueprint aims to improve vaccination rates among adults and adolescents, with a focus on increasing access to vaccines for underserved populations.
A new study published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases has identified eight gene clusters associated with altered susceptibility to fever after smallpox vaccination. These genetic variations are linked to the interleukin-1 (IL-1) gene complex and the interleukin-18 gene on chromosome 11.
The Burroughs Wellcome Fund has awarded $8 million to 16 researchers investigating infectious diseases, including HIV, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Plasmodium falciparum. The awards aim to support multidisciplinary approaches to understanding the interaction between humans and pathogens.
Researchers are working together to identify the cause of Devil Facial Tumour Disease and develop a test to detect infected animals. The integrated team will use various techniques to search for infectious agents and markers, with the goal of stopping the disease in its tracks.
Rising global temperatures are expected to alter infectious disease patterns, with increased transmission of diseases like malaria and influenza. Climate change is also linked to water-borne diseases, as extreme weather events strain aging infrastructure.
The Indo-US Vaccine Action Program has been renewed for another five-year period, supporting research on vaccines and immunology. Many successful collaborations have addressed critical health problems, including the development of a new hepatitis C diagnostic test and candidate vaccine against rotavirus.
A University at Buffalo study finds that IL-17, a primary cause of bone destruction in autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, protects bones from infectious pathogens in the oral cavity. Researchers discovered that blocking IL-17's receptor increases susceptibility to periodontal disease.
A new virus has been identified as the cause of death in three organ transplant recipients in Australia, who received organs from the same donor. The virus is related to known strains of lymphocytic choreomeningitis virus but has a distinct genetic sequence that could not be detected with existing diagnostic methods.
A new study found that rotavirus, a common cause of diarrhea in children, can also be present systemically, with infectious virus detected in the blood of infected children. The presence of virus in the blood is directly related to the presence of antigen but independent of diarrhea.
A new study identifies a connection between allergic diseases like eczema and autoimmune diseases, suggesting that these conditions may trigger each other through immune system dysfunction. The researchers are now investigating specific triggers and exploring potential treatments, including drugs that can counter autoimmune responses.
A new study has identified hospital bed placement, staff working with symptoms of SARS, and oxygen therapy as significant risk factors for the spread of respiratory infections in hospitals. The findings have implications for controlling other respiratory disease threats, including pandemic influenza.
Researchers analyzed gene expression patterns in leukocytes from children with four common infections: flu, staph, strep, and E. coli. They identified infectious agents with high accuracy rates, distinguishing between viral and bacterial pneumonias.
A study published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases found that early HIV infections account for nearly half of all transmission occurrences. Early infection is characterized by a high viral load, making newly infected individuals highly infectious.
Academics have identified significant differences in chemical composition between healthy faeces and faeces from patients with infectious diarrhoea, such as Clostridium difficile. This breakthrough could lead to the development of a rapid diagnosis device, saving time and money.
A study validates the Infectious Disease Society of America's guidelines for classifying diabetic foot infections, confirming a simple system can predict hospitalization and amputation. The free online classification system will guide therapy and patient communication.
A Brown University study finds that a single protein plays a major role in the spread of deadly prion diseases by fragmenting clusters of infectious proteins. This process could be slowed or inhibited with a drug, potentially slowing progression of diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's as well.
Global health experts highlight the need for more international assistance to address chronic non-communicable conditions in low and middle income countries. Chronic conditions like cardiovascular disease and cancer cause more deaths than infectious diseases, yet receive less funding.
A pre-hatching prototype vaccine virus providing immunity against infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) has been developed by scientists at the Institute for Animal Health and Intervet UK. The vaccine can be delivered to chicks still in their egg using robotic 'vaccinators' and has shown protection rates of up to 100 percent.
A University of Georgia study finds that rapid detection and aggressive education can dramatically reduce the size of emerging infectious disease outbreaks. The model developed by John Drake takes into account factors like information speed and public dissemination to predict outbreak sizes.
A human trial of a DNA vaccine designed to prevent H5N1 avian influenza infection began in December 2006. The vaccine instructs human cells to make proteins that act as a vaccine against the virus, providing broad immune responses without infectious material.
The La Jolla Institute completed a first-of-its-kind study analyzing all published data worldwide on influenza A virus antibody and T cell epitopes. The study provides critical information for developing vaccines and therapies against both seasonal and pandemic influenza strains.
Researchers have identified two molecular receptors in fruit flies that detect carbon dioxide, a key factor in attracting blood-feeding insects. This finding could lead to the design of insect repellents to combat global infectious diseases.
The GreeneChip device uses nearly 30,000 pieces of genetic material to identify pathogens in human fluid and tissue samples. This technology enables rapid and specific diagnosis of emerging infectious diseases, including a previously undiagnosed fatal case of malaria.
The GreeneChip System is a comprehensive tool for differential diagnosis of infectious diseases, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. It can be used on various samples and has been tested with positive results in cases where other methods failed to implicate a microorganism.
A recent study published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases found no association between Kawasaki disease and coronavirus NL63. This conclusion contradicts an earlier study suggesting a potential link, which was later disputed due to selection bias concerns.
Researchers at CReSA have made significant advances in tests using DNA vaccines on animal models, enabling a delay in symptom appearance and paving the way for human treatment. The vaccine induces a complete immune response, including humoral and cellular responses, overcoming the tolerance barrier faced by prions.
The Journal of Infectious Diseases has published a supplement offering current information on pandemic and seasonal influenza, featuring leading experts discussing research and recommendations. The article highlights key findings on disease surveillance, vaccine manufacturing, and public health response plans.
The Infectious Diseases Society of America has updated its Clinical Practice Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease. The new guidelines include recommendations for a single dose of antibiotic for high-risk patients and expanded discussion on chronic post-Lyme syndromes.
Rural India sees a shift from infectious to chronic diseases as the leading cause of death. Cardiovascular disease and injuries now account for over 50% of deaths in rural areas.
Researchers have identified a single gene mutation that predisposes individuals to herpes simplex encephalitis, an infectious disease that can cause mental retardation and death. A new treatment strategy involving type I interferon may accelerate recovery and limit brain damage.