A report by the American College of Cardiology recommends prioritizing US resources toward detecting and treating cardiovascular disease, while maintaining efforts to eradicate infectious diseases. The report aims to save lives and contribute to worldwide economic prosperity through a strong global health strategy.
Researchers detected abnormal prion protein in the skin of nearly two dozen CJD patients and found that healthy mice infected with skin extracts developed prion disease. The study raises questions about potential surgical instrument contamination and the use of skin samples as a diagnostic test for human and animal prion diseases.
Case Western Reserve University researchers found infectious prions in CJD patient skin, which are 1,000-100,000 times lower than in brain tissue. This discovery raises concerns about potential disease transmission through surgeries and may pave the way for less invasive diagnostic techniques.
A new study finds that non-communicable diseases have become the leading cause of death in India, surpassing infectious diseases. The study reveals significant state-level variations in health outcomes, with some states experiencing much higher rates of deaths and illnesses due to conditions like diabetes and ischemic heart disease.
The article highlights the lessons learned from past infectious disease outbreaks, including HIV/AIDS and SARS, to inform current responses to emerging threats such as Zika. The NIAID Director emphasizes the importance of sustained support for scientific research and effective communication with policymakers and communities.
A recent study published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases found that Australia's highly successful HPV vaccination program has led to a significant decline in cases of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, an uncommon and difficult-to-treat childhood respiratory disease. As a result, medical costs related to the disease have decre...
African teams join forces with UK experts to develop novel treatments for malaria and sleeping sickness, as part of the £7 million Tackling Infections to Benefit Africa (Tiba) project. The initiative aims to strengthen health systems across the continent.
New culture-independent tests are more sensitive than traditional methods in detecting the cause of infectious diarrhea. However, these tests may detect multiple organisms, requiring infectious disease expertise for interpretation. The IDSA guidelines recommend testing children under 5, elderly individuals, and those with specific symp...
A study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases defines the burden of hepatitis C virus infection in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Researchers developed a simple test using existing HIV testing equipment, identifying 1% of adults living in the DRC as potentially infected.
A recent CU Anschutz study found that climate change can spur outbreaks of infectious diseases like Zika, malaria, and dengue fever. The researchers discovered a 12-fold increase in Zika cases in Ecuador after an earthquake struck the region during an exceptionally strong El Niño event.
A study by University of Utah Health found that 7% of US athletes and staff infected with mosquito-borne viruses during the 2016 Rio Olympics were positive for West Nile virus, Dengue fever, and Chikungunya. Most had mild symptoms or no symptoms at all, highlighting the importance of post-travel diagnostics.
A new universal surveillance platform is being developed to detect infectious diseases, using Ceres' Nanotrap technology and Tasso's HemoLink device. The platform aims to provide safe and simple blood sample collection in remote environments, improving early response to outbreaks.
Researchers used PET imaging to study brain inflammation following Zika virus infection in mice, finding a 2- to 6-fold increase in global brain neuroinflammation over time. The technology allows for longitudinal studies of the same animal during the course of the infection, providing enhanced information about disease progression.
The Joint West Africa Research Group (JWARG) has begun a study to identify cases of suspected severe infectious diseases in West Africa. The study will enroll adult volunteers who present as severely ill with a suspected infectious source, and collect samples for laboratory analysis.
Researchers at NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases have developed a laboratory model to study tick-borne flaviviruses, including Powassan virus. The new model involves culturing organs from Ixodes scapularis ticks with flaviviruses, which can infect salivary glands and midgut.
Duke scientists discovered a gene variant linked to susceptibility to typhoid fever and found that cholesterol-lowering drug ezetimibe protected zebrafish against Salmonella Typhi. The study provides insight into human susceptibility to infectious disease and potential avenues for protection.
A new study by Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso researchers explores the impact of prior West Nile virus exposure on Zika infection. The team collected blood samples from 500 individuals and tested for West Nile antibodies to determine whether previous exposure could inhibit or enhance Zika infection severity.
Climate change may exacerbate epidemics and spread diseases within their natural range, according to a new study on European pathogens. Nearly two-thirds of the top 100 human and animal pathogens are found to be sensitive to climate change.
The article highlights the urgent need for specialist health workers to promote appropriate antibiotic use, improve diagnosis and treatment of infections, and prevent drug-resistant bacteria. The proposed multidisciplinary teams should be made up of infectious diseases specialists, clinical microbiologists, nurses, and pharmacists.
Researchers at Wayne State University are developing new therapeutic treatments and targets for environmental remediation for cholera using a zebrafish animal model. The goal is to better understand the infectious cycle and genes involved in causing the disease.
The Francis Crick Institute has launched a fellowship programme to train African researchers to combat infectious diseases in their home countries. The programme, called the Crick African Network, will provide two years of intensive training and mentorship to foster the next generation of research leaders in Africa.
Researchers found that individuals with trypophobia experience intense disgust and nausea when viewing cluster images, even for disease-irrelevant stimuli. The study suggests a connection between trypophobia and an evolutionary history of infectious disease and parasitism.
The Lancet Infectious Diseases study finds that diarrhoea is the fourth leading cause of death for children under 5, with 42% of deaths occurring in India and Nigeria. The researchers call for immediate and sustained actions to increase healthcare access and the use of oral rehydration solutions.
Researchers developed a new FISH-Flow protocol to analyze hundreds of thousands of cells simultaneously, allowing for faster and more accurate disease detection. The protocol identifies telltale mRNA species and proteins, enabling early diagnosis and treatment of infectious and non-infectious lung diseases.
A special issue of the Journal of Infectious Diseases focuses on HIV eradication, exploring scientific thinking behind cure strategies. Researchers from UNC and other institutions discuss challenges and priorities in key areas of HIV cure research.
The lack of access to essential antibiotics, particularly for treating sick babies and children, is a pressing concern. The high costs involved in registering medicines in multiple countries are the primary cause of this issue, combined with the relatively small market for these antibiotics.
Using a genetic 'toolkit,' scientists observe unprecedented interaction between Brucella and Legionella pneumophila, improving infectious potential of Brucella. The technique creates light-emitting bacteria for easy observation, identification in the lab.
An international team of scientists has determined the 3-D atomic structure of over 1,000 proteins that are potential drug and vaccine targets. The experimentally determined structures have been deposited into the World-Wide Protein Data Bank, freely available to the scientific community.
Scientists have identified a group of seven genes that show distinct patterns of expression in patients with malaria, distinguishing it from other infectious diseases. This discovery could lead to the development of a fast and accurate blood test for malaria.
A new study found that increased biodiversity is not associated with reduced levels of infectious disease, and in some cases, disease burdens actually increased as areas became more forested. However, increasing urbanization was shown to reduce disease due to improved access to medical care and vaccinations.
Researchers have explored the potential of this novel therapeutic approach, demonstrating promising pre-clinical data with over 40 scientific papers. Vectored-antibody delivery using rAAV offers advantages in treatment of various chronic and infectious diseases.
Researchers at NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases have identified a set of protein complexes that are recruited to viral genes to stimulate both initial infection and reactivation from latency. Environmental stresses also induce reactivation, providing new targets for the development of therapeutics.
A new study tracks infectious disease trends in China over ten years, finding that while overall incidence has declined, some diseases like hydatid disease and hepatitis C are on the rise. The study highlights the need for improved prevention and control measures, particularly in remote border regions.
Researchers discovered blood-sucking flies can act as 'flying syringes' to detect emerging infectious diseases in wild animals. The method analyzes the origin of the blood and species of malaria parasites present, with potential implications for controlling global outbreaks.
Researchers have developed more realistic 3-D co-culture models of intestinal tissue, incorporating immune cells like macrophages, to study Salmonella infections. The models better recapitulate the natural infection process and offer a powerful new tool for understanding enteric pathogenesis.
Researchers at Penn State are investigating the collection of viruses, known as the virome, in white-footed mice and black-legged ticks to better predict infectious disease outbreaks in humans. The team aims to identify new infectious viruses in these animals before they spill over into humans.
A survey of over 400 young doctors found that one in five experience burnout, bullying, and poor work-life balance. Women's experiences are particularly worse than men's, with a higher likelihood of feeling unappreciated and frustrated.
The NIH is conducting a Phase 1 clinical trial to test an investigational vaccine called AGS-v, designed to trigger an immune response to mosquito saliva. The goal is to provide broad protection against mosquito-transmitted diseases such as Zika, malaria, and dengue fever.
The Infectious Diseases Society of America has published guidelines for diagnosing and treating complex neurological infections, highlighting the importance of a multidisciplinary team approach. The guidelines provide parameters for identifying and managing ventriculitis and meningitis, as well as prevention strategies.
Lyme disease affects approximately 329,000 people annually in the US, with a focus on understanding how Borrelia burgdorferi adapts to survive in tick vectors and mammalian hosts. Dr. Seshu's research seeks to find better solutions to prevent the spread of Lyme disease.
The study reveals that veterinarian movements significantly contribute to the spread of diseases, with animal exchanges playing a synergistic role. This research can help develop more accurate tools for predicting disease outbreaks and implement effective biosecurity measures.
H5Nx viruses, spreading globally through migratory wild birds, display a binding protein on their surfaces that allows them to exit host cells. This adaptation may render them less able to spread to humans, but not rule out eventual evolution to infect people.
A global partnership, CEPI, aims to create vaccines for emerging infectious diseases with a $460m initial investment from governments and foundations. The Coalition will target MERS-CoV, Lassa, and Nipah viruses, as well as Ebola and Zika, to develop safe and effective vaccines that can be deployed rapidly to contain outbreaks.
A new study suggests that mosquitoes carrying a greater number of malaria-causing parasites are more likely to cause infection in humans. The researchers found that injecting more parasites with each bite increases the chances of malaria transmission.
Researchers discovered a strong link between proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and an increased risk of infectious gastroenteritis. People taking PPIs are up to 70% more likely to be hospitalized for this illness. The study used data from the Sax Institute's 45 and Up Study to examine cases in Australians over 45.
Researchers found that prion diseases can infect the gut through contaminated meat, and that M cells are key to whether or not the infection takes hold. The study suggests that factors like inflammation and ageing may influence a person's risk of contracting prion diseases.
A new study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases found that HIV patients in Africa are developing resistance to both older generation drugs like thymidine analogues and modern drugs like tenofovir. This highlights the need for genetic testing before prescribing first-line treatments.
A study investigated infectious disease mortality trends in the US from 1980 to 2014, revealing overall and infectious disease mortality decreased until 1995, then leveled off. The introduction of antiretroviral therapy for HIV/AIDS led to a decline in overall and HIV/AIDS mortality rates.
The parasite is transmitted by sand fly bites, causing cutaneous, mucosal, or visceral leishmaniasis. Timely diagnosis and treatment with oral miltefosine, heat treatment for CL, and FDA-approved medications are vital to manage the disease.
The NIH-led initiative reviews the use of big data in infectious disease surveillance, combining traditional and non-traditional data sources to provide more accurate and timely information. This approach aims to forecast outbreak sizes and trajectories, enabling better responses to emerging threats.
A new global report calls for a 5-step plan to improve hygiene practices and reduce the burden of infectious diseases in children worldwide. The report aims to halve the incidence of diarrhoea and reduce common infections such as gastroenteritis, colds, and influenza in babies and children.
A new modeling study published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases suggests that smoking may shorten the lifespan of people living with HIV more than the virus itself. Smoking cessation is crucial to improve life expectancy and overall health among this population, with significant health and economic benefits.
A new study from the University of Georgia finds that the delay between a disease outbreak's possibility and its occurrence depends on infection frequency and disease transmission rate. The findings provide key insights into drivers of outbreaks and offer an estimate of likely delay times, aiming to improve public health preparedness.
The ZikaPLAN consortium aims to address knowledge gaps, prevent disease spread, and educate affected populations in Latin America. The global network will also build sustainable response capacity for Zika and other emerging infectious diseases.
A 21-year study found people living in remote areas were three times more likely to have a notifiable disease, with STIs six times higher. Indigenous Australians make up only 3% of the population but represent 8% of notified cases, highlighting significant under-reporting.
The Association for Molecular Pathology released a new report highlighting the potential of MALDI-TOF-MS in identifying invasive infectious diseases. The technology has been shown to accurately identify filamentous fungi and mycobacteria, but more testing is needed before its use can be recommended.
IDRI aims to develop a safe and effective Zika vaccine using RNA-based technology, which can be rapidly manufactured without requiring egg growth or bacteria cultivation. The institute plans to leverage the Zika virus's own machinery for expression of immunogenic proteins.
Scientists at the University of Alberta have identified the structure of the infectious prion protein, a misfolded protein causing BSE, Chronic Wasting Disease, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. The breakthrough study uses electron cryomicroscopy technology to reveal how infectious prions replicate and propagate.
A study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases found that people infected with Ebola virus were 20% more likely to survive if they were co-infected with malaria-causing Plasmodium parasites. The survival difference was evident even after controlling for Ebola viral load and age.
Valley fever, caused by Coccidioides immitis and Coccidioides posadasii, affects over 150,000 people annually. Early diagnosis is crucial to prevent unnecessary tests and treatment, reducing the impact of complications. Pregnant women, immunocompromised individuals, and those with diabetes are at high risk for severe outcomes.