A Phase 1 clinical trial is enrolling up to 55 healthy adults to test the safety and immunogenicity of a candidate Lassa vaccine. The trial aims to prevent Lassa fever, a viral hemorrhagic disease that can cause permanent hearing loss.
Researchers at NIH identified characteristic symptoms of topical steroid withdrawal (TSW), including elevated nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) levels, which can be diagnosed using provisional criteria. TSW treatment may involve mitochondrial complex I-blocking drugs, such as metformin or berberine.
The Study of Tecovirimat for Mpox (STOMP) trial found that tecovirimat did not reduce the time to clinical resolution of clade II mpox lesions or improve pain control. The antiviral drug was shown to be safe but ineffective in treating clade II mpox.
Researchers found that omalizumab significantly improved treatment outcomes for multi-food allergy patients compared to oral immunotherapy. A total of 36% of omalizumab recipients could tolerate at least 2 grams of multiple food allergens, while only 19% of oral immunotherapy participants achieved this threshold.
Researchers report that eating increasingly higher doses of peanut butter enabled 100% of children with peanut allergy who initially tolerated half a peanut to consume three tablespoons without an allergic reaction. The therapy could potentially fulfill an unmet need for about half of children with peanut allergy, who already can toler...
Influenza A virus particles can change shape from spheres to larger filaments to favor infection efficiency, according to a new NIH study. The researchers developed a method to observe real-time structure formation and found that filament shape requires more energy, helping the virus evade immune responses.
The NIH-funded clinical trial aims to evaluate the safety and ability of AV-1 to lessen symptoms in people suffering from dengue. The study will expose adult volunteers to a weakened strain of dengue virus and administer AV-1 at various doses.
The rollout of doxycycline as a prevention strategy for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) has shown promise in reducing syphilis and chlamydia rates, but its effectiveness on gonorrhea is limited. Close monitoring for antimicrobial resistance is necessary to ensure the long-term efficacy of doxy PEP.
Researchers at NIH have identified a novel class of anti-malaria antibodies that target previously untargeted regions of the parasite. These antibodies have shown promise in providing protection against malaria parasites in animal models and could lead to new prevention methods.
The NIH and its partners remain focused on monitoring the H5N1 virus, which has caused sporadic infections among wild birds and poultry farms. Researchers highlight four keys to controlling the current outbreak: timely collaborations, disease surveillance, medical countermeasures, and precautions to prevent exposure.
The Study of Tecovirimat for Mpox (STOMP) trial found that tecovirimat was safe but did not improve mpox resolution or pain in adults with mild to moderate clade II mpox. The study recommended stopping further enrollment due to the lack of efficacy signal.
Researchers discovered a single mutation in the H5N1 virus that improves its ability to attach to human cells, potentially making it easier for humans to become infected. The study's findings stress the importance of continued genomic surveillance and public health preparedness to monitor potential genetic changes.
A clinical trial has begun to assess the safety and acceptability of a novel rectal HIV microbicide douche containing tenofovir for pre-exposure prophylaxis. The study aims to provide an 'on-demand' HIV prevention method for eligible individuals who engage in receptive anal intercourse.
Researchers found a bovine H5N1 virus isolated from an infected worker to be transmissible and lethal in mice and ferrets, with limited efficiency. The virus is susceptible to certain antiviral drugs, including favipiravir and baloxavir marboxil.
A multicenter observational study in the US found that kidney transplantation from deceased donors with HIV to recipients with HIV was safe and noninferior to transplantation from donors without HIV. The study enrolled 198 adults with HIV and end-stage kidney disease, comparing outcomes between 99 donors with HIV and 99 without.
A new clinical trial has found that the mpox vaccine is safe and generates an immune response equivalent to adults, providing hope for adolescents affected by the virus. The study's interim results were presented at IDWeek2024 conference in Los Angeles.
The NIH has released an update on its priorities for mpox research, focusing on understanding the virus's transmission, vaccine development, and treatments. The agenda aims to improve detection and prevention strategies for the disease, which is most severe in people with compromised immune systems.
The NIH has established a pandemic preparedness research network, ReVAMPP, to focus on high-priority pathogens with the potential to cause deadly diseases. The network will study viruses from families that have caused human disease for millennia and aim to develop safe and effective medical countermeasures.
A NIH-supported study found that optional emergency department screening increased syphilis diagnosis by 24.4% among nearly 300,000 encounters, particularly among pregnant people. The strategy can help close current healthcare gaps in syphilis diagnosis and treatment.
The NIH has awarded grants to develop novel diagnostic tools for syphilis, aiming to simplify the testing process and enhance public health response. Advanced molecular techniques, such as nucleic acid amplification systems, are being explored to improve understanding of infant immune responses and diagnose the infection more accurately.
A study examining tecovirimat's effectiveness on mpox in the DRC found the drug safe but showed no significant impact on lesion duration. The trial, sponsored by the NIH and co-led with the DRC, resulted in lower mortality rates among participants compared to reported cases.
A malaria vaccine candidate has demonstrated sustained protection against parasite infection and clinical malaria over two years without a booster dose. The vaccine significantly protected women from malaria in pregnancy, offering new strategies to prevent the disease in vulnerable populations.
An exploratory analysis associates current or previous use of antiretroviral drug abacavir with an increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in people with HIV. The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, found no elevated MACE risk for other antiretroviral drugs included in the analysis.
A study found that single laboratory-based HIV viral load tests used by U.S. clinicians in long-acting PrEP patients often resulted in false positives, but confirmatory testing improved accuracy.
A global study among cisgender women found long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) to be safe and well-tolerated as HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) before and during pregnancy. The analysis of over 300 pregnancies and infants showed similar outcomes to general population estimates.
Researchers found that bovine HPAI H5N1 viruses induced severe disease in mice and ferrets after intranasal inoculation, with high virus levels detected in respiratory and non-respiratory organs. However, the virus did not transmit efficiently via respiratory droplets among ferrets.
The NIH is sponsoring a Phase 1 trial of an experimental nasal COVID-19 vaccine that may offer enhanced protection against emerging variants. The trial will enroll 60 adult participants and assess the safety and immune response of the vaccine candidate, MPV/S-2P.
A Phase 1 clinical trial is underway to evaluate the safety and efficacy of an investigational monoclonal antibody targeting enterovirus D68 (EV-D68), a virus associated with severe respiratory and neurological diseases. The trial will assess the antibody's potency, duration of action, and optimal dose in healthy volunteers.
Scientists identified Roseomonas mucosa as a beneficial bacterium that relieves eczema symptoms in adults and children. The probiotic is available over-the-counter and has shown significant improvement in eczema severity, skin barrier function, and quality of life.
Lenacapavir has shown 100% efficacy as PrEP among cisgender women in a Phase 3 clinical trial. The twice-yearly injection offers improved feasibility of PrEP for those experiencing barriers to daily pill-taking. NIAID looks forward to additional data and regulatory decisions.
A recent study by scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases found that the amount of infectious H5N1 influenza viruses in raw milk rapidly declined with heat treatment. However, small amounts of infectious virus remained detectable in some samples even after high-temperature pasteurization.
The NIH has released its plan for advancing H5N1 influenza basic research, focusing on increasing virus understanding and developing prevention and treatment strategies. The research agenda aims to address the current outbreak in US dairy cows and potential human-to-human transmission of H5N1 viruses.
Two mid-stage studies assess lenacapavir's safety and acceptability in cisgender women and people who inject drugs, adding to a global manufacturer-led clinical development program. The trials aim to provide insights on how these priority populations experience long-acting HIV PrEP.
Researchers found that a drug approved to treat autoimmune diseases and cancers alleviated symptoms of APS-1, a rare genetic syndrome caused by elevated interferon-gamma. Ruxolitinib, a Janus kinase inhibitor, normalized IFN-gamma responses and reduced AP-1-related symptoms in study participants.
Researchers have successfully stimulated animals' immune systems to induce rare precursor B cells that can produce HIV broadly neutralizing antibodies. The findings are an encouraging step in developing a preventive HIV vaccine, targeting the challenging task of genetically diverse HIV.
A new study found that feeding children peanut products regularly from infancy to age 5 reduced the rate of peanut allergy in adolescence. The results showed a 71% reduction in peanut allergy, even when children ate or avoided peanut products later on.
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found high H5N1 virus levels in mice administered raw milk from infected dairy cows. The results suggest that consuming raw milk may pose a risk for H5N1 infection, highlighting the need for further research into pasteurization and its effectiveness.
A new NIH study using human cerebral organoids suggests a substantial species barrier preventing the transmission of chronic wasting disease from cervids to people. Researchers found no infection in healthy human cerebral organoids exposed to CWD prions for up to six months.
Researchers developed a dose-sparing intradermal mpox vaccination regimen that was safe and generated an antibody response equivalent to the standard regimen at six weeks. The results suggest this regimen could be used during future outbreaks to extend limited vaccine supply, but more study is needed to confirm its efficacy.
A mid-stage trial of an experimental malaria monoclonal antibody found it to be 77% effective in preventing infection and disease in children in Mali. The treatment, administered by subcutaneous injection, was developed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and is designed to provide long-acting protection against malaria.
Researchers discovered two distinct sites on the EBV protein gp42 that can be targeted to prevent infection and cancer. Monoclonal antibody A10 provided nearly complete protection against EBV infection in mice.
A clinical trial shows four children achieved HIV remission, with one child remaining in remission for over a year. The study suggests that very early treatment initiation may limit HIV's ability to establish reservoirs and increases the prospect of HIV remission.
A new study shows long-acting antiretroviral medications are safe and effective for people with HIV who struggle with daily oral regimens. The treatments provided better viral suppression than daily oral ART, with a lower risk of discontinuation due to adverse events.
A large clinical study conducted in South Africa, Uganda, and Zimbabwe found that the dapivirine vaginal ring and daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis to be safe for HIV prevention among pregnant women. The study involved 248 pregnancies and showed no increased risk of stillbirth or miscarriage.
A Phase 2b pilot study found semaglutide reduced liver fat content in people with HIV, with 29% of participants experiencing complete resolution of MASLD. The treatment also led to weight loss and improved blood sugar levels.
A large international clinical trial found that standard tools underestimate cardiovascular event risk in people with HIV, particularly in high-income regions and those with detectable viral loads. The study highlights the need for updated screening tools to provide precision care for the diverse population living with HIV.
Researchers at NIH have identified antibodies targeting a hard-to-spot region of the influenza virus's neuraminidase protein head, known as the NA dark side. These antibodies could be used to develop new vaccine and therapeutic strategies, providing protection against influenza viruses with drug-resistant mutations.
A monoclonal antibody, omalizumab, increased the tolerance threshold for multiple food allergens, allowing children to consume larger amounts without a reaction. The treatment showed significant benefits in reducing allergic reactions, particularly for peanut and egg, with potential protection against accidental exposure.
The FDA has approved omalizumab for the reduction of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, in adults and children aged 1 year and older with food allergy. The approval is based on data from a Phase 3 clinical trial sponsored by NIAID.
Research from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases found that COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy can provide protection to infants for at least six months. Infants born to mothers who received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine had higher antibody levels and greater protection from infection.