Researchers found that topical treatment with live Roseomonas mucosa was safe and associated with reduced disease severity in adults and children with eczema. The study's findings support further evaluation of this potential new therapy for atopic dermatitis, a condition linked to increased risks of asthma, hay fever, and food allergy.
A team of researchers has identified approximately 2,600 genes essential to the growth and survival of Plasmodium falciparum, a deadly malaria parasite. These findings could aid in the development of new or improved antimalarial drugs, highlighting key targets for future research.
A National Institutes of Health (NIH) study has found no evidence of transmissibility of chronic wasting disease in cynomolgus macaque monkeys. The research, published in the Journal of Virology, involved exposing 14 macaques to brain matter from CWD-infected deer and elk over a period of up to 13 years.
A novel computational method reveals that EBV protein EBNA2 activates human genes associated with increased risk for autoimmunity, including systemic lupus erythematosus and multiple sclerosis. Researchers propose potential therapies to interrupt this process.
Two genetically modified broadly neutralizing antibodies protected rhesus macaques from an HIV-like virus, SHIV, with long-term protection of up to 37 weeks. The study demonstrated that genetic mutations increased durability and led to extended protection.
Researchers have developed a new animal model using cynomolgus macaques to study the progression and interactions of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever with the immune system. The study aims to develop treatments and vaccines for the disease, which is fatal in nearly one in three cases.
Researchers found that influenza vaccines rarely induce antibodies against the neuraminidase protein, while natural infection does. This suggests that vaccines should be optimized to target NA for broad protection against diverse strains.
A new coronavirus identified in bats is linked to the devastating death of nearly 25,000 piglets in China. The virus, named SADS-CoV, does not infect humans and was contained through swift action by farmers.
Scientists at NIH highlight innovations that can expedite vaccine development, shortening the timeline from decades to months. These advancements enable the application of standardized manufacturing processes to multiple vaccines, creating a collective database on safety and accelerating preclinical development.
A Phase 3 clinical trial funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases found consistent and dramatic improvements in quality of life among participants with type 1 diabetes who had frequent severe hypoglycemia. Islet recipients also reported better overall health status despite needing lifelong treatment.
A newly discovered human antibody called CIS43 has been shown to prevent malaria infection in mice. The research, led by NIAID, may lead to a short-term protective measure against the disease. Further studies are planned to confirm its effectiveness and potential use as part of mass drug administration efforts to eliminate malaria.
Two new clinical trials are enrolling volunteers to test an experimental H7N9 influenza vaccine candidate in the US. The Phase 2 studies will evaluate different dosages and vaccination schedules of the inactivated vaccine, as well as an adjuvant to boost immune responses.
Researchers have discovered a promising approach to treating multidrug-resistant K. pneumoniae infections using antibodies that target the bacterial capsule polysaccharide. This method enhances the ability of immune system cells to kill the bacteria, providing a potential alternative to antibiotics.
TB, a bacterial infection that infects the lungs, is a leading cause of death worldwide. The NIH calls for modernized TB research using new diagnostic and vaccine approaches to cure people infected with any strain of Mtb.
Researchers from NIAID highlight the potential of monoclonal antibodies in treating and preventing emerging infectious diseases. These therapies have shown promise in clinical trials, such as the Ebola outbreak, and may offer a more targeted approach to infection prevention and treatment.
Scientists from NIAID exposed research mice to brain samples from three people who died from a familial prion disease. Two mutations, Y226X and G131V, were found to be transmissible to mice. The finding highlights the hardiness of prion infectivity and potential risks associated with prion transmission.
In an open-label study, nearly 90% of participants used the vaginal ring at least some of the time, with a rate of HIV infection half of what would be expected without the ring. The study found promising results for the desirability and effectiveness of the anti-HIV vaginal ring in real-world settings.
A one-month antibiotic regimen was at least as safe and effective as the standard nine-month therapy for preventing active tuberculosis disease in people living with HIV. The study found that treatment adherence was significantly better for the shorter regimen, with nearly all participants completing the full course.
Researchers found that a combination therapy of broadly neutralizing antibody and immune stimulant suppressed HIV-like virus in primates for six months without additional treatment. The therapy may have targeted the viral reservoir, reducing viral loads and DNA in lymph nodes.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has unveiled a strategic plan to develop a universal influenza vaccine. The plan focuses on three key areas: improving understanding of influenza transmission, characterizing protective immunity, and designing universal vaccines.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is supporting clinical trials testing monoclonal antibodies as preventive therapies for antibiotic-resistant infections. The trials aim to prevent pneumonia caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, two bacteria posing a significant threat to human health.
A new clinical trial aims to determine if low procalcitonin levels indicate a viral lower respiratory tract infection that won't improve with antibiotic treatment. The study will enroll patients with suspected LRTIs and low PCT blood levels, and test whether they respond differently to azithromycin or placebo.
Researchers developed a rapid test to diagnose Parkinson's and dementia with Lewy bodies using cerebral spinal fluid samples. The test showed high accuracy in detecting these diseases within two days, outperforming related assays.
A study found that Ebola virus infects reproductive organs of macaques, suggesting similar infection in humans. The virus can persist in female reproductive tissues and may reach seminal fluid in men.
A recent study found a strong association between high levels of alpha-4 beta-7 on CD4+ T cells and increased risk of HIV acquisition and rapid disease progression. Women with higher pre-infection levels of alpha-4 beta-7 had more rapidly declining CD4+ T cell counts and greater viral loads.
The study aims to evaluate the current preferred first-line regimen for pregnant women recommended by WHO and two newer drug regimens containing dolutegravir. It will provide data on the use of these newer drugs during pregnancy, helping to ensure that women living with HIV and their infants receive the best available treatments.
The United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has saved millions of lives since its inception in 2003. PEPFAR-funded programs have delivered antiretroviral therapy to over 13 million people, prevented 2.2 million perinatal HIV infections, and supported vulnerable children impacted by HIV.
A new study published in mBio found that people with higher levels of anti-HA stem antibodies have less viral shedding when they get the flu, but do not have fewer or less severe signs of illness. The study suggests that these antibody levels are not independent predictors of whether someone becomes sick or how severely.
Researchers found that beneficial bacteria on mouse skin work with the immune system to defend against disease-causing microbes and accelerate wound healing. This study suggests untangling similar mechanisms in humans may improve approaches to managing skin wounds and treating other damaged tissues.
Researchers found that short-term treatment interruptions do not lead to permanent expansion of the HIV reservoir or irreversible immune damage. Upon resuming ART, participants' immune systems returned to normal levels.
An experimental MERS treatment developed from cattle plasma is safe and well-tolerated in a small clinical trial. The treatment, SAB-301, has been successfully tested in mice and shows potential for rapid production of human antibodies against other human pathogens.
A new clinical trial has shown that a stem cell transplant regimen can improve survival and quality of life for people with severe scleroderma. The study found myeloablative autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant to be superior to treatment with the immune-suppressing drug cyclophosphamide, offering significantly greater long-te...
The Zika pandemic has infected millions of people across over 80 countries, leaving many babies with birth defects. Researchers are working toward treatments and a preventive vaccine, but experts warn that the virus may reemerge more aggressively.
A new clinical trial shows that combining omalizumab with oral immunotherapy increases the ability of children with multiple food allergies to safely consume allergenic foods. The treatment resulted in over 80% of children being able to eat at least two grams of two or more foods without adverse reactions.
Researchers have developed an inactivated Zika purified virus (ZPIV) vaccine that induced an immune response in participants and was well-tolerated, according to Phase 1 clinical trial results.
A gene-based Zika vaccine developed by NIH scientists has been found to be safe and immunogenic in healthy adults, with 60-89% of participants generating a neutralizing antibody response. The vaccine, which includes a small piece of DNA called a plasmid, triggers the body to mount an immune response when injected into muscle.
The first large-scale clinical trial of a long-acting injectable medication for HIV prevention in sexually active women has begun. The study will examine whether a long-acting form of the investigational anti-HIV drug cabotegravir can safely protect women at risk for HIV infection.
The NIH has launched a Phase 2b proof-of-concept study called Imbokodo to assess the safety and efficacy of an experimental HIV vaccine regimen. The study aims to enroll 2,600 HIV-negative women in sub-Saharan Africa and will test the quadrivalent mosaic vaccine against placebo.
A combination of proven HIV prevention measures significantly reduced new HIV infections in a Ugandan district. The strategy includes voluntary medical male circumcision and HIV-suppressing antiretroviral therapy.
Researchers highlight the challenges of preparing seasonal influenza vaccines in eggs, citing reduced effectiveness rates of 40-60 percent. They also emphasize the need for targeted research on manufacturing strategies and vaccine antigens to improve vaccine efficacy.
Researchers at NIAID found that some patients' seemingly inexplicable anaphylaxis was caused by an uncommon allergy to a molecule found naturally in red meat. Six study participants tested positive for an allergy to galactose-a-1,3-galactose, or alpha-gal, and experienced no anaphylaxis after implementing diets free of red meat.
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.
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.
Researchers from NIAID and University of California, Berkeley develop a cell phone-based videomicroscope that provides fast and effective testing for L. loa parasites in blood samples, allowing dually-infected patients to be protected from ivermectin complications.
Two Ebola vaccine candidates elicited strong and long-lasting immune responses in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. The study found that 71% of one vaccine and 84% of another developed antibodies to the Ebola virus within a month, with antibody responses maintained for at least a year.
Despite progress in HIV treatment and prevention, a durable end to the pandemic may require an effective HIV vaccine. Existing tools such as antiretroviral therapy and pre-exposure prophylaxis can effectively prevent HIV transmission and manage the disease.
A combination of pathogen-specific, platform-based, and prototype-pathogen approaches is crucial for effective pandemic preparedness. These methods enable rapid deployment of diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines to stop outbreaks in their tracks.
Scientists develop an antibody-based Zika virus therapeutic that protects monkeys from infection and neutralizes the virus. The treatment has been shown to be effective in preventing Zika virus replication in rhesus macaques.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University engineered GM mosquitoes with altered microbiota that suppresses human malaria-causing parasites. The trait was successfully passed along to multiple generations of offspring, even when combined with wild mosquitoes, and maintained for 7 years.
Scientists at NIH and Sanofi created a trispecific antibody that protects monkeys from two strains of SHIV, a monkey form of HIV. The antibody stops more strains from infecting cells than individual natural antibodies, showing promise for long-acting prevention and treatment.