Infectious Diseases

A group of infectious disease specialists published an article in JAMA advocating for increased awareness and preparedness in the medical field to address the evolving threat of diseases due to climate change. They emphasize the need for updated medical training and proactive measures to mitigate global warming’s impact on health. Credit: SciTechDaily.comExperts highlight the connection between climate change and infectious diseases, urging medical professionals to prepare for new disease patterns and advocate for climate…

Researchers are advancing a recombinant flu vaccine that uses innovative nanoliposome technology for enhanced immunity and efficiency, showing promising early results against common flu strains. Credit: SciTechDaily.comTests show the recombinant vaccine outperforming existing vaccines in some areas.Recombinant protein vaccines, like the Novavax vaccine used to fight COVID-19, offer several advantages over conventional vaccines.They’re easy to precisely produce. They’re safe, and potentially more effective. And they could…

A recent study explores the dynamics of nonpharmaceutical interventions in pandemic management, revealing how minor changes can significantly affect the optimal strategy.New research highlights the fine balance between health and economic strategies in pandemic response, introducing an innovative approach that adapts to changing virus dynamics.The COVID-19 pandemic raised questions about when and to what extent costly nonpharmaceutical interventions (e.g., lockdowns) should be used to slow the contagious spread of the…

One of the most existentially frightening illnesses ever to be discovered was mad cow disease, a fatal prion-spread illness that appeared in animals in the 1980s and killed over 200 people during the height of the outbreak in the late 1990s. You don’t hear much about mad cow today, but the threat still looms. Here’s what happened to this nightmare germ.Dave Bautista Opens Up About His Relationship With Denis VilleneuveIn 1986, farmers in the UK began to report strange behavior among some of their cows. The affected…

A team of Australian researchers discovered a mutation in E. coli that enables it to cause severe infections by preventing cellulose production, offering new insights into combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria.Mutation in E. coli facilitates severe disease by hindering cellulose production, revealing new approaches to fight antibiotic resistance.Queensland researchers have discovered that a mutation allows some E. coli bacteria to cause severe disease in people while other bacteria are harmless, a finding that could…

Myotis bats roosting together. Credit: Dr. Nicole Foley/Texas A&M University School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical SciencesThe evolution of viral tolerance in Myotis bats may help scientists prevent future pandemics, say researchers at Texas A&M.Bats carry some of the deadliest zoonotic diseases that can infect both humans and animals, such as Ebola and COVID-19.In a recently published article in the journal Cell Genomics, a Texas A&M research team revealed that some species of bats are protected…

Neurological symptoms in COVID-19 patients, such as headaches and fatigue, may not be due to direct brain infection but rather the body’s immune response to the virus, with studies showing no virus in brain neurons.Neurological symptoms are apparently not a result of SARS-CoV-2 infection of the brain.Scientists still are not sure how neurological symptoms arise in COVID-19. Is it because SARS-CoV-2 infects the brain? Or are these symptoms the result of inflammation in the rest of the body? A study by Charité –…

Innovative silicon spikes developed by URV and RMIT University effectively neutralize 96% of viruses, promising safer laboratory and healthcare settings. The image shows a virus on a nanostructured surface. Credit: ACS NanoAn international research project in which the URV has taken part has designed and manufactured a surface that has virucidal properties but does not use any chemicals.A team of researchers from the URV and RMIT University (Australia) has designed and manufactured a surface that uses mechanical means to…

A groundbreaking study by LJI scientists has uncovered how T cells target Mycobacterium tuberculosis, identifying key T cell epitopes that could lead to new TB vaccines and diagnostics. This research offers hope for more effective TB treatments and preventative measures.By tracking T cell activity, researchers uncover promising tuberculosis vaccine and drug targets.La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) is working to guide the development of new tuberculosis vaccines and drug therapies.Now a team of LJI scientists has…

Recent trials of the iNKT cell therapy agenT-797 have demonstrated significant improvements in survival rates for critically ill COVID-19 patients with ARDS. This innovative treatment, which bolsters the immune response and reduces inflammation, offers hope for broader applications beyond COVID-19. Credit: SciTechDaily.comInitial trial suggests invariant natural killer cell therapy improves survival.Promising trial results indicate that a new type of cell therapy could improve the prognosis of those who are critically ill…