All Infection Prevention & Control articles – Page 8
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NewsGlobal Virus Network experts urge rapid regional action as Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak raises cross-border concerns
The Global Virus Network (GVN) calls for greater global financial, logistical and research support for the local response to the rare Bundibugjo Ebola virus outbreak in Africa. The spread of this virus, largely undetected, was declared a global public health emergency by the World Health Organization.
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NewsNew research offers practical biosecurity tools to limit poultry disease spread
New research could help producers better protect poultry flocks from disease outbreaks while reducing costs. By identifying where contamination occurs and how to interrupt those pathways, the research helps move biosecurity from theory to action, offering tools that can protect animal health and support a more stable food supply.
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NewsA common disinfectant could affect how well your liver works
Common household cleaners and pharmaceutical products contain benzalkonium chlorides (BACs), a type of disinfectant. A new study shows that exposure to these compounds caused changes in gut microbiome composition in mice, as well as the genes that encode for liver enzymes that metabolize drugs.
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NewsCOVID racism driven by more than fear of infection
Anti-Asian discrimination and violence increased during COVID, and new research has revealed one key psychological driver. Rather than being driven by a fear of infection, aggressive forms of discrimination appeared to be more strongly associated with anger.
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NewsNew molecules can offer breakthrough in fight against antibiotic resistance
Researchers have shown how TriPcides can target the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, including antibiotic‑resistant strains such as MRSA. The compounds disrupt the bacteria’s ability to cause infection and can also kill dormant bacterial cells, which are often difficult to treat with existing antibiotics.
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NewsSweeping up dust to detect emerging viruses
Gathering dust from buildings may hold promise as a more efficient way to track viral outbreaks in indoor settings, according to a new study. After collecting nearly 30 vacuumed dust samples from different buildings, researchers simultaneously identified the presence of 54 distinct viruses.
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NewsOptical method concentrates microscopic targets for faster, more sensitive detection
Researchers have developed a light-driven technique that quickly amasses thousands of bacteria into a single spot, boosting detection speed and sensitivity. Their approach paves the way for earlier diagnosis of disease.
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NewsHidden small RNA determines if cholera bacterium can infect humans
Scientists have uncovered what gives Vibrio cholerae, the bacterium that causes cholera, the ability to colonize the human gut. They found that a small RNA embedded within another gene controls where cholera thrives, a discovery that could improve prediction and prevention strategies.
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NewsAntibiotic proves ineffective in treating wheezing in young children in the emergency room
A study has shown that giving the antibiotic azithromycin did not help preschool children seen in the hospital emergency room with bouts of severe wheezing. It provides more definitive answers to longstanding questions and inconclusive studies about the role of some types of bacteria in wheezing and asthma.
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NewsOne-fifth of pregnant women aren’t properly screened for syphilis
A new study found that 1 in 5 pregnant women in Ontario did not receive timely syphilis screening, which is critical for preventing syphilis infection in newborns. Sociodemographic and behavioural risk factors associated with being screened late may be related to an increased likelihood of inadequate prenatal care access.
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NewsAgricultural azoles drive clinical azole resistance in Candida tropicalis via inducing aneuploidy
To define the causal role of agricultural azole fungicides in driving clinical azole resistance in the major human opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida tropicalis, researchers conducted a systematic study integrating experimental evolution, genomic characterization, and transcriptomic profiling.
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NewsEstablishing a regulatory framework for phage therapy in China
A new study summarizes the current regulatory frameworks for phage therapy in Western countries and China, and proposes a pathway for establishing a regulatory framework that enables safe and effective clinical application of phage therapy in China.
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NewsMpox study reveals hidden infections may fuel spread
A study shows that in mid- to late 2024, mpox was far more common among men who have sex with men than previously thought. Individuals without symptoms accounted for most infections and likely played a prominent role in transmission, contrary to prior assumptions that people had to be symptomatic to spread the disease.
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NewsTargeted therapeutics show promise in fighting off drug-resistant bacteria
A new study shows that when under attack, the body’s immune cells activate a cellular process called ‘mitochondrial fission’ to kill invading bacteria. Researchers found an experimental treatment called an HDAC6 inhibitor can re-activate the mitochondrial fission process in immune cells to fight invading bacteria.
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NewsImmune system overreaction linked to deadly flu in pregnancy
Researchers have discovered why influenza can lead to life-threatening complications during pregnancy. In most people, influenza stays in the upper respiratory tract and clears without spreading further. But during pregnancy, the virus can extend into the cardiovascular system, increasing the risk of severe complications for mothers and babies.
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NewsResearchers link human molecular, microbial diversity with geography, ethnicity
Researchers at the Stanford School of Medicine have found that ethnicity and geography may influence human molecular makeup — from metabolism and immunity to gut microbiota and biological aging. The findings, which published in Cell on May 14, illuminate the complex interplay between genetics and the environment, ...
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NewsReview highlights antimicrobial peptides as cross-seeding modulators at the neurodegenerative–infectious interface
In a comprehensive review, researchers synthesize emerging evidence that antimicrobial peptides and disease-related amyloids can influence one another through heterotypic cross-seeding interactions.
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NewsAI and supercomputer simulations reveal how a bacterial energy-converting enzyme pumps sodium ions
The Na+-NQR enzyme is vital for energy production in pathogenic bacteria, making it a highly promising target for new antibiotics. Researchers combined modified artificial intelligence techniques with extensive supercomputer simulations to visualize the hidden, dynamic movements of this enzyme during sodium transport.
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NewsUnderstanding and exploiting tuberculosis superspreading
A new perspective piece introduces the idea of “superspreading niches”, specific parts of community contact networks where highly infectious individuals intersect with highly susceptible contacts, as a key framework for understanding TB superspreading and designing new TB control interventions.
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NewsImplantable living materials autonomously deliver therapeutics using contained engineered bacteria
Researchers have introduced an implantable “living material” that contains bacteria that sense infections. It can release these therapeutic molecules on demand, while keeping them physically separated from the surrounding tissue.