All Infectious Disease articles
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NewsHorizon Awards 2026: Professor James Ebdon named as winner of John Snow Prize
Environmental microbiologist Professor James Ebdon, from the University of Brighton, UK, has been named as the winner of the John Snow Public Health Innovation Prize, which recognises outstanding achievements in applied microbiology that deliver measurable improvements in public health and environmental health outcomes.
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NewsAn eight-year study of epidemiology and disease burden of child enterovirus in China
An eight-year multicenter study from China shows that while most hospitalized enterovirus cases occur in very young children and have favorable outcomes, a small number develop serious complications involving the brain, heart and other organs, leading to substantially greater use of hospital resources.
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NewsHalf of long COVID patients see meaningful symptom improvement within three years
A prospective cohort study found that about half of people living with long COVID a year after their initial COVID-19 infection experienced a meaningful symptom improvement within three years, whereas a quarter experienced a complete remission.
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NewsAdvancing toward a functional cure for chronic hepatitis B: China’s evolving role
China has made progress in preventing HBV infections through infant vaccination and measures to prevent mother-to-child transmission. However, approximately 75 million people in the country still live with chronic HBV infection. A new review examine China’s contribution to developing treatments for chronic hepatitis B.
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NewsHerpes infection detailed in human skin model
Researchers have traced step by step how herpes simplex virus 1 infects the multiple layers of skin cells. Using human hair-bearing skin organoids as a model, the researchers mapped how the virus spreads and which signaling molecules cells release to their neighbors upon being infected.
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NewsA shield for the fungus, fuel for the immune response
In an earlier study, researchers demonstrated that albumin, the most abundant protein in human blood, can enhance the pathogenic properties of Candida albicans. It has now been revealed that this protein can also trigger an excessive inflammatory response.
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News$3.67m NIH grant targets alphaviruses and their neurological damage
A $3.67 million NIH-funded project is developing antiviral compounds that could block alphavirus replication and help protect the brain from severe infection. Researchers will also use blood-brain-barrier-on-a-chip models to test whether early treatment can reduce neurological damage.
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NewsAmino acid boosts last-resort antibiotic’s effectiveness
Colistin is a powerful, last-resort antibiotic for bacterial infections, but the number of colistin-resistant infections is growing. New research suggests that adding L-arginine, an amino acid, to colistin may overcome resistance. Lab and mouse studies show promising results, but more tests are needed before the strategy can help people.
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NewsReview explores hepatitis B surface antigen clearance rate in chronic hepatitis B virus infection treated with pegylated interferon-α
Researchers review the hepatitis B surface antigen clearance rate with pegylated interferon-α therapy in different chronic hepatitis B infection populations.
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NewsNew report calls for stronger One Health systems as climate risks grow
Climate change and shrinking global health budgets are increasing the pressure on systems designed to prevent diseases that spread between animals and people. A new report calls for stronger One Health surveillance, more investment in frontline veterinary and environmental services, and greater emphasis on preventing spillover before outbreaks begin.
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NewsSelective inhibitory effects of docosahexaenoic acid on oral bacteria
Researchers evaluated four polyunsaturated fatty acids against five common oral bacteria, in single-species and mixed-species cultures, and conducted an 8-day randomized, placebo-controlled human mouth-rinse intervention, analyzing saliva by metagenomic sequencing and qPCR.
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NewsNew Chinese consensus sets out 16 recommendations for severe dengue
China has issued new clinical guidance for severe dengue as the disease spreads into new regions and increasingly affects older adults and people with underlying conditions. The consensus sets out 16 recommendations covering early warning signs, organ complications, fluid management and blood-product use.
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NewsScreening for putative essential genes in Brucella abortus strains A19 and S2308 using transposon mutagenesis
The categorization of functional genes in Brucella requires refinement. This knowledge gap was addressed by classifying gene essentiality through constructing a transposon mutant library. Mariner transposon mutant libraries were independently constructed for Brucella abortus A19 and S2308.
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OpinionShigella: A phenotypic genus in a genomic era
In an era where evolutionary relationships can be resolved down to the single-nucleotide level, Shigella stands out as a relic of phenotype-based classification: a label built on lost traits rather than shared ancestry. Yet the genus persists, defended by appeals to clinical utility, says Georgina Donovan.
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NewsRNA-protein interactions could lead to new coronavirus drug targets
A study has identified new targets for coronavirus antiviral drugs, including treatments that may be less vulnerable to the rapid evolution of these viruses. The research mapped previously unknown interactions across the SARS-CoV-2 genome between RNA and proteins involved in the virus’s replication and regulation.
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NewsApilimod blocks hepatitis E virus entry by targeting PIKfyve
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a major cause of acute viral hepatitis, yet antiviral treatment remains largely limited to the off-label use of ribavirin. Seeking alternative treatments,scientists screened compounds that interfere with endocytic and endolysosomal pathways—the intracellular transport system used by HEV during cell entry.
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NewsMeasles outbreak shows how immunity gaps can unravel disease elimination
A year-long measles outbreak in Ontario was concentrated in closely connected, historically under-vaccinated communities and contributed to Canada losing its measles elimination status. Researchers warn that immunity gaps, cross-border social networks and declining trust in vaccination can quickly undermine decades of disease control.
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NewsStudy shows how pre-existing immunity shapes second dengue infections
Why can a second dengue infection be more dangerous than the first? A controlled human challenge study shows how pre-existing antibodies can either boost viral replication or help restrain it, offering new clues for designing vaccines that protect against all four dengue virus types.
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NewsScientists warn deadly chytrid fungus is approaching a unique amphibian haven
An isolated mountain range in Colombia remains free of the deadly chytrid fungus that has devastated amphibians elsewhere in the Americas. But researchers found a highly virulent variant only about 20 kilometres away, creating a rare opportunity to protect a rich amphibian community before the disease arrives.
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NewsWhy do some people spread the flu while others avoid infection? Mizzou researchers investigate
Why do some people spread influenza efficiently while others barely pass it on? A new $19 million NIH-funded research programme will investigate how immunity, temperature and humidity shape airborne flu transmission, with the aim of improving vaccines and other prevention strategies.