One health
Communicable diseases remain one of the major causes of mortality worldwide. There are disparities in the numbers of individuals affected by disease between low-and-middle-income countries and those in developed nations. Microbes will play in important role in drug discovery: producing anticancer drugs and antimicrobials. Applying One Health principles, to understand the interaction of pathogens and the human host, development of diagnostics, treatments, and disease prevention, applied microbiologists can shape global health and wellbeing outcomes.
News
Researchers find a more precise way to edit the genome
A genome-editing technique known as prime editing holds potential for treating many diseases. However, the process carries a small chance of inserting errors that could be harmful - but researchers have now found a way to dramatically lower the error rate.
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NewsDisease experts upgrade sentinel chicken system to create forecast for West Nile virus
An interdisciplinary team of experts have created a statistical model that accurately predicts the activity of West Nile virus in an area up to six months in advance. The model was trained using two decades of sentinel chicken data.
NewsHow HIV enters the genome – researchers identify previously unknown mechanism
Researchers have decoded a previously unknown mechanism by which HIV-1 selects its integration targets in the human genome. A research team identified RNA:DNA hybrids (R-loops) as molecular signposts for the virus.
NewsTargeted delivery of microRNA sponge short-hairpin RNA via VIR-inspired biotechnical vector
The Vir-inspired Biotechnical Vector (VIBV) is a novel hybrid platform that combines viral and non-viral elements with nanotechnology to enable personalized, tumor-specific gene therapy.
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News
New CRISPR test could make tuberculosis screening as simple as a mouth swab
Researchers have developed an enhanced CRISPR-based tuberculosis test that works with a simple tongue swab, a potential breakthrough that could allow easier, community-based screenings for the world’s deadliest infectious disease.
NewsMicrobiotica announces completion of recruitment in its international phase 1b trial of microbiome co-therapy
Microbiotica, a clinical-stage biopharma company developing a pipeline of oral precision microbiome medicines called live biotherapeutic products (LBPs), announces that patient recruitment is complete in its advanced melanoma (MELODY-1) trial.
NewsBout of cystitis may signal presence of urogenital cancers in middle-aged adults
A bout of the common bladder infection, cystitis, may signal the presence of urogenital cancers—which affect parts of the body involved in reproduction and excretion—in middle aged adults, suggests research. The risks seem to be especially high within 3 months of infection.
NewsCan microbes be the good guys? New study reveals Hollywood’s blind spot
A new review shows how films — from French Kiss to The Martian — highlight microbes as allies in food, medicine, and even space exploration.
NewsBlueberries can improve infants’ immunity and gut health, study finds
Feeding blueberries to infants as one of their first solid foods may help strengthen their immune systems, reduce allergy symptoms and support healthy gut development, according to new research.
NewsScientists can decode wildlife movement to predict the next pandemic
By equipping wildlife with biologging devices that track movement and behavior in near-real-time, researchers can detect early signs of illness, monitor disease spread, and inform public health interventions before outbreaks reach crisis levels.
NewsNew Center of Excellence to respond to the challenge of antibiotic-resistant bacteria
Boston Children’s Hospital and Tulane University have received $25 million in funding from NIAID/NIH to establish a Center of Excellence for Translational Research (CETR) called IMPACT (Immunization against Multidrug-resistant Pathogens: Activating T Cell Immunity).
NewsU.S. Public Health Service releases new guidelines on occupational HIV exposure and postexposure prophylaxis
The CDC, on behalf of the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS), has released the 2025 Guidelines for the Management of Occupational Exposure to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Recommendations for Postexposure Prophylaxis (PEP).
CareersFinding my way to Parasitology
Read about Sadiya’s journey from Uppsala to Uganda, and into One Health research in Parasitology.
NewsMediterranean diet could reduce gum disease, study shows
People living in the UK and following a diet close to the Mediterranean diet are more likely to have better gum health, with potentially lower amounts of gum disease and inflammation. A new study suggests that people not following a Mediterranean-style diet tended to have more severe gum disease, especially if they consumed red meat frequently.
NewsType 2 diabetes may double risk of sepsis, large community-based study suggests
Living with type 2 diabetes (T2D) may double the risk of developing sepsis—with those aged younger than 60 years and men particularly susceptible, according to a long-term community-based study in Australia.
NewsScientists link waning Japanese encephalitis immunity to higher dengue severity
Scientists have found that waning immunity to Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) may increase the risk of more severe dengue disease in humans. The study highlights how fading vaccine protection from one virus can unintentionally affect the body’s response to another.
NewsResearch identifies immune response that controls Oropouche infection and prevents neurological damage
Research conducted on mice has identified that the rapid response of a specific type of defense cell is essential for controlling Oropouche virus infections and preventing serious neurological damage.
NewsMost Americans favor MMR vaccine requirement for public school, survey finds
Research in April 2025 finds that 70% of the US public supports vaccine requirements for MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) for children to attend public school, more than in 2023.
NewsResearchers find a way to use antibodies to direct T cells to kill Cytomegalovirus-infected cells
Researchers have found a new way to prompt the immune system to kill cells infected with cytomegalovirus (CMV). They did this by engineering antibodies that direct the immune system’s T-cells to kill cells infected with the virus.
NewsCholera kills more people for second consecutive year, while prevention and treatment available
The World Health Organization (WHO) has published its global cholera statistics for 2024, showing an increase in both the number of people who fell sick and died from the disease. Reported cholera cases rose by 5% and deaths by 50% in 2024 compared to 2023.
NewsMedications leave lasting mark on the gut microbiome, even years after use
Analysing stool samples and prescription records from over 2,500 Estonian Biobank participants, researchers found that the majority of drugs studied were linked to microbiome changes, with a substantial number of them also showing long-term effects detectable years after patients stopped taking them.
NewsMicrobial allies: Bacteria help fight against cancer
An international team of scientists have discovered that microbes associated with tumours produce a molecule that can control cancer progression and boost the effectiveness of chemotherapy.
NewsHow an immune cell receptor dampens the fight against fungal infection
People are constantly exposed to fungal spores, including those of Aspergillus fumigatus, but individuals with weakened immune systems may develop life-threatening infections. In a recent study, researchers clarified the mechanisms by which the dendritic cell immunoreceptor (Dcir) suppresses neutrophil activity during infection with A. fumigatus.