All University of Maryland articles
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NewsScientists find hidden individuality in viral infections
An international team of researchers developed a new way to uncover hidden differences in how viruses infect and destroy individual microbial cells—solving a biological puzzle that has persisted for more than 80 years.
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NewsThe broader a fungus’s diet, the better it kills insects and helps plants
Entomologists have discovered that a single underlying trait—metabolic breadth, or the range of nutrients a fungus can use—links its ability to kill insects, partner with plants and thrive in different ecological roles.
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NewsMicrobiome pioneer Jacques Ravel named 2026 Microbiome Medal Laureate
Jacques Ravel, professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and leader in human microbiome research, has been named by the One Health Microbiome Center as the second laureate of the Microbiome Medal.
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NewsFirst-in-human clinical trial shows promising results for new Lassa fever vaccine
Researchers have reported encouraging results from an early clinical trial that tested a new dual vaccine against Lassa fever and rabies. The study found that the vaccine was safe and induced immune responses against both viruses. There are currently no vaccines against Lassa fever on the market.
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NewsDrug-resistant bacteria found in homes from sewage overflow
A new study shows that sewage overflows in homes can expose people to bacteria that can make them sick, including antibiotic-resistant and multidrug resistant bacteria which can make infections difficult to treat.
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NewsWildlife trade increases pathogen transmission
A study combining forty years of legal and illegal wildlife import-export data with compilations of host–pathogen relationships found that wild mammals that are traded are 1.5 times more likely to share infectious agents with humans than those that are not involved in trade.
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NewsClimate change is fueling disease outbreaks
Researchers analyzed the connection between a cyclone in Peru and a massive outbreak of dengue fever, a mosquito-borne viral disease that can cause fever, rash, and life-threatening symptoms like hemorrhage and shock. Their findings reveal that warmer, wetter weather linked to climate change is making disease epidemics more likely.
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NewsElevated E. coli, staph still detected in Potomac river 4 weeks after sewage spill
Nearly a month after a wastewater pipe broke and spewed hundreds of millions of gallons of raw sewage into the Potomac River just north of Washington, D.C., the latest water testing results continue to show high levels of E. coli and S. aureus, including antibiotic-resistant MRSA.
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NewsScientists create ‘smart underwear’ to measure human flatulence
Scientists have created Smart Underwear, the first wearable device designed to measure human flatulence. The device helps scientists revisit long-standing assumptions about how often people actually fart. It also opens a new window into measuring gut microbial metabolism in everyday life.
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NewsResearchers discover that vaginal bacteria don’t always behave the same way
By analyzing vaginal microbiome data at unprecedented resolution, researchers have identified 25 distinct vaginal microbiome types and demonstrated that bacteria of the same species can differ substantially in their functional potential, thereby affecting how these microbes interact with the body.
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NewsTeam finds E. coli, other pathogens in Potomac River after sewage spill
Following one of the largest sewage spills in U.S. history, researchers detected high levels of fecal-related bacteria and disease-causing pathogens in the Potomac River, raising urgent public health concerns and underscoring the risks posed by aging sewer infrastructure.
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NewsLaunch of clinical trial of investigative nasal spray medicine to prevent illnesses from respiratory viruses
A new clinical trial will test a new experimental intranasal spray designed to boost immune defenses and reduce illness from respiratory viruses.
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NewsTeam shows how viral lysis of blue-green algae enhances ecosystem-scale productivity
Newly published interdisciplinary research shows viral infection of blue-green algae in the ocean stimulates productivity in the ecosystem and contributes to a rich band of oxygen in the water.
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NewsStudy: How can we stop the spread of flu?
Researchers wanted to find out how the flu spreads, so they put college students already sick with the flu into a hotel room with healthy middle-aged adult volunteers. The result? No one caught the flu.
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NewsResearchers identify bacterial enzyme that can cause fatal heart conditions with pneumonia infections
Researchers have identified a bacterial enzyme that may be the reason some people get heart complications with pneumonia, while others do not. Since enzymes create chemical reactions to help bacteria survive, grow, and sometimes attack tissues, zmpB could become a target for future therapies.
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NewsNew study identifies key mechanism driving HIV-associated immune suppression
Using humanized mouse models and blood samples from people living with HIV, resarchers found that reducing overactive plasmacytoid dendritic cells helped restore antiviral T cell function and shrink the viral reservoir.
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NewsEarly-stage clinical trial demonstrates promise of intranasal influenza vaccine in generating broad immunity
Researchers report encouraging results from an early phase clinical trial that found an experimental intranasal vaccine triggered a broad immune response against multiple strains of H5N1 ’bird flu’, highlighting the potential of mucosal immunization strategies.
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NewsScientists develop floral-scented fungus that lures mosquitoes to their doom
Taking advantage of the mosquito’s natural attraction to flowers, an international team of researchers engineered a new strain of Metarhizium fungus that imitates a flower’s sweet scent and lures the bloodsucking bugs to their deaths.
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NewsNew monoclonal antibody shows promise for preventing malaria infections
A new early-stage clinical trial has found that a novel monoclonal antibody provided dose-dependent full protection against the malaria parasite with minimal side effects.
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NewsNew vaccine shows promise against typhoid and invasive salmonella in first human trial
Researchers have completed a successful Phase 1 clinical trial of a novel vaccine designed to protect against both typhoid fever and invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella–two major causes of illness and death among children in sub-Saharan Africa.