All University of Maryland articles
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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.
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NewsBird flu outbreak in house cats: high-risk but survival possible
Cats can survive bird flu if they receive early care and antiviral treatment with oseltamivir and need not be euthanized in every case, a new study shows.
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NewsResearchers find genetic clues to infant formula pathogen’s global persistence
Researchers are shedding new light on how a dangerous foodborne pathogen—Cronobacter sakazakii—may have adapted to thrive in dried and powdered foods across the global supply chain.
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NewsStudy advances understanding of immune system’s crucial role in phage therapy
Scientists have assessed the effectiveness of phage therapy in treating pneumonia. What they discovered about the mechanisms behind phage therapy could inform treatments in clinical settings to help patients facing similarly stubborn infections.
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NewsGlobal review of bird flu in cats points to risk of another pandemic
Bird flu (H5N1) is rapidly evolving into the possibility of a human pandemic, say researchers who have been documenting research on bird flu in cats and calling for urgent surveillance of cats to help avoid human-to-human transmission.
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NewsResearchers discover way to predict treatment success for parasitic skin disease
Researchers have discovered a way to predict whether a patient suffering from cutaneous leishmaniasis will respond to the most common treatment, potentially saving patients from months of expensive, ineffective and toxic medication.
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NewsResearchers reveal why young plants may be more vulnerable to disease
A new study on baby plants shows that fighting disease at a young age often comes at a steep cost to growth and future evolutionary fitness—or their ability to reproduce.