All Infection Prevention & Control articles
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NewsTadpoles try to flee dangerous virus in their pond by growing much faster than normal
A new study shows that larvae of wood frogs respond to the presence of a deadly ranavirus by growing and maturing precociously. In response to ranavirus, tadpoles change their growth, development, and resource allocation, which may help them tolerate the energetic demands of infection or escape risky environments to avoid infection.
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NewsC. diff uses toxic compound to fuel growth advantage
The pathogen C. diff — the most common cause of health care-associated infectious diarrhea — can use a compound that kills the human gut’s resident microbes to survive and grow, giving it a competitive advantage in the infected gut.
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NewsSusceptibility to bovine TB in cattle traced to key genes
A new study identifying genetic factors contributing to bovine tuberculosis (bTB) susceptibility has found several key genes and pathways involved in the bovine response to Mycobacterium bovis, the causative agent of the disease in cattle.
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NewsNewer hepatitis B vaccine shows promise as booster for health care workers
A new study compares the effectiveness of Heplisav-B, a new hepatitis vaccine, vs. standard hepatitis B vaccines as a booster in previously vaccinated individuals.
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NewsNew study reveals a safer alternative for long-term hepatitis B treatment
Researchers have studied the effects of switching from long-term tenofovir disoproxil fumarate to the antiviral besifovir dipivoxil maleatein (BSV) in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Switching to BSV may improve patient kidney and bone health.
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NewsStudy evaluates airborne transmission risk of mpox compared to COVID-19 and smallpox
Scientists have found that the inhaled infectious dose of mpox is at least 100 times lower than that of SARS-CoV-2 and smallpox, making efficient respiratory aerosol transmission highly unlikely in its current form - but future viral evolution could alter this dynamic.
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NewsBartonella and babesia found in brain tissue of child with seizures
In a new case study, researchers have found Bartonella henselae, Babesia odocoilei and Babesia divergens-like MO-1 DNA in brain tissue samples from a young child with seizures and suspected Rasmussen’s encephalitis.
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NewsAntibody-based therapy is several steps closer to treat lethal mucormycosis
A new paper discusses the use of monoclonal antibodies to target a key fungal cell surface protein, CotH, which enables the Mucorales fungus to invade human cells and cause mucormycosis, which has high mortality rates in people with weakened immune systems.
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NewsA high-fat diet may impair response to infection
A new study in The Journal of Immunology reveals how a high-fat diet may impair the immune system’s ability to respond to infection by impacting the function of neutrophils, one of the first immune cells to respond to bacteria or viruses. The study demonstrated that male mice fed a high-fat ...
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NewsSelective G6PDH inactivation for Helicobacter pylori eradication with transformed polysulfide
A new study highlights a novel mechanism of action driven by polysulfides, presenting a promising alternative strategy for combating H. pylori infections.
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NewsFour advances that could change tuberculosis treatment
World Tuberculosis Day commemorates Robert Koch’s discovery of the source bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Scientists are still refining TB diagnosis methods and treatment strategies - some of the latest innovations are revealed here.
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NewsWHO calls for urgent action to address worldwide disruptions in tuberculosis services
Since World Tuberculosis Day is only days away, World Health Organization addresses the current challenges faced by countries in TB responses. They urgently call for an united global effort to combat the deadly disease and safeguard the public health from the devastating consequences.
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NewsHidden threat: The evolving fungus that spreads through cats and humans
Researchers have developed a better understanding about the molecular basis of the Sporothrix species in virulence and evolution, amid the largest sporotrichosis epidemic in Brazil. The identification of the genetic markers helps to enhance fungal surveillance and strengthen disease control.
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NewsTeam finds regional, age-related trends in exposure to drug-resistant pathogen
A study from 10 US states found drug-resistant Campylobacter jejuni infections were highest in the 20-39 age group and that quinolone-resistant C. jejuni infections increased from 22.6% of those tested in 2013 to 33.54% in 2019. It identified regional differences in C. jejuni resistance to quinolones and six other classes of antibiotics.
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NewsResearch uncovers new strategy to reduce tissue damage from flesh-eating bacteria
A new study reveals a novel approach to mitigating tissue damage caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, the flesh-eating bacterium responsible for severe infections such as necrotizing fasciitis.
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NewsAdd some spice: Curcumin helps treat Mycobacterium abscessus
Researchers have found that adding curcumin boosts the efficacy of bedaquiline, an antimycobacterial used to treat tuberculosis, in combating M. abscessus infections. Curcumin is the compound that gives turmeric its characteristic bright orange color.
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NewsCurrent antivirals likely less effective against severe infection caused by bird flu virus in cows’ milk
Scientists found that in a preclinical model, two FDA–approved flu antivirals generally did not successfully treat severe H5N1 infections. Meanwhile, the route of infection, whether through the eye, the nose or the mouth, significantly impacts effectiveness.
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NewsNIH-sponsored trial of Lassa vaccine opens
A National Institutes of Health (NIH)-sponsored clinical trial of a candidate vaccine to prevent Lassa fever has begun enrolling participants at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore.
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NewsCeSPIACE: A broad-spectrum peptide inhibitor against variable SARS-CoV-2 spikes
CeSPIACE, a small remodified peptide, is able to block the binding of ACE2 receptor and the spike protein on SARS-CoV-2 and its variants. Hence, the cheap and simple peptide could treat COVID-19 infection and prevent reinfection after exposure of the virus.
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NewsA review of Clostridioides difficile infection and treatments
<i>Clostridioides difficile</i> is a serious nosocomial infection that could cause from mild diarrhea to fatal colitis. Here presents a general overview that describes the current and emerging treatment practices for the prevention of <i>Clostridioides difficile</i> infection and its recourrences.