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Scientists Discover Hidden Protein Variant Driving Severe COVID-19 and Lung Fibrosis

A genetic difference carried by nearly one in three people may increase the risk of severe COVID-19 and lung fibrosis by disrupting the function of a previously unknown protein, according to a new study.

25 Jun 2026

New Research Identifies Gut Fungi as Markers for Food Allergies

Two new studies jointly published in Nature: The Clinical Microbiome reveal that certain species of fungi in the gut play a key role in the development of immune dysregulation and some pediatric allergic diseases - and may be promising targets for new therapies.

24 Jun 2026

Research Identifies Essential Genes for Designing New Strep Vaccines

A fast-rising strep bacterium has become increasingly notorious for causing serious infections in humans, including complications that can lead to muscle damage and patient death. New Houston Methodist research appearing in The American Journal of Pathology, published by Elsevier, sheds light on how Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis (SDSE) causes disease and may provide important insights to aid in vaccine development.

22 Jun 2026

Scientists Find Weak Point in Bacteria Causing Severe Childhood Diarrhea

The bacteria enterotoxigenic E. coli and Shigella together cause hundreds of millions of infections each year and are among the leading causes of diarrheal death, especially in children. Decades of vaccine development efforts have come up short, in part because the usual vaccine targets vary too much from one strain to the next.

22 Jun 2026

Ancient Plague Killed Hunter Gatherers Long Before Medieval Cities

Plague is commonly associated with rats, crowded medieval cities, and the epidemics that swept across Europe during and after the Middle Ages.

18 Jun 2026

Mapping Tiny Genetic Variations to Better Predict Future Global Pandemics

Most pandemics start when a pathogen spreads from animals to humans. It's a leading explanation for the COVID-19 pandemic: the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, is a cousin to coronaviruses that live in bats.

16 Jun 2026

Diagnosing and Treating Borrelia recurrentis Infections in Refugee Populations

Louse-borne relapsing fever is caused by the spirochete bacterium Borrelia recurrentis, which is transmitted by body lice (not head lice).

11 Jun 2026

Antibody-Directed Xenophagy Pathway Blocks Intracellular Infections From Spreading

Scientists have revealed the process by which cells can internally digest bacteria and viruses.

5 Jun 2026

Scientists Decode How T Cells Stop Deadly Viruses

T cells are among the immune system’s essential soldiers. They can inhibit tumor development and even combat serious infections.

3 Jun 2026

NeuroSense Tracks Brain Fluid in Real Time to Prevent Deadly Infections

A research team led by the University of Waterloo has created a new monitoring system to save lives and significantly reduce health-care costs in brain-injury cases through the early detection of infections in intensive care units.

2 Jun 2026

Redesigning Antibiotics to Overcome Bacterial Efflux Pump Resistance

A new way of designing antibiotics could support the discovery of new treatments for drug-resistant infections.

1 Jun 2026

Immune Cell Metabolism May Determine Tuberculosis Disease Progression

Researchers at Trinity College Dublin have identified key differences in how immune cells generate and use energy, a process known as cellular metabolism, in people with latent versus active tuberculosis (TB).

29 May 2026

Study Explains Why Persistent Gut Damage Continues Despite HIV Treatments

For many people living with HIV, today's treatments can suppress the virus and dramatically improve health. But even when HIV is controlled, damage to the gut caused by the disease can persist, fueling chronic inflammation linked to serious health problems. A new Tulane University study published in JCI Insight helps explains why.

23 May 2026

New Study Finds Primates Are at Greater Risk of Picking Up Human Diseases Thanks to Deforestation

For the first time researchers have found evidence that monkeys are catching human Hepatitis B virus (HBV) in the Amazon and deforestation could be making the problem much worse.

20 May 2026

Novel Synthetic Molecules Attack Cell Membranes to Prevent Severe Bacterial Infections

In a new study, researchers show how so‑called TriPcides can target the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, including antibiotic‑resistant strains such as MRSA. The compounds disrupt the bacteria's ability to cause infection and can also kill dormant bacterial cells, which are often difficult to treat with existing antibiotics.

20 May 2026

Microbes Switch Functional States Without Genetic Mutations to Withstand Stress

Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and collaborators have discovered that many gut bacteria use a flexible survival strategy to withstand disruptions such as antibiotics and diet changes.

20 May 2026

Study Explores How Highly Infectious TB Cases Drive Transmission

Superspreading became a familiar concept to many during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior studies examining infectious disease epidemics, including those on COVID-19, have found that some individuals are much more likely to transmit infections to other people.

15 May 2026