Infectious Diseases – News and Features

A study reveals how Salmonella enterica leverages a small RNA, ManS, to regulate Neu5Ac metabolism and adapt to the host intestine. ManS originates from the 3′ UTR of mRNA via noncanonical RNase III cleavage.

Researchers at Texas Biomed identified nine mutations in a bird flu strain from a person in Texas. Bad news: this strain is more capable of causing disease and replicates better in the brain. Good news: approved antivirals are still effective.

Researchers use data from protein shapes, combined with data from genomic sequences, to improve the reliability of evolutionary trees, a critical resource used by the scientific community for understanding the history of life.

Researchers identified how bisphosphonates, used to treat osteoporosis, might reduce Covid-19 risks. Drugs such as alendronate and zoledronate bind to key viral enzyme domains, potentially lowering infection and hospitalization rates.

A study in South Sudan confirmed that two doses of the Hepatitis E vaccine provide effective protection during outbreaks, reducing the incidence of this severe liver disease in displaced populations.

A loss-of-function mutation to the PTPN2 gene, commonly associated with autoimmune diseases, can make cells more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

A groundbreaking UK study has examined whether an additional blood test called procalcitonin (PCT) could safely shorten the time children spend on intravenous (IV) antibiotics in hospitals.

Targeting a metabolic pathway that only occurs in bacteria offers a new avenue for antibiotic design.

A collaborative team has developed a new method to program molecular self-assembly predictably. Researchers created versatile materials like "Malteser molecules," which could serve as highly specific sensors or drug delivery agents.

Researchers from the Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology discovered that RNA modifications in the mold fungus Aspergillus fumigatus play a crucial role in temporary antifungal resistance.