Zoonotic & Vector-Borne Diseases

Jyothi N Purushotham, PhD, and Holly L Lutz, PhD, call for integrated immunological and ecological strategies to counter fast-evolving viral threats.

A small percentage of people who contract the tick-borne illness have lingering symptoms and health issues after the acute infection has been treated, but there are no FDA-approved therapies to deal with prolonged symptoms. A new report looks to address this issue.

Regulatory action follows reports of serious adverse events during use in elderly individuals; vaccine remains authorized for younger age groups in the US and Europe with over 40,000 doses administered globally.

Vibrant Wellness’ Jason Barker, ND, outlines prevention measures, diagnostic red flags, and advances in multiplex testing for tick-borne diseases.

Primaquine safely and effectively blocks malaria transmission across age-groups and different rates of regional transmission, leading to call for lower, pediatric-appropriate dose formulation.

A preclinical study shows the antibiotic, piperacillin, was effective at much lower dosages than doxycycline, and did so without disrupting the gut microbiome.

Insights from Andrew Lover, PhD, MPH, MS, on challenges in rural Southeast Asia, border malaria, and new mosquito vectors impacting global efforts.

The Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute’s work in this area is looking to find ways to identify, for the first time, every single gene in the genome of malaria parasites, which could lead to the development of new treatments or vaccines.

In the first part of our interview, Sabrina Absalon, PhD, explains how depleting a protein linked to apicoplast division leads to rapid death of Plasmodium falciparum.

The Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute is hosting its World Malaria Day Symposium on Friday. Jane M. Carlton, PhD, offers some insights on the institute and its signature event.

Sabrina Absalon, PhD's research uncovers the essential role of PfAnchor in apicoplast division, opening avenues for targeted antimalarial therapies.

ACIP provides recommendations on meningococcal vaccines, RSV vaccination for at-risk adults, and chikungunya vaccines for travelers and laboratory workers, while also addressing safety concerns and potential expansions of use for each.

Ross M Boyce, MD, MSc, discusses the diagnostic challenges and the need for greater awareness of tick-borne illnesses in the US, considering their potential severity.

Sesh Sundararaman, MD, PhD, discusses his findings and how this approach can be triggered to minimize undesirable treatment features and open the door to newer treatment possibilities.

Amanda Truong, MD, PhD, provides her perspective on diagnosis, treatment, and environmental factors, considering her involvement in a recent human case.

The vaccine is based on an attenuated rabies vaccine that was subsequently inactivated to make the vaccine candidate. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is sponsoring the trial.

The phase 1/2a trial of BioNTech's BNT165e vaccine, involving nearly 180 participants, faces delays as global malaria control efforts struggle with funding and political uncertainties.

Sunil Parikh, MD, MPH, discusses the trial’s findings, noting no significant difference in malaria incidence (1.78 vs 1.84 cases per 100 person-weeks).

Sunil Parikh, MD, MPH, discussed how challenges like drug resistance and the limitations of current methods hindered ivermectin’s effectiveness in reducing malaria incidence.

Approved vaccines for chikungunya, meningococcal disease, updates on HIV prevention, key regulatory decisions, and more.

Jeff Freiberg, MD, PhD, on the rising emerging infection concerns of dengue, mpox, measles, and H5N1 influenza in clinical practice.

The approval is based on positive phase 3 clinical trial results, offering an effective option for travelers and others at risk of chikungunya, the mosquito-borne illness.

Carlien Pohl-Albertyn's, PhD research highlights the role of the South African brown locust in the transmission and survival of the emerging pathogen Candida auris.

Researchers identify Camp Hill virus, a novel henipavirus in shrews, raising concerns about human exposure to emerging infectious diseases.

Oropouche fever, primarily found in Central and South America and the Caribbean, has seen a dramatic increase in cases in Brazil.

Caryn Fenner and Petro Terblanche outline Afrigen's clinical trial plans, local partnerships, and vaccine pipeline.

Caryn Fenner and Petro Terblanche explain how CEPI’s $6.2 million grant will advance Afrigen’s mRNA vaccine for Rift Valley fever through preclinical and Phase I trials in Africa.

These types of infections will continue to rise, and there is a need to understand what we are witnessing and find ways to combat them.

Rising temperatures and changing humidity are undermining natural pest control, putting North American forests at risk.

Over a third of respondents in 6 African countries were hesitant to get the vaccine themselves. And for parents, nearly 40% were reluctant to get their children immunized.