Despite political restructuring and funding cuts, the NIH’s Generation Gold Standard vaccine platform offers a promising solution for pandemic preparedness and global health resilience.
Sophia Abene
Abene is currently a freelance writer and editor who contributes to Contagion. She is the former Assistant Editor for Contagion. She can be emailed at: sophiaabene@gmail.com.
Articles by Sophia Abene

Andrew Lover, PhD, MPH, discusses the shifting landscape of tick-borne illnesses during Tick-Borne Disease Awareness Month.

Jason Barker, ND, explains how standard testing can miss coinfections and how Vibrant’s microarray improves sensitivity and efficiency in a single test.

Study supports the global need for targeted education to correct misconceptions and improve treatment adherence.

Sabrina Absalon, PhD, explains how antibiotic disruption of the apicoplast led to the discovery of PfAnchor, a key protein required for parasite division and survival.

The latest fungal-focused edition of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s journal Emerging Infectious Diseases explores the global spread of antifungal resistance, rising cases of Aspergillus infections, and the detection of Histoplasma.

US cases already surged 210% in 2025, while ECDC reported a 786% increase in Europe, with 35,212 cases in 2024.

Novavax Vice President Matthew Rousculp on reactogenicity, vaccine hesitancy, and supporting informed decisions.

Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine Linked to Fewer Adverse Effects in Health Care Workers and First Responders
At ESCMID Global 2025, SHIELD study data show Novavax recipients experienced fewer adverse effects and missed less work compared with those who received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

World Malaria day stories, update on measles outbreak, coronavirus antivirals showing strong results in testing, and more this week.

Sabrina Absalon, PhD, on how disrupting apicoplast division can stop malaria in its tracks and calls for sustained research funding to combat the disease.

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

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.

Q&A with Ben Burwitz, PhD, on the significance of the new hepatitis B virus (HBV)-susceptible primate model and its potential to advance hepatitis B research and therapeutic development.

While 254 million affected globally with HBV, the disease remains endemic in Nigeria due to imperfect vaccination efficacy and limited coverage

The University of California San Francisco and Gladstone Institutes develop compounds with a 1,000,000-fold reduction in viral titers and 1000 times effective concentration in the brain.

Ninety-four percent of cases were tied to 10 outbreaks, Texas leading with 624 cases, while Michigan and Montana reported the first outbreaks since 2019 and 1990, respectively.

Sarah Rowan, MD, on minimal laboratory testing, Hepatitis B screening flexibility, peer navigation, and state‑specific strategies to overcome outreach and reimbursement hurdles

Sarah Rowan, MD, says tailored models within syringe service programs can overcome barriers and improve cure rates in underserved populations.

Study of 400,000 pediatric records shows vaccine’s effectiveness in preventing Long COVID during Delta and Omicron waves.

This week, the CDC ACIP's endorsement of meningococcal, RSV, and chikungunya vaccines, the need to expand automated CD4 testing for improved HIV/AIDS care, and more.

With valid phase 2 results, hydronidone could pave the way for first antifibrotic treatment in chronic liver disease.

Six hundred thirty-seven cases in England, 4514 US clinical cases in 2023, and only 3 late‑stage antifungal drugs reveal surveillance and treatment gaps.

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

Yael David, PhD, discusses how cccDNA nucleosome positioning drives HBV transcription and how CBL137 disrupts this process to block infection.

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.

Global study reveals sharp rise in deaths linked to high-risk antibiotic use, prompting urgent calls for stewardship reform and surveillance improvements globally.

CDC maintains low public health risk despite more cases, the first reported death, and accelerated vaccine development to enhance pandemic preparedness.

Jeff Fischer, MBA, discusses promising preclinical data on a cross-species, cross-strain influenza candidate with pandemic potential at the 2025 Congress of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.

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.

