Background Most epidemiologic studies and clinical testing use a single nasal/nasopharyngeal swab for RSV detection. Previous studies have documented that RSV detection improves if a single additional specimen is added to nasal/nasopharyngeal swab, but the impact of using multiple specimen types has not been assessed. We quantified RSV the increase in RSV detection using multiple specimen testing compared

The study investigates therapeutic strategies for managing chronic Mycobacterium abscessus infections, particularly in people with cystic fibrosis (PWCF) who are ineligible for standard elexacaftor, tezacaftor, ivakaftor (ETI) treatments. Apoptotic body-like liposomes loaded with phosphatidylinositol 5-phosphate (ABL/PI5P) were tested in vitro in M. abscessus-infected macrophages from PWCF as potential

Assessing the time-varying effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines is critical to guiding vaccine strategies and public health policies. We developed a Bayesian framework to estimate the waning vaccine effectiveness of various doses of CoronaVac and Comirnaty based on population-level surveillance data. We applied this framework to data on a large Omicron BA.2 epidemic in Hong Kong from January to May 2022

Background Limited estimates exist on population-level impact of partner notification (PN) for gonorrhea with uncertainty in the influence of local epidemiology on PN effectiveness. An ecological study in New York found a 6% reduction in diagnoses with a 10% increase in PN coverage. We estimated gonorrhea incidence reductions via partner notification across different epidemiological conditions to compare

The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was first identified in 2012 and has since spread worldwide. To date, no vaccines or therapeutics against MERS have been approved for clinical use. The spike (S) protein of MERS-CoV facilitates attachment and fusion with target cell membranes. Therefore, inhibiting S protein attachment represents a key therapeutic strategy for treating early

Increasing artemisinin partial resistance (ART-R) due to mutations in the gene encoding Kelch13 (Pfk13) protein in eastern Africa is of urgent concern, and mutations, such as Pfk13 P441L, continue to emerge. We used an amplicon deep-sequencing panel to estimate the prevalence of validated and candidate ART-R Pfk13 mutations in samples collected between 2018 and 2023 in southern Zambia. Pfk13 P441L

Background Variability in the pharmacokinetics (PK) of first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs (rifampicin -RIF, isoniazid -INH and pyrazinamide (PZA)) is high and may be influenced by pharmacogenetic polymorphism. We performed a pharmacogenetic substudy in 90 participants with PK data from the HIRIF trial in Peru. Methods Relevant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the NAT2, SLCO1B1, AADAC and AOX1

BACKGROUND Early-childhood antibiotic exposure has been implicated in the development of chronic pediatric conditions, but many studies leave concerns about unmeasured confounding. We evaluated associations between early-childhood antibiotic exposure and allergic, autoimmune, or neurodevelopmental/psychiatric conditions. METHODS We performed a retrospective cohort study using electronic health records

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) suppresses HIV replication, reverses immunodeficiency, and reduces AIDS-related symptoms, but non-AIDS co-morbidities like cardiovascular diseases remain a major challenge for people living with HIV (PLWH). The pathogenic mechanisms driving these co-morbidities are poorly understood. We previously showed that the HIV protein Nef contributes to chronic inflammation in PLWH

Introduction Gut pathogen colonization with Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) is common in the intensive care unit (ICU) and is associated with worse clinical outcomes, yet the timing of VRE colonization and its collateral effects on the gut microbiome are incompletely understood. Methods Medical ICU patients admitted with sepsis and receiving broad-spectrum antibiotics were sampled via deep

Background There are inconsistencies in guidelines concerning the necessity for anti-syphilis re-treatment during pregnancy for women who tested seropositive despite having received treatment before pregnancy. While global guidelines indicate that no further treatment is necessary, Chinese guidelines advocate for an additional treatment course. Methods A prospective nested case-control study was conducted

Background Classical scrapie in sheep is caused by several different strains rather than a single strain, as is the case for epidemic classical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Polymorphisms R171 and K176 located in the β2-α2 loop region of sheep-PrP have been associated with potential protection for the propagation of classical scrapie. Methods The protective role of R171 and K176 polymorphic

Background Seasonal influenza causes an estimated 120 000 to 710 000 hospitalizations annually in the United States. Treatment with antiviral medications, such as oseltamivir, can reduce risks of hospitalization among people with influenza-associated illness. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends initiating antiviral treatment as soon as possible for outpatients with suspected

Background After the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, during which the seasonal influenza epidemic was suppressed, Japan experienced a record-breaking influenza A/H1N1 outbreak in the 2024/2025 season. This situation also raises a concern about the immunogenicity of the annual inactivated influenza vaccine. This study evaluated post-vaccination hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibody titers and their

CD11c+ B cells are an age-associated subset emerging in infections and autoimmune diseases. However, their role in sepsis is poorly clarified. This study identified a class of CD11c+ B cells with a proinflammatory phenotype that is expended in septic patients and mice. Notably, the transfer of these cells accelerates sepsis-induced lung injury and death in mice. Furthermore, the CD11c+ B cells were

Ancient DNA provides a unique opportunity to study the history and spread of infectious diseases. Here, we analyzed 21 samples from a collection of 20th-century penis gourds (koteka) from Papua New Guinea housed at the Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac in Paris. Despite the presence of environmental species, we identified human-associated bacteria and, notably, an Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) genome

Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) remains the most lethal form of tuberculosis (TB). Despite significant physiological differences, adults, and children with TBM receive similar treatment and are often grouped together in research. Consequently, differences in TBM characteristics across the lifespan are poorly understood but may be relevant to developing more effective and age-appropriate interventions

Background The 2023–2024 influenza season included sustained elevated activity from December 2023–February 2024 and continued activity through May 2024. Influenza A(H1N1), A(H3N2), and B viruses circulated during the season. Methods During September 1, 2023–May 31, 2024, a multistate sentinel surveillance network of 24 medical centers in 20 U.S. states enrolled adults aged ≥18 years hospitalized with

Neuropathogenic arboviruses cause a substantial burden of human disease throughout the world. However, diagnosing and treating arboviral neurological disease remains difficult, largely due to the similar clinical presentation of many neuropathogenic arboviruses, a lack of quick and specific diagnostic assays for many viruses, and limited knowledge about the molecular pathogenesis of these viruses.

Background Coccidioidomycosis (Valley fever) occurs when animals and humans inhale spores of Coccidioides spp., soil-dwelling fungi of the southwestern United States. The spatial epidemiology of coccidioidomycosis is poorly understood due to irregular detection of Coccidioides in soil, disease underdiagnosis, and lack of nationwide mandatory reporting. Data on seroreactivity to Coccidioides among dogs—which

BACKGROUND Enteroviruses (EV) cause yearly outbreaks with severe infections, particularly in young children. This study investigates EV circulation, age-distribution, and clinical presentations in Europe from 2018-2023. METHODS Aggregated data were requested from ECDC National Focal Points for Surveillance and European Non-Polio Enterovirus Network. Data included detection month, specimen type, age-group

Background/Rationale We investigated the effect of pre-existing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and seasonal human coronaviruses on infection outcomes in Omicron BA1/2 exposed household members from January to March 2022. Methods Data from a prospective household study in the Netherlands were used including 63 households with 195 household members exposed to a SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA1/2 index case. The

Hepatic fibrosis is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in schistosomiasis, and transcription factors (TF) may become potential therapeutic targets for this disease. Here, we found that a TF, NR3C1, was significantly downregulated in hepatic stellate cells (HSC), the effector cell of hepatic fibrosis, from mice infected with Schistosoma japonicum using RNA sequencing. Activation of NR3C1 using

Background Limited evidence exists on how the occurrence of bacterial and viral co-infections have developed since the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant emerged. We investigated whether the occurrence of community-onset co-infections in adult patients hospitalized with COVID-19 differed during the Wild type, Alpha, Delta, and Omicron periods, and whether such co-infections were associated with an increased

Background Measles infections cause significant morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), especially infants under nine months. Measles seroprevalence data in infants too young to be vaccinated can identify immunity gaps to inform immunisation strategies. Our systematic review and meta-analysis describes measles seroprevalence in infants <9 months in LMICs. Methods We systematically

Background We estimated RSV and hMPV illness incidences among pregnant women and examined the association between antenatal RSV illness and preterm birth and small for gestational age (SGA). Methods Pregnant women aged ≥18 years were followed twice weekly until the end of pregnancy to identify illness episodes with >1 of myalgia, cough, runny nose/nasal congestion, sore throat, or difficulty breathing

Neural angiostrongyliasis (NA), caused by rat lungworm (Angiostrongylus cantonensis), is an emerging zoonotic disease on Australia’s east coast. The number of cases has risen since 2010. This study investigated the diagnosis, genetic diversity of A. cantonensis and spatial and temporal dynamics of canine NA (CNA). We analysed cerebrospinal fluid samples from 180 clinically suspected cases (2020-2024)

Antibody avidity is indicative of antibody affinity maturation following virus infection or vaccination. To determine correlation between preexisting anti-dengue virus (DENV) antibody avidity and secondary DENV exposure outcomes, we assessed anti-DENV antibody avidity, represented as avidity index (antibody response/dissociation rate) in sera of Nicaraguan Pediatric Dengue Cohort Study participants

Background Little is known about the strength and durability of protection (CoP) provided by pre-F IgG after RSV infection/exposure. Methods We analyzed 1,019 sera from 422 individuals in 173 households, collected 365 days before and after RSV infection or exposure (2014-2022), from a longitudinal cohort with active respiratory infection surveillance. IgG against RSV pre-F was measured by electrochemiluminescence

Background Linezolid shows therapeutic potential for pediatric gram-positive bacterial central nervous system infections (CNSIs). However, its efficacy, safety profile, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pharmacokinetics require detailed evaluation. Methods This prospective two-center observational study enrolled children with confirmed or suspected gram-positive CNSIs. Clinical outcomes and adverse events

BACKGROUND The antiviral efficacy of molnupiravir against SARS-CoV-2 is controversial. Here, we develop a model integrating viral and immune dynamics to characterize the mechanism of action of molnupiravir in vivo and its impact on viral dynamics, during and after treatment. METHODS We analysed data from the PANORAMIC trial, where 577 outpatients were randomised shortly after symptom onset to receive

Non-structural protein 1 (NS1) of dengue virus (DENV) can influence dengue severity. In this study, we used RNA sequencing analysis to assess blood monocyte response to different concentrations of NS1. Here we showed that NS1 at the level found in severe dengue may be involved in severe dengue development through two potential mechanisms which were induction of excessive inflammation and suppression

Background Various underlying medical conditions (UMCs) elevate the risk of influenza-associated hospitalization. We evaluated how these rates changed by type and number of UMCs. Methods Retrospective cohorts were constructed among adult members of two health systems aged ≥18 years with prior healthcare utilization. Across the 2016–17 to 2019–20 seasons, we estimated influenza-associated hospitalization

Background The combination of two broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs), teropavimab and zinlirvimab, plus the capsid inhibitor lenacapavir, is a potential twice-yearly regimen for HIV-1 treatment. The level of bNAb susceptibility to maintain virologic suppression is unknown; therefore, we evaluated this combination in participants meeting stringent viral sensitivity criteria to only one of the two

Background New nucleos(t)ide reverse transcriptase inhibitors are considerably less toxic than their predecessors, but they may not be entirely devoid of toxicity. However, their effect in healthy adults remains unknown. We aimed to analyze the impact of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) plus emtricitabine (FTC)-based preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) on mitochondria of subjects at high risk of HIV-1

Background Achieving antiretroviral therapy (ART)-free virologic control remains a central goal in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cure research. To identify factors associated with time to detectable viremia and time to loss of virologic control, we conducted a pooled analysis of six interventional trials that included analytical ART interruption. Methods We determined factors influencing time

Background Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a highly infectious, globally prevalent lifelong infection. Despite advancements in understanding its epidemiology, the assortativeness in the age-dependent transmission patterns remains unclear. This study aimed to estimate the degree of assortativeness in age group mixing for oral-to-oral HSV-1 transmission within the United States (U.S.) population

Background Specific genetic variations of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) have been linked to nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Because EBV sheds through saliva, it is commonly used for EBV genotyping in studies of EBV-associated diseases. However, it remains uncertain whether infection with the same EBV strains occurs across different tissues within a host, and whether EBV detected in saliva accurately represents

BACKGROUND Decreased efficacy of artemether-lumefantrine, the globally most used antimalarial, has recently emerged in Africa. METHODS An efficacy trial based on directly observed artemether-lumefantrine therapy at Bengo, Northern Angola. 100 Plasmodium falciparum uncomplicated malaria patients (2-10 year-old) were enrolled, hospitalized for the treatment period, and followed up for 42 days. PCR correction

This study examines how children with HIV recover mycobacteria-specific T cell responses after six months of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Persistent deficiencies raise concerns about tuberculosis susceptibility despite elevated Th1 CD4 T cells, emphasizing the necessity of focused treatments and continuous health empowerment in susceptible juvenile populations.

Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) for COVID-19 resulted in the reduction of many viral diseases aside from SARS-CoV-2, but their impact on the US military or beneficiary population have not been assessed. Using TRICARE data (2016-2023), we modeled changes in acute gastroenteritis (AGE) and acute respiratory infection (ARI) encounters pre- and post-pandemic. In 2020, AGE and ARI encounters decreased

BACKGROUND WXSH0208 is a selective inhibitor of influenza RNA polymerase subunit, demonstrating antiviral activity in preclinical studies against influenza A and B virus infections. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of WXSH0208 in adult outpatients with uncomplicated influenza. METHODS We conducted a multicenter phase 2 trial based on a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled

BACKGROUND Immunity to RSV is short-lived following infection. We determined if recently licensed RSV preF vaccines induce better immune responses than infection. METHODS Serum preF binding and neutralizing antibody to RSV A and B was measured in older adults at baseline and 30 days after RSV infection or vaccination with two licensed RSV preF protein vaccines. RESULTS Vaccination induced higher serum

Background Cell-mediated immunity (CMI) may help protect against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants that are less susceptible to neutralizing antibodies. We present CMI data after the mRNA-1273 primary series in a subset of participants aged 6 months to 11 years from the phase 2/3 KidCOVE trial. Methods T-cell responses were assessed after 2 doses of mRNA-1273 (6 months-5 years: 25 μg; 6-11 years: 50 μg)

Background Diagnostic methods for detecting infections caused by Bordetella species include culture, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and serology. As the epidemiology of pertussis continues to evolve in the United States, we aimed to assess recent trends in provider testing practices and positivity for both B. pertussis and B. parapertussis. Methods Using deidentified data from a large U.S. commercial

Background We analyzed the demographic and risk factors, middle ear fluid (MEF) pathogens, pneumococcus serotype distribution, and bacterial antibiotic non-susceptibility among children with uncomplicated acute otitis media (uAOM) and complex AOM (cAOM) over three timeframes: 2006-2009 (PCV7 era), 2010-2014 (early-PCV13 era), and 2015-2023 (late-PCV13 era). Methods 1,537 children were enrolled over

Background Assessing the impact of influenza epidemics provides useful information to assess both population and healthcare system burden and can inform prevention and control measures for seasonal epidemics, such as vaccination and antivirals. Furthermore, it is an important component of pandemic preparedness. Methods We assessed and compared three influenza impact parameters: influenza-associated

The upregulation of PD-L1 by various pathogens is a recognized strategy to evade the adaptive immune response. Salmonella infection also upregulates PD-L1 levels; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Our study reveals that this upregulation is mediated by Salmonella pathogenicity island 2 (SPI-2) effectors, as PFA-fixed and STMΔssaV fail to alter PD-L1 levels. We have further investigated

Longitudinal measurements of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunity over 4 winter seasons reveal that viral neutralization titers, RSV prefusion F protein (pre-F)–specific immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels, and RSV antibody–dependent cellular phagocytosis function gradually returned to prepandemic levels in female healthcare and school workers of childbearing age after 2 winter

Background TAK-003 has been shown to be well tolerated and effective against symptomatic dengue disease and hospitalization, irrespective of baseline serostatus. Most infections are asymptomatic/subclinical. This study assessed whether TAK-003 could protect against asymptomatic/subclinical infections by evaluating increased neutrlizing antibody titers (NAb) after natural infection. Methods DEN-301(NCT02747927)

We investigated the relationship between Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) load and anti-chlamydial antibody using first-catch urine from 108 men with nongonococcal urethritis. Men who reported prior CT had elevated anti-chlamydial IgA and lower loads, but load and antibody were not correlated. Load positively correlated with anti-chlamydial IgA only in men who did not self-report prior CT and with anti-chlamydial

Neutrophil elastase (NE), the main protease of neutrophils, is involved in many of their functions, including prevention of infections. Despite its general importance, NE was previously thought to play no role in infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus, one of the leading bacterial pathogens. Here, using transgenic mice deficient in NE and a mouse model of localized skin infection, we demonstrate

Human lymphatic filariasis (LF) is primarily caused by helminth parasites Wuchereria bancrofti (Wb) and Brugia malayi (Bm). Detecting parasitic circulating cell free nucleic acids (ccfDNA/ccfRNA) in plasma is a promising approach for detection of active infections. Plasma-RNAseq analyses from individuals with active Wb infection and uninfected controls identified 6 RNA targets that were specific to