Infectious Diseases

Lab illustration of madecassic acid from Centella skincare inhibiting drug-resistant E. coli bacteria.

Study finds madecassic acid, a Centella compound used in skincare, can inhibit drug-resistant E. coli in lab tests

April 21, 2026 Iniulat ng AI Larawang ginawa ng AI Fact checked

Researchers at the University of Kent, working with University College London, report that madecassic acid—a compound derived from the medicinal herb Centella asiatica and widely used in skincare—can inhibit the growth of antibiotic-resistant E. coli by targeting a bacterial respiratory system not found in humans or other animals.

Study explains H5N1 bird flu targeting of dairy cow udders

Researchers have identified why H5N1 bird flu causes severe udder infections in dairy cattle rather than respiratory illness. The discovery, published in Science Advances, centers on specific cell receptors found mainly in mammary tissue.

Australia battles largest diphtheria outbreak in decades

May 22, 2026 Iniulat ng AI

Australia has recorded 230 cases of diphtheria and one related death this year. The outbreak is concentrated in remote Indigenous communities across several states.

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DNA origami “DoriVac” shows strong immune activation in early tests, offering a potential complement to mRNA vaccines

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Severe COVID or flu may raise lung cancer risk years later

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Stanford scientists develop universal nasal spray vaccine

Paediatricians' blood yields potent antibodies for RSV treatments

Scientists have harvested antibodies from the blood of paediatricians to develop new preventative treatments for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus. These antibodies outperform existing therapies by up to 25 times and target a wider range of strains. The discovery stems from the natural immunity built by paediatricians through years of exposure to respiratory viruses.

Simulations show H1N1 and COVID-19 spread through U.S. metro areas within weeks, with air travel a key driver

February 07, 2026 Iniulat ng AI Fact checked

Researchers at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health used computer simulations to reconstruct how the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic and the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic expanded across U.S. metropolitan areas. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that both viruses were already circulating widely in many cities within weeks, with air travel playing a larger role than daily commuting. The authors said broader wastewater surveillance, paired with infection-control measures, could help slow early spread in future outbreaks.

Global genomic study finds highly diverse E. coli strains in diabetic foot infections, including drug-resistant lineages

A genomic analysis of Escherichia coli isolated from infected diabetic foot ulcers across 10 countries found no single dominant strain, instead revealing wide genetic diversity and a subset of isolates with markers of multidrug or extensive drug resistance, researchers from King’s College London and the University of Westminster report.

Flu experiment shows no transmission in shared hotel room

January 11, 2026 Iniulat ng AI

In a unique study, influenza-infected college students shared a hotel room with healthy middle-aged volunteers for two weeks, yet no infections occurred. Researchers attribute this to limited coughing, good ventilation, and participants' age. The findings underscore the role of airflow and masks in preventing flu spread.

May 07, 2026 03:47