Study uncovers key insights about how a new class of antiviral drugs works. Cryo-EM images showed the drugs bound to herpes simplex virus (HSV) protein at nearly atomic detail, while optical tweezers experiments showed how the drug-bound protein behaved in real time. Findings could open doors to additional drugs for herpesviruses and other DNA viruses.

Researchers at Tulane University have developed the first vaccine shown to successfully protect nonhuman primates from melioidosis, a deadly tropical disease emerging as a global threat. The findings are a key step toward human clinical trials and preventing a bacterial infection that’s often resistant to treatment – and which public health experts see spreading to areas it was not previously found.

America could be in for a “severe” influenza season in which flu vaccines offer limited protection, a top UVA Health flu expert is warning.

During fondue or raclette evenings, meat is served in a different way – namely, raw at first. To ensure that this festive meal does not become a feast for foodborne pathogens, there are a few things to keep in mind when preparing the pieces of meat. "Raw meat, especially poultry, should be kept separate from foods that are eaten without further heating, such as salad," explains Professor Andreas Hensel, President of the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR). “This is an important measure to prevent the transmission of possible pathogens such as Campylobacter bacteria and to avoid food infections, some of which can be serious.” Other basic rules of good kitchen hygiene include carefully cleaning hands, kitchen utensils or preparation surfaces that have come into contact with raw animal food products before preparing other components of the meal. Meat should also always be cooked thoroughly to kill any pathogens. To do this, the core of the food must reach a temperature of 70 °C for at least two minutes.

UMC Utrecht has received a grant of 4 million euros for the first clinical study in the Netherlands involving a customized therapy with bacteriophages for patients with recurrent urinary tract infections. This represents a unique collaboration between the departments of microbiology, infectious diseases, pharmacy, and urology at UMC Utrecht. The grant has been awarded from the Promising Care subsidy scheme of the National Healthcare Institute and ZonMw.