Despite a steady decline in reported cases following a large outbreak in 2022, diphtheria is still being reported in Europe, with the number of cases higher than before 2020. An ECDC Rapid Risk Assessment issued today highlights how ongoing circulation of diphtheria caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae (C. diphtheriae) may affect some populations who are more vulnerable to infection and recommends tailored public health response measures to protect those most at risk.

Researchers from the UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center have received a $3.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to study and develop treatments for mpox. 

Although only a handful of cases from a new, more infectious strain of mpox have been reported in the U.S. so far, primarily in travelers, experts say the virus is rapidly evolving in ways that could eventually make it far more dangerous and widespread. 

With this new grant, the UCLA-led team will work toward three goals: 

Understanding how mpox virus spreads and causes injury within skin and eye tissue through studies using human stem cell-based models.

Identifying the genetic mutations that are making newer strains of mpox virus more infectious and lethal.

Developing new classes of antiviral drugs to treat mpox infection and stop viral transmission.