EurekAlert! In the Spotlight

Welcome to In the Spotlight, where each month we shine a light on something exciting, timely, or simply fascinating from the world of science.

This month, we’re focusing on infectious diseases, a topic that affects lives and communities around the world. Here, you’ll find the latest research news, insights, and discoveries shaping how infectious diseases are being studied, prevented, and treated globally.

Latest News Releases

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 19-Dec-2025 07:11 ET (19-Dec-2025 12:11 GMT/UTC)

11-Sep-2025

Innovative approach helps new mothers get hepatitis C treatment

Washington University in St. Louis
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Giving postpartum mothers with hepatitis C the opportunity to start antiviral treatment while still in the hospital after giving birth — and delivering the medication to their bedside before discharge — significantly increases their odds of being cured, according to a new study at WashU Medicine.

Funder: NIH/National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), NIH/National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH/National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH/Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

11-Sep-2025

Excess HIV infections and costs associated with reductions in HIV prevention services in the us

JAMA Network
Peer-Reviewed Publication

About The Study: In this economic evaluation estimating effects of the possible health care policy changes on HIV transmission, findings suggest that even modest reductions in pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) coverage would result in thousands of avoidable HIV infections and billions of dollars of increases in net health care costs.

Journal: JAMA Network Open

11-Sep-2025

How an immune cell receptor dampens the fight against fungal infection

Chiba University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

People are constantly exposed to fungal spores, including those of Aspergillus fumigatus, but individuals with weakened immune systems may develop life-threatening infections. In a recent study, researchers from Japan clarified the mechanisms by which the dendritic cell immunoreceptor (Dcir) suppresses neutrophil activity during infection with A. fumigatus. Their findings highlight Dcir as a potential therapeutic target for aspergillosis and suggest promising research avenues in the field of immunology.

Journal: Frontiers in Immunology
Funder: JSPS KAKENHI

11-Sep-2025

Drug-resistant fungus Candidozyma auris confirmed to spread rapidly in European hospitals: ECDC calls for urgent action

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)
Reports and Proceedings

The latest survey from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the fourth of its kind, confirms that Candidozyma auris (formerly Candida auris) continues to spread quickly across European hospitals, posing a serious threat to patients and healthcare systems. Case numbers are rising, outbreaks are growing in scale, and several countries report ongoing local transmission. The findings highlight the importance of early detection and control of transmission to avoid widespread rapid dissemination.

10-Sep-2025

A ‘universal’ therapy against the seasonal flu? Antibody cocktail targets virus weak spot

Jackson Laboratory
Peer-Reviewed Publication

An unusual therapy developed at The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) could change the way the world fights influenza, one of the deadliest infectious diseases. In a new study in Science Advances, researchers report that a cocktail of antibodies protected mice—including those with weakened immune systems—from nearly every strain of influenza tested, including avian and swine variants that pose pandemic threats.

Journal: Science Advances
Funder: NIH/National Institutes of Health, NIH/National Institute of General Medical Sciences, Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation

10-Sep-2025

From Miami to Berlin: a stowaway rat reveals hidden global health risks

German Center for Infection Research
Peer-Reviewed Publication

In 2017, a Miami–Berlin flight took an unexpected turn when passengers spotted a rat on board. After landing, the rat was captured and handed over to scientists at the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI). There, it was not only seen as a nuisance, but also as an opportunity to examine it as a potential carrier of pathogens. Investigations by scientists from the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), in collaboration with many other scientists from the “Rodent-borne pathogens network (NaÜPa-net)”, revealed only a few zoonotic and non-zoonotic pathogens. However, the incident underscored how easily pathogens can spread across continents—and why standardized testing of animal stowaways is so important. The findings were recently published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Journal: Scientific Reports

9-Sep-2025

Blood test identifies HPV-associated head and neck cancers up to 10 years before symptoms

Mass General Brigham
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Mass General Brigham researchers have developed a new liquid biopsy tool, HPV-DeepSeek, that can detect HPV-associated head and neck cancers up to 10 years before symptoms appear, potentially enabling earlier and less aggressive treatment. The test uses whole-genome sequencing to identify microscopic fragments of HPV DNA in the bloodstream and has demonstrated high accuracy and specificity in early detection.

Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute
Funder: NIH/National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research