In a study published this March in PNAS Nexus, researchers at Texas A&M University and Stanford University used a computational model to estimate how smartwatch-based detection could help control the spread of pandemics such as COVID-19 and pandemic influenza. 

Mystery infections—persistent and unexplained illnesses—are a rising global health challenge, often delaying critical treatment as patients and clinicians search for answers. Today, advanced genetic testing technologies are transforming the landscape, rapidly identifying hidden pathogens and unlocking new pathways for accurate diagnosis and effective intervention.

This study evaluated the impact of drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) on cholera across 89 low- and middle-income countries. Protective effects against cholera were observed for certain types of improved WASH facilities (e.g., piped water), while harmful effects were noted for unimproved facilities (e.g., open defecation). The disparities in WASH access contributed to inequalities in cholera burden across different regions under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG) framework.

HSV-1 literally reshapes the human genome within one hour of infection. Using advanced imaging techniques, researchers watched the cold-sore virus drag its genome into contact with active human genes and collapse chromatin to 30% of its normal volume. The viral invasion hinges on the host enzyme topoisomerase I. Blocking it in culture prevented any new viral particles, suggesting a new therapeutic strategy. The work reveals a previously unknown 3-D hijack mechanism and flags a druggable weak spot to address a growing a public health burden that affects almost 4 billion people worldwide.

In a paper published in MedComm, a team of scientists identifies a critical role of the autophagy protein ATG5 in protecting lung epithelial cells from bacterial infections by regulating mitochondrial DNA release and controlling pyroptosis-induced inflammation via the non-canonical caspase-11 pathway.