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: 9-Jan-2026 13:11 ET (9-Jan-2026 18:11 GMT/UTC)

9-Jul-2025

The American Society for Nutrition announces Washington, DC as Host City for NUTRITION 2026

American Society for Nutrition
Meeting Announcement

The American Society for Nutrition (ASN) is pleased to announce that NUTRITION 2026, its flagship annual meeting, will be held July 25–28, 2026, in National Harbor in Maryland, just outside Washington, DC. 

9-Jul-2025

Pilot study demonstrates feasibility of digital tool for dietary goal setting in primary care diabetes management

Elsevier
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A recent study in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, published by Elsevier, evaluated the feasibility of Nutri, a user-centered digital platform designed to support personalized, evidence-based diet goal setting during routine primary care visits for patients with type 2 diabetes. Findings show that primary care providers (PCPs) who used the system consistently, found it usable and satisfactory, and that patients were able to engage with the intervention effectively.

Journal

Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior

Funder

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

9-Jul-2025

Can eating a healthy plant-based diet help protect against inflammatory bowel disease?

Wiley
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A large prospective study published in Molecular Nutrition and Food Research reveals that a healthy plant-based diet is linked with a reduced risk of inflammatory bowel disease.

Journal

Molecular Nutrition & Food Research

9-Jul-2025

New “bone-digesting” cell type discovered in pythons

Society for Experimental Biology
Reports and Proceedings

Research into the intestinal cells of Burmese pythons has revealed the existence of a previously unknown cell type, responsible for completely absorbing the skeletons of their prey.

Journal

Journal of Experimental Biology

Meeting

SEB Conference 2025