Category Archives: Infection

People Who Don’t Get COVID Symptoms Share a Common Feature

Nearly 7 million people have died from COVID-19 since the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus more than three years ago. And yet even after repeat infections, a number of individuals are yet to experience a single symptom after contracting SARS-CoV-2. A variant in an immune response gene may explain why, paving the way for more […]

Tracheobronchitis: Symptoms, causes, treatment, and more

Tracheobronchitis is a respiratory condition where the main symptom is a productive cough. Viruses — such as those that cause colds and flu — underlie most cases. The term “tracheobronchitis” describes inflammation of the windpipe, which doctors also call the trachea, and the major air passages connecting the trachea to the lungs. Doctors call these […]

Progress Toward Hepatitis B Control and Elimination …

Results Immunization Activities By 2014, all 47 countries in AFR had introduced HepB3 infant vaccination (Table 1). By December 2021, 14 (30%) countries provided HepB-BD, eight (57%) of which were in the West subregion.¶¶ Although 10 countries had introduced HepB-BD before 2016, only four (Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, and Senegal) introduced HepB-BD during 2016–2021. […]

Phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from cystic fibrosis patients with chronic infections

Abstract Patients with cystic fibrosis are predisposed to chronic respiratory tract infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. As the disease progresses, the microorganism diversifies into genotypically and phenotypically different strains which may coexist in the patient’s airways for years. Adaptation of the microorganism to the airways of patients with cystic fibrosis probably occurs in response to […]

A lethal fungal infection gets a hand from the body’s own defences

.readcube-buybox { display: none !important;} A protein that helps to keep the immune system under control might undercut the body’s defences against Candida albicans, a potentially lethal fungus1. 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COVID-19 Super Dodgers: The Genetic Secret to Asymptomatic Infection

Summary: ertain individuals carry a unique gene variant that allows them to contract COVID-19 without displaying any symptoms. Dubbed as “super dodgers”, these individuals are more than twice as likely to possess a mutation in a gene coding for human leukocyte antigen (HLA), a protein that aids virus-killing T cells to identify and annihilate SARS-CoV-2. […]

How to prevent UTIs during record-high summer heat

Though summer days are great to enjoy outside when pleasant, many have set records recently for extreme heat. And health experts warn that scorching temperatures can be a breeding ground for urinary tract infections.  UTIs are common and occur when bacteria from the skin or rectum enter the urethra and infect the urinary tract. If […]

Strep throat can easily be confused with throat infections caused by viruses – here are a few ways to know the difference

“My sore throats, you know, are always worse than anybody’s.” So declares Mary to Anne in “Persuasion,” Jane Austen’s 1817 book. Most of us can relate to this feeling. There is no such thing as “just a sore throat.” The pain, headache, fever and aches associated with a sore throat can make you feel terrible. […]

Steer clear of UTIs this summer

Dehydration brings lots of risks—including urinary tract infections (UTIs). An expert offers some tips for avoiding these painful infections without sacrificing summer fun. “Patients can experience more UTIs during the summer due to inadequate fluid intake, especially in the historic heat waves we’ve been experiencing,” said Dr. Maude Carmel, a urology specialist at UT Southwestern […]

Genetics explains why some individuals never have COVID-19 symptoms

image: The peptide NQK-Q8 (light color), a piece of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein that the virus uses to enter cells, bound to the HLA-B*15:01 groove (orange). The illustration is based on the crystal structure of HLA-B*15:01 in complex with spike derived peptide NQKLIANQF from SARS-CoV-2 virus (PDB Entry – 8ELH) published by Augusto et al., 2023 (Nature). […]