Azithromycin Helps Reveal a Malaria Parasite Weakness
The antibiotic azithromycin can help identify a critical protein involved in malaria parasite survival by disrupting the division of a vital organelle. Researchers discovered a previously uncharacterized protein in Plasmodium falciparum, now named PfAnchor, that is essential for dividing and inheriting the apicoplast, an organelle required for parasite replication. The apicoplast is a non-photosynthetic plastid […]
WHO, UNICEF, Gavi Warn of Global Increases of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
Amidst looming funding cuts coming from the US federal government to international vaccine programs, as well as misinformation, population growth, and humanitarian crises, the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and Gavi have publicly stated these factors could lead to millions of children, adolescents, and adults being at an increased risk for vaccine-preventable diseases.1 A recent WHO […]
Resistance, Mortality, and Environmental Risks
Emerging Infectious Disease: Fungal Infections May 2025 Issue Image credits: CDC Fungal infections affect over a billion people globally each year. Although there are an estimated 1 to 5 million fungal species, only a few hundred are known to cause disease in humans. Common infections like ringworm and yeast infections are typically mild, but fungi […]
Pneumonia Antibiotic Cures Lyme Disease at Doses 100 Times Lower Than Standard Treatment
A pre-clinical study demonstrated that piperacillin, an FDA-approved antibiotic, that inhibits peptidoglycan production, could be a more effective treatment for Lyme disease than doxycycline, the current standard treatment.1 This could be a potentially promising development since doxycycline is not effective in up to 20% of patients.1 “Piperacillin may be a game-changer for improving Lyme disease treatment, […]
As US Measles Cases Rise to 884, the ECDC Reports Over 35,000 Infections in 2024
Measles MMR vaccination rates nationwide. Image credits: CDC As of April 25, 2025, the CDC has confirmed 884 measles cases across 30 US jurisdictions. This is a sharp increase from the 285 cases reported in 2024 and 59 cases in 2023. Of the 2025 cases, 820 (93 percent) are linked to 11 outbreaks, compared to […]
A Novel Rifamycin-Quinolone Hybrid Antibiotic
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria inside a biofilm, 3D illustration. Image credit: Adobe Stock Rifaquizinone is a novel dual-pharmacophore antibiotic that combines rifamycin and a fluoroquinolone-like compound in a single molecule.1 This combined molecule demonstrates activity primarily on RNA polymerase, much like rifampin, while inhibiting DNA gyrase and DNA topoisomerase IV.2 Previously described as CBR-2092 and TNP-2092, rifaquizinone […]
Novavax vs mRNA Vaccines: Understanding Vaccine Reactogenicity
In a real-world US study of frontline health care workers (HCWs) and first responders (FRs), the updated 2024–2025 Novavax (NVX) COVID-19 vaccine was associated with fewer and milder side effects compared to the updated Pfizer-BioNTech (PFZ) mRNA vaccine. The findings, presented at the ESCMID Global Congress 2025, suggest the Novavax vaccine may cause less disruption […]
Bringing Out the Best in America’s Ability to Innovate
This interview is part of an ongoing series looking back on history as well as the effects of the pandemic 5 years later. Matthew Hepburn, MD, an infectious disease physician, worked in both the Biden and Trump Administrations. And during the pandemic, he held the role of vaccine development lead for Operation Warp Speed. This […]
Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine Linked to Fewer Side Effects in Health Care Workers and First Responders
In a real-world study of frontline health care workers (HCWs) and first responders (FRs) in the United States, recipients of the updated 2024–2025 Novavax (NVX) COVID-19 vaccine reported fewer and less severe side effects than those who received the updated Pfizer-BioNTech (PFZ) mRNA vaccine. These findings suggest the Novavax vaccine may cause less disruption to […]
A Bundled Approach to Reducing Inappropriate Antibiotic Prescribing for Acute Uncomplicated Bronchitis
Approximately 2 million infections and 23,000 deaths annually are presumed attributable to antibiotic resistance, rendering this issue a significant—and considerable—threat to public health. Antibiotic overuse is associated with the emergence of antibiotic resistance and thus is considered a modifiable risk factor for this phenomenon.1 Historically, the bulk of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) literature and guidance have […]
