Infectious Diseases

May 31, 2024

Antibodies may aid effort to fight influenza B: study

The findings reported in the journal Immunity support the development of a monoclonal antibody for prevention and treatment of influenza B — and will help guide efforts to develop a universal influenza vaccine.

By Bill Snyder
Source: Tennessee Department of Health (graphic by Diana Duren)
May 22, 2024

Rising syphilis cases prompt more testing during pregnancy

When found and treated early with antibiotics, syphilis is curable. Untreated syphilis can cause deafness, blindness and irreversible heart and brain damage.

By Danny Bonvissuto
May 8, 2024

Supercomputing redesign of a COVID monoclonal antibody

The approach, which combines high-performance computing, simulation, machine learning and experimental validation, will help keep antibody drugs up to date in the future against highly variable viruses.

By Leigh MacMillan
(courtesy of the CDC)
April 4, 2024

Tick bites and alpha-gal syndrome focus of $3.5M research grant

Vanderbilt’s Scott Smith, MD, PhD, has been awarded a five-year, $3.5 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, to study the human immune response to tick bites and its role in preventing tick-borne illnesses.

By Paul Govern
(iStock image)
April 3, 2024

Talbot leads US immunization committee

Infectious diseases researcher H. Keipp Talbot, MD, MPH, has been appointed chair of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

By Paul Govern
March 28, 2024

VUMC team discovers antibodies that may prevent severe respiratory illness

Using a technique developed at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, researchers identified antibodies that are excellent leads as potential therapies for human parainfluenza virus 3, a leading cause of acute and potentially fatal respiratory illness.

By Bill Snyder
March 15, 2024

Emerging Infections Program extends, expands disease surveillance research with new grant from the CDC

The Tennessee Emerging Infections Program has been awarded a new five-year grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to continue infectious disease surveillance research that has been conducted since 1999, and has expanded to include COVID, Mpox and HPV surveillance into oropharyngeal cancers.
By VUMC News and Communications
January 29, 2024

Expanded space boosts cutting-edge research in infectious diseases and immunology

The Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology and Inflammation recently debuted state-of-the-art new facilities in Medical Center.
By Leigh MacMillan
January 17, 2024

Bird flu vaccine more effective with potent adjuvant

The avian (bird) influenza vaccine creates a more robust immune response when paired with a potent ingredient known as an adjuvant, according to Vanderbilt research published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases.
By Craig Boerner
January 11, 2024

Comprehensive Care Clinic’s Ruby Gala set for Feb. 10

The Vanderbilt Comprehensive Care Clinic, Nashville’s original nonprofit medical home for people living with HIV, will hold its annual Ruby Gala on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024, at Marathon Music Works.
By Bill Snyder
December 4, 2023

Report offers a way to overcome the severe lack of HIV providers

In a new report, members of the Southeast AIDS Education and Training Center, which is coordinated by Vanderbilt University Medical Center, offers an innovative approach to increasing the HIV workforce: train all manner of health professionals to care for people with HIV.
By Bill Snyder
November 15, 2023

Novel C. diff structures are required for infection, offer new therapeutic targets

Vanderbilt research discovers that iron storage “spheres” inside the bacterium C. diff — the leading cause of hospital-acquired infections — are important for infection in an animal model and could offer new targets for antibacterial drugs.
By Leigh MacMillan
November 13, 2023

Study finds antiviral treatment is largely underused in children with influenza

Vanderbilt research finds antiviral medications are underused in young children diagnosed with influenza despite national guidelines supporting their use
By Jessica Pasley
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