Infectious Diseases

June 30, 2025

Coronavirus pioneer Mark Denison bids farewell to VUMC colleagues after remarkable career

The discoveries about coronavirus biology that Denison and his colleagues made were foundational for the rapid validation of antiviral drugs and development of new vaccines that helped bring the COVID-19 pandemic under control.

By Bill Snyder
May 28, 2025

VUMC infectious disease experts explain what antibiotic resistance means for individuals and populations — and how to protect against it

A rising global health threat, antibiotic resistance presents several complications, but protection is possible.

By Evan Dorian
April 10, 2025

$4.1 million grant awarded to study unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions 

Antibiotic prescriptions handed out in unplanned care spaces contribute to antimicrobial resistance, especially if they are not necessary to treat infections.

By Evan Dorian
April 8, 2025

A link between bacterial infection and colorectal cancer: Study

Understanding factors that contribute to the development of colorectal cancer could point to new targets for treating the disease at earlier stages, when survival rates are highest.

By Leigh MacMillan
March 25, 2025

C. diff uses toxic compound to fuel growth advantage

The findings of a new research study increase understanding of the molecular drivers of C. diff infection and point to novel therapeutic strategies aimed at a pathogen that causes about half a million infections in the U.S. each year.

By Leigh MacMillan
March 10, 2025

VUMC to develop AI technology for therapeutic antibody discovery

The approach will address “bottlenecks” that slow the traditional antibody discovery process, and it aims to make it possible to generate monoclonal antibody therapies against any target of interest.

By Leigh MacMillan
January 23, 2025

$20 million grant supports sweeping study of human viruses

Most of the more than 200 species of viruses known to reside in humans remain poorly understood, and new ones are being discovered every few months.
By Paul Govern
January 23, 2025

Eric Skaar wins National Academy of Sciences award

Skaar, who directs the Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology and Inflammation, is being recognized for “pioneering work at the intersection of nutrition and infectious diseases."
By Leigh MacMillan
December 17, 2024

Immune-suppressing drug does not improve COVID-19 recovery: study

Previous studies suggested that fostamatinib may suppress inflammatory responses triggered by COVID-19 and mitigate ongoing lung injury, decreasing mortality and oxygen requirements.
By Bill Snyder
December 13, 2024

Respiratory virus activity increasing in Middle Tennessee; important reminders from Infection Prevention

To reduce your risk of becoming ill and to create a safe environment for our coworkers and patients, a reminder of these essential infection prevention precautions
By VUMC Infection Prevention team
December 12, 2024

Go inside the lab as Maddie Wright, a CF warrior, ‘geeks out’ over the science of Vanderbilt Medical Laboratories 

A 17-year-old cystic fibrosis warrior and liver transplant recipient with antibiotic resistance got to see science in action at Vanderbilt Medical Laboratories.
By Jessica Pasley and Erin O. Smith
December 11, 2024

Vanderbilt joins national effort to develop alphavirus vaccines

The project aims to design computational “tool kits” that can speed development of multi-virus vaccines targeting some of the greatest infectious threats to human health.
By Bill Snyder and Herschel Pollard
November 15, 2024

Zinc deficiency promotes Acinetobacter lung infection: study

The study findings point to the potential of interleukin-13 antibodies — approved for use in humans — as a treatment to protect against bacterial pneumonia in patients with zinc deficiency.
By Leigh MacMillan