Infectious diseases

Health workers work in an area where an outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola has been reported in eastern Congo, May 2026. Credit: WHO/L. Mackenzie

World Health Organization declares Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern

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The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus. According to the WHO, it is not a global pandemic, but there is concern about regional spread due to cross-border movement, insecurity and a lack of vaccines or treatments specific to the strain.
Cruise ship. Such ships combine accommodations, restaurants, water systems, and crowded public spaces – conditions that can facilitate the spread of disease. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Cruise ships as a hotspot for outbreaks: What does the Hanta incident on the MV Hondius teach us?

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The deaths of three passengers and the cluster of Hantavirus cases on the MV Hondius expedition ship illustrate anew why cruise ships are a particularly vulnerable environment for the spread of disease: crowding, shared spaces, water and air systems, and an elderly population
red blood cells Illustration: depositphotos.com

The fight for iron: How disease-causing fungi exploit our blood – and what might stop them

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Relationships: Evolution of the virus and the cell. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Dr. Yotam Bar-On: “Why do viruses always win?” – and what gives us an advantage anyway

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In a lecture at the Technion, Dr. Yotam Bar-On explained how rapid evolution, mutations, and immune evasion allow viruses to outpace the immune system, why vaccines are very successful in some diseases and less so in others, and what we learned from the Corona era.
(Toxoplasma gondii), a parasite found in cat feces. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Parasite carried by billions leads a 'secret life' inside the brain

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A study in Nature Communications reveals that Toxoplasma gondii cysts are not a dormant reservoir but a diverse system of subtypes, which may explain why there is currently no treatment that eradicates the cysts.
Dr. Natalia Freund. Photo: Tel Aviv University Spokesperson

A long and winding journey to discover new ways to fight tuberculosis

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A study from Tel Aviv University identified two families of human antibodies that bind to the PSTS1 protein of the tuberculosis bacterium, and in a mouse experiment, the antibody treatment led to a 50% reduction in the bacterial load in the lungs.
A variety of pathogenic Vibrio species, including Vibrio vulnificus (blue), Vibrio cholerae (red), Vibrio fluvialis (purple), Vibrio alginolyticus (yellow), and Vibrio parahaemolyticus (green).

Climate crisis fuels outbreaks of Vibrio bacteria – including cholera and other serious infections

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Analysis of six decades of data shows that cholera bacteria and other strains are spreading rapidly due to warming ocean waters and poor sanitation – and the danger is expected to increase
Japanese women wearing kimono. Illustration: depositphotos.com

A new study has discovered three main genetic groups in Japan and not two as previously thought

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A new study analyzed whole-genome sequencing data from 3256 people across Japan, using the Japan Biobank database. The division is: a group in Okinawa, related to an ancient population living in Japan, mud in northeastern Japan, possibly related
Couple therapy of bacteria. Weizmann Institute illustration

in couples therapy

A long-tailed macaque with a plastic cup in Singapore. Almost everywhere there are people, there is also plastic. Photography: Amos Chua

What happens when plastic reaches the forests and what does it have to do with monkeys?

Monkey pox. Illustration: depositphotos.com

A surge in the incidence of monkeypox in Africa - what must be done to prevent a global epidemic

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Molecular Systems Biology portal showing eCIS injects AI-predicted toxins. Artist's impression by Dr. Yitzhak Yadgari

Identifying new toxins using machine learning

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New research at the Hebrew University reveals how bacteria use a special mechanism, like a tiny syringe, to inject toxins into other organisms. Using artificial intelligence, the researchers identified over 2,000 possible toxins that may be injected through
The bacterium Pseudomonas Aeruginosa causes sinusitis A Hrefhttps Depositphotoscom illustration Depositphotoscom A

Fighting antibiotic resistance using peptide mixtures

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New research highlights the potential of random mixtures of antimicrobial peptides to significantly reduce the risk of resistance development compared to single peptides. These findings highlight the need for innovative solutions to overcome
Personalized Medicine Illustrated: depositphotos.com

The discovery that will advance personalized medicine for infectious diseases

This is the first time that researchers succeed in developing personalized tools for infectious diseases, which until now have only been developed for specific diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's
Disease at first glance: when a cell of the immune system (macrophage, in blue) meets a bacterium (in red), what happens in the first 48-24 hours is crucial

An algorithm that may predict the chance of contracting tuberculosis

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"Caveman's disease" got its exotic name because the fungus that causes it is found in the feces of bats and other birds, and cavemen are at high risk of contracting it. Illustration: pixabay.

The connection between Bob Dylan, bats and a new infectious disease in Israel

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Illustration: pixabay.

Clean the blood

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Robert Koch

The enemy within: bacteria revisited

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Cosmic scene with DNA, stars, solvents and atomic circles in oral flow.

A district in Korea and the MND company will jointly develop detection kits for infectious diseases

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