If someone leaves their car unlocked, they may face theft. Such an experience often makes them more cautious in the future. Similarly, a common cold infection may prepare the immune system. This preparation can help protect against future threats like COVID-19.

Researchers at National Jewish Health studied this connection. They found prior rhinovirus infection could cut COVID-19 risk nearly in half. This protection may help explain why children have milder COVID-19 symptoms. Children often face more colds than adults, boosting immune readiness.

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One of the most remembered facts from biology class is about mitochondria. They’re called the “powerhouse of the cell” because they help make energy. But new research published in Cell reveals another crucial role. Mitochondria also help your immune system detect and trap harmful bacteria.

Inside neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, mitochondria act as sensors. They detect a chemical called lactate, which is made by bacteria during infection. When mitochondria sense lactate, they send a signal inside the neutrophil. This signal tells the neutrophil to launch a defense called a NET.

NETs, or neutrophil extracellular traps, are sticky webs made of DNA and proteins. These webs trap bacteria and help stop them from spreading. Scientists once thought NETs only formed from stress or damage inside cells. But this study shows NETs can also form in response to bacterial activity.

The discovery shows that mitochondria do more than make energy. They help your immune system respond to threats and fight off infection.

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A new study published in Virulence reveals how lung infections involving more than one type of bacteria suppress the immune system.

Mycobacterium abscessus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa often coinfect patients with chronic lung conditions. People with cystic fibrosis (CF) or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are especially at risk.

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One of the most unsettling traits of infectious diseases is their stealth. A person can feel healthy while a virus quietly spreads inside them. By the time symptoms appear, it may be too late to act quickly. That delay makes diagnosis and containment much harder.

Understanding incubation periods helps pinpoint where and when infection occurred. A new CDC study sheds light on the timing of Oropouche virus disease. Researchers focused on nearly 100 travel-related cases from 2024 to 2025. They used log-normal survival modeling to analyze 97 confirmed infections.

The goal was to define the window between exposure and symptoms. Their findings can guide outbreak responses and improve clinical decisions. The study found the median incubation period was 3.2 days.

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Ivermectin is a key anti-parasite drug used in humans and animals. Vaccine opponents wrongly promoted the medicine as a COVID-19 cure. While health officials found insufficient support for those claims, ivermectin now shows surprising promise against a different deadly disease: malaria.

A large clinical trial tested ivermectin’s ability to reduce malaria infections. Results found a 26% drop in malaria infections among children.

The study took place in Kwale, a coastal region of Kenya. Malaria is common there, and most people already use insecticide-treated nets. The study aimed to see if ivermectin could offer extra protection.

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Imagine going to the doctor with an open wound needing stitches. Instead of treatment, you are told the wound is imaginary. This experience is similar to what many ME/CFS patients face. Their symptoms are sometimes dismissed as psychosomatic, despite being real and disabling.

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a long-term illness. It causes extreme fatigue, post-exertional malaise, pain, and brain fog. Symptoms often begin after an infection and can last for years. The disease affects more women than men and has no known cure.

A large UK preprint study linked eight genetic signals to ME/CFS. It is the largest genetic analysis of the disease ever done. The findings suggest ME/CFS has real biological causes, not just psychological ones. This research gives the illness a stronger scientific foundation and may guide future treatments.

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A new study in the European Heart Journal shows the shingles vaccine may protect heart health. Researchers found vaccinated adults had a 23% lower risk of cardiovascular events.

The vaccine lowered the risk of stroke, heart failure, and coronary heart disease. The study tracked over 1.2 million people aged 50 and older in South Korea.

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Climate change is warming weather and driving insect populations into new territories. Areas like North America and Europe can expect to see more infections from insect bites.

Mosquitoes and ticks can spread multiple harmful illnesses through bites, including Lyme disease, malaria, dengue, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and West Nile virus. These illnesses can cause lasting health problems if not treated early.

Fortunately, new research from Acadia University may provide improved protection from tick bites. The Acadia researchers discovered that lemongrass essential oil can block a tick’s ability to detect humans.

The discovery could lead to more effective, natural alternatives to synthetic repellents like DEET. While DEET is widely used, it carries potential risks for skin irritation and environmental harm.

Lemongrass oil, by contrast, is both natural and environmentally friendly. The oil appears to mask human scent and confuse ticks’ sense of smell.

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A new vaccine offers strong promise against H5N1 bird flu. The clade 2.3.4.4b virus has spread across North America. Bird flu threatens livestock, birds, and human health. New mutations raise serious pandemic concerns.

Researchers developed a nanoparticle vaccine using viral surface proteins. H5 and N1 proteins were displayed on immunogenic liposomes. These proteins help trigger a strong immune response in the body.

Mice received the vaccine and produced antibodies targeting both proteins. All vaccinated mice survived a deadly H5N1 infection. These results suggest the vaccine offers complete protection.

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Climate change is helping dangerous diseases spread across the Arctic. Scientists say rising temperatures are melting permafrost and damaging ecosystems. These changes open new paths for infections to move from animals to people.

An international research team published the findings in Science of the Total Environment. The study shows how warming is reshaping Arctic life. New roads, industries, and people now reach once-isolated areas. This raises the risk of infections like brucellosis, tularemia, and E. coli.

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