Tick-borne disease vaccines: What clinicians should know - Jan 2026

In 2026, tick-borne diseases reach a pivotal moment as climate change drives their geographic expansion. Key developments include upcoming efficacy results for the VLA15 Lyme disease vaccine, advances in seasonal protection using monoclonal antibodies, and the established use of TICOVAC for tick-borne encephalitis. For bacterial infections such as rickettsiosis, immediate doxycycline treatment remains critical, underscoring the ongoing need for integrated prevention and early intervention strategies.

Lyme Arthritis in Sweden over 17 years - Jan 2026

In a 17-year cohort study from Sweden, PCR analysis of synovial fluid identified Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in 283 Lyme arthritis patients, with a high incidence in children and male predominance among adults. B. afzelii was the most common species, while B. burgdorferi sensu stricto accounted for one-third of cases despite its rarity in Swedish ticks, suggesting enhanced joint tropism. The detection of B. spielmanii represents its first identification in humans in Sweden and the first global report in synovial fluid, highlighting the diagnostic value of synovial fluid PCR in Lyme arthritis.

Spotted fever group rickettsiae and Borrelia co-infection in Poland - Dec 2025

Researchers in north-eastern Poland found widespread exposure of both ticks and humans to spotted fever group (SFG) Rickettsia and Borrelia bacteria. Analysis of more than 4,000 Ixodes ricinus ticks revealed Rickettsia DNA in over 11% of adults, mainly R. helvetica and R. monacensis. Nearly 39% of local residents showed antibodies against SFG Rickettsia, indicating frequent human exposure. Although co-infection in ticks was relatively low, immune responses in humans suggested much higher co-exposure to both pathogens, highlighting a hidden burden of tick-borne co-infections and the need for improved surveillance and diagnosis.

Updated Checklist of Bat Species in Mexico - Nov 2025

An updated checklist of bat species in Mexico was published in 2025, synthesizing recent taxonomic revisions, new species descriptions, and distributional records. The study reports a total of 146 bat species for the country, including 20 endemic taxa, incorporating recently described species such as Vampyressa villai and Corynorhinus leonpaniaguae. This comprehensive revision provides an essential baseline for biodiversity assessments, conservation planning, and ecological research, highlighting Mexico as one of the most diverse countries worldwide for chiropteran fauna.

Bioengineered platform for immune-evasion of cancer-killing viruses - Aug 2025

Scientists have engineered a groundbreaking cancer treatment that uses bacteria to smuggle viruses directly into tumors, bypassing the immune system and delivering a powerful one-two punch against cancer cells. The bacteria act like Trojan horses, carrying viral payloads to cancer’s core, where the virus can spread and destroy malignant cells. Built-in safety features ensure the virus can’t multiply outside the tumor, offering a promising pathway for safe, targeted therapy.

Inflammation during viral infection can rouse dormant cancer cells - Jul 2025

Researchers at the University of Colorado, Einstein College of Medicine, and Utrecht University discovered that common respiratory viral infections, including COVID-19 and influenza, can awaken dormant breast cancer cells that have spread to the lungs, leading to rapid metastatic progression. Using mouse models of breast cancer, the team found that within days of viral infection, previously dormant cancer cells began proliferating and expanded more than 100-fold into metastatic lesions within two weeks. The awakening process is driven by interleukin-6 (IL-6), an inflammatory protein released during viral infections, and the researchers confirmed this mechanism by showing that mice lacking IL-6 had significantly reduced cancer cell activation. The study was supported by analysis of large human databases, including the UK Biobank and U.S. Flatiron Health database, which showed that breast cancer patients who contracted COVID-19 were nearly 50% more likely to experience lung metastasis compared to those without COVID-19 infection, suggesting that cancer survivors may need enhanced protection against respiratory viruses to prevent dormant cancer cell reactivation.

Antiviral Susceptibility of Influenza A(H5N1) - Mar 2025

During 2023–2024, highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses from clade 2.3.2.1c were responsible for human infections in Cambodia, while those from clade 2.3.4.4b led to cases in the Americas. Researchers evaluated the susceptibility of these viruses to antiviral treatments. All Cambodian isolates were responsive to M2 ion channel blockers. All viruses were susceptible to neuraminidase inhibitors, including oseltamivir, zanamivir, peramivir, laninamivir, and AV5080. However, oseltamivir was approximately four times less effective for clade 2.3.4.4b viruses. All viruses exhibited susceptibility to polymerase inhibitors baloxavir and tivoxavir, and to the polymerase basic 2 inhibitor pimodivir.

Should circulr RNA be considered a viroid - Mar 2025

Viroids are small, circular infectious RNA molecules primarily linked to plant diseases and have been extensively studied in molecular biology. They are categorized into two families based on their replication sites and the host factors involved. Both families employ a rolling-circle replication mechanism. The Pospiviroidae family, which includes the potato spindle tuber viroid, replicates in the nucleus with the assistance of host enzymes such as DNA-dependent RNA polymerase II, DNA ligase I, and RNase III. Conversely, viroids from the Avsunviroidae family, such as eggplant latent viroid and peach latent mosaic viroid (PLMVd), replicate within the chloroplast.

Resurgence of common respiratory pathogens (Jan 2025)

This article reports the resurgence of common respiratory viruses and Mycoplasma pneumoniae among children after ending the zero-COVID policy in Shanghai China from January 2022 to December 2023. A total of 8550 patients were enrolled (6170 patients in 2023 and 2380 in 2022). Rhinovirus (14.2%) was the dominant pathogen in 2022, however, Mycoplasma pneumoniae (38.8%) was the dominant pathogen in 2023.

Phenotypic evolution of SARS-CoV-2 spike (Jan 2025)

SARS-CoV-2 variants are primarily defined by mutations in their spike protein, influencing virus phenotypes. To study this, researchers created recombinant viruses with spike proteins from 27 variants circulating between 2020 and 2024. They found that post-Omicron variants retained enhanced nasal and airway tropism while also regaining traits typical of pre-Omicron variants, suggesting future variants may combine these features.

Sustained virologic suppression of HIV with anti-CD4 antibody (Jan 2025)

Managing multidrug-resistant (MDR) HIV remains challenging. A 58-year-old male with MDR HIV and Kaposi sarcoma (KS) was treated with UB-421, an anti-CD4 antibody, and lenacapavir, a capsid inhibitor. This regimen achieved sustained plasma viremia suppression, increased CD4+ T cells, and showed no resistance development. KS improved with additional liposomal doxorubicin and pembrolizumab treatments. The case highlights UB-421's potential in combination therapies for MDR HIV.

Herpes virus (HSV-1) might drive Alzheimer's pathology (Jan 2025)

University of Pittsburgh researchers uncovered a surprising link between Alzheimer's disease and herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1), suggesting that viral infections may play a role in the disease. The study results are published today in Cell Reports.

Single H5N1 mutation in surface protein enhances human infection (Dec 2024)

New research suggests that a single alteration in the surface protein of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus, which is presently affecting U.S. dairy cows, could enhance its ability to spread among humans. These findings underscore the critical importance of maintaining vigilant surveillance and monitoring of HPAI H5N1 for genetic mutations that might increase its transmissibility in humans.

BKPyV replication and renal transplant (Dec 2024)

Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham have identified new aspects of BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) replication that challenge previous understandings and reveal potential drug targets to combat the virus, a major cause of kidney transplant failure. A single-cell analysis of BKPyV infection in primary kidney cells provided insights that could lead to effective treatments, as reported in PLOS Pathogens.

Dr. Placide Mbala and the African Monkeypox outbreak (Dec 2024)

Earlier this year, a deadly outbreak of mpox swept through Central Africa, claiming hundreds of lives. Placide Mbala, an epidemiologist at the National Institute of Biomedical Research in the DRC, described the situation as a case of "scientific amnesia" following the 2022 outbreak. Leading a research team, Mbala identified a concerning cluster of cases among young adults and sex workers in eastern DRC. The team warned of the virus's rapid spread and urged health officials in the DRC and neighboring countries to prepare containment strategies.

Real-time forecasting of West Nile virus outbreaks (Dec 2024)

This study presents a real-time prediction system for West Nile virus (WNV) outbreaks, incorporating an adapted compartment model to capture transmission dynamics among birds, mosquitoes, and humans, including asymptomatic cases and weather influences. Using data assimilation techniques, weekly WNV case forecasts were generated for Colorado in 2023, offering actionable insights for public health planning. The integration of weather variables significantly improved forecast accuracy, as demonstrated by comparative analyses.

Marburg infection scare in Hamburg Germany (Oct 2024)

Two passengers suspected of carrying the highly contagious and lethal Marburg virus caused a scare at Hamburg's main train station when a 26-year-old medical student and his girlfriend developed flu-like symptoms during their journey from Frankfurt. Emergency crews in protective gear evacuated passengers and closed tracks for several hours. The student, who had recently traveled from Rwanda, where a Marburg virus outbreak is ongoing, contacted emergency services after experiencing mild vomiting. Both were taken to Eppendorf University Hospital for further testing, while their luggage was impounded. Rwanda has reported 26 cases and eight deaths from the virus, which is spread through bodily fluids and has a high mortality rate. The two people were transported to a department specializing in highly contagious infectious diseases at the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf where they tested negative for the Marburg virus.

Fruit-only diet improves bats' immune response to viruses (Sep 2024)

This study explores how diet and environmental factors influence the immune response of Jamaican fruit bats (Artibeus jamaicensis) and their role in virus spillover events to humans. Bats, common reservoirs of zoonotic viruses, generally show weaker antibody responses compared to other mammals. By exposing bats and mice to well-characterized antigens, researchers found bats had a weaker and more diverse antibody response. Notably, fruit bats on a fruit-only diet had higher antibody levels and better virus-binding ability than those on a protein-supplemented diet. The study also found that food shortages and stress can enhance antibody responses in wild bats. These results suggest diet changes can affect bat immunity, offering insights into preventing virus spillovers.

Bovine H5N1 influenza virus in the Americas (Sep 2024)

Highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza (HPAI H5N1) viruses can occasionally infect mammals, though transmission between them is rare. In the spring of 2024, however, the USA experienced an unprecedented outbreak of HPAI H5N1 in cattle herds, where the virus spread within and between herds, as well as to poultry, cats, and humans, raising concerns about increased public health risks. This study investigates an HPAI H5N1 virus isolated from cow milk in mice and ferrets. The virus spread systemically in both species, including to the mammary glands, a pattern similar to earlier HPAI H5N1 isolates. Notably, the bovine H5N1 virus demonstrated an ability to bind to sialic acids present in the human upper respiratory tract and showed limited transmission potential in ferrets, as one out of four exposed ferrets seroconverted without direct virus detection. These findings suggest that the bovine H5N1 virus has characteristics that may enhance its capacity to infect and spread among mammals.

Novel virus discovery, Amugulang virus transmitted by rodents in China (Sep 2024)

In 2017, the ICTV reclassified Bunyaviridae as Bunyavirales, and in 2024, further elevated it to the class Bunyaviricetes, with Hantaviridae as a key family. Despite these updates, the term "hantavirus" remains commonly used. Hantaviridae members have segmented RNA genomes and can infect various hosts, though only rodent-borne hantaviruses are linked to human diseases like hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). By November 2023, 75 hantaviruses had been identified, with 25 associated with human disease, including Hantaan and Andes viruses, both of which have varying fatality rates. The discovery of new strains, such as Puumala virus (PUUV) in Europe and Asia, underscores the ongoing public health risk. While many hantaviruses are harmless to humans, continuous reclassification is essential for understanding their evolving diversity. This study introduces a new hantavirus, Amugulang virus, identified through metagenomic sequencing, further expanding our knowledge of hantavirus diversity.

Novel virus discovery, Kinna virus (KIV) tick-borne Bandavirus in Kenya (Sep 2024)

This study reports the discovery of a novel virus, tentatively named Kinna virus (KIV), from Amblyomma gemma ticks in Isiolo County, Kenya. High throughput sequencing revealed that KIV is closely related to the Guertu virus and shares the typical genome structure of Bandavirus species. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed KIV as a distinct virus, with its RdRp amino acid sequence showing 93.3% identity to Guertu virus, suggesting it is likely a new species. Neutralizing antibodies against KIV were found in 38.6% of human sera samples from the local population. In vivo experiments showed that the virus was lethal to mice, and it infected mammalian cells but had reduced infectivity in mosquito cell lines. The discovery of KIV, with its potential to cause disease in humans and animals, underscores the need for evaluating its public health impact and the importance of continuous surveillance of vectors and humans in high-risk areas to monitor pathogen diversity.

Global spread of emerging tick-borne Alongshan virus (ALSV) in China (Sep 2024)

Alongshan virus (ALSV), a tick-borne virus associated with human disease, was first identified in northeastern China. More recent studies have reported its presence in various mammalian and arthropod hosts in countries beyond Asia, and genome sequencing data is now available. ALSV belongs to the Jingmenvirus group, closely related to the Flaviviridae family. Its RNA genome is unique, being segmented into four parts, with two segments resembling the NS3 and NS5 regions of non-segmented flaviviruses. The transmission of arthropod-borne pathogens is likely to increase due to environmental changes and expanding human encroachment into wildlife habitats. This review covers ALSV's global distribution, emergence patterns, genetic diversity, evolution, and its potential impact on urbanization and global health.

Novel virus discovery, Arctic wolf parvovirus (AWPV) in China (Sep 2024)

This study reports the discovery of a novel parvovirus from Arctic wolves in China. The virus represents a new addition to the growing list of parvoviruses found in wildlife, highlighting the need for continued surveillance of viral diversity in wild animal populations. Further research is needed to understand the potential impact of this virus on wildlife health and any possible zoonotic potential.