📄 Category

infectious diseases

242 papers

Infectious diseases represent one of the most dynamic frontiers in global health, covering everything from seasonal flu outbreaks to emerging viral threats that cross borders. This field focuses on how pathogens spread, how our immune systems respond, and the strategies scientists use to stop infections before they become epidemics. Because the science moves fast, waiting for traditional publication often means missing critical insights that could save lives.

At Gist.Science, we process every new preprint in this category directly from medRxiv to ensure you see the latest findings the moment they appear. Our team transforms these raw studies into both accessible plain-language explanations and detailed technical summaries, bridging the gap between complex research and public understanding. Below are the latest papers in infectious diseases, updated daily with fresh insights from the global research community.

📄 infectious diseases

Effect of higher dose primaquine for the radical cure of Plasmodium vivax malaria in Indonesia: a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis

This systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis of 1,797 patients in Indonesia demonstrates that a higher total primaquine dose of 7 mg/kg significantly reduces *Plasmodium vivax* relapse rates compared to the standard 3.5 mg/kg regimen, with only a moderate increase in gastrointestinal discomfort and rare clinically relevant haemolysis among patients with adequate G6PD activity.

Fadilah, I., Watson, J. A., Pasaribu, A. P., Sutanto, I., Nelwan, E. J., Lidia, K., Rajasekhar, M., Elyazar, I. R., Tayl (…)2026-03-06
📄 infectious diseases

Mapping the Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Western Ethiopia: A multicenter cross-sectional study

This first multicenter study in Western Ethiopia (2021–2025) reveals a rapidly increasing burden of multidrug-resistant MRSA, particularly among children and outpatients, driven by widespread antibiotic misuse and inadequate infection control, thereby highlighting the urgent need for enhanced antimicrobial stewardship and surveillance to guide empiric therapy.

Tesfaye Guteta, E., Diriba, A., Tesfaye, K., Kedir, E., Wakgari, M., Jabessa, D., Chali, M., Biyena, K., Sileshi, G., Jo (…)2026-03-06
📄 infectious diseases

Development and optimization of self-collected, field stable, saliva-based immunoassays for scalable epidemiological surveillance of pathogen-specific immunity

The study presents a developed and optimized, self-collected, field-stable saliva-based immunoassay that demonstrates high correlation with venous blood samples for quantifying pathogen-specific IgG, offering a non-invasive and scalable alternative for global epidemiological surveillance.

Bahr, L. E., Lu, J. Q., Buddhari, D., Hunsawong, T., Rapheal, E., Greco, P., Ware, L., Klick, M., Farmer, A., Middleton (…)2026-03-06
📄 infectious diseases

Schistosoma mansoni infections are associated with hepatosplenic organometry within the context of repeated praziquantel treatment and co-endemic infections of malaria, hepatitis B, and HIV: a population-based study in rural Uganda

In a population-based study in rural Uganda, current *Schistosoma mansoni* infection intensity was found to remain significantly associated with splenomegaly in children and hepatomegaly in adults, even after accounting for co-endemic malaria, HIV, hepatitis B, and repeated praziquantel treatment.

Seggelke, K., Lang, M. M., Nabatte, B., Anguajibi, V., Ntegeka, B., Mugume, T., Mpooya, S., Kabatereine, N. B., Smith, A (…)2026-03-06
📄 infectious diseases

Role of relapse and multiple time delays in shaping Nipah virus epidemic dynamics: a mathematical modeling study

This study develops a delay differential equation model incorporating relapse and multiple time delays to demonstrate that while incubation delays affect epidemic peak timing, relapse is the critical mechanism driving Nipah virus persistence and altering endemic equilibrium conditions beyond the classical reproduction threshold.

Bugalia, S., Wang, H., Salvador, L.2026-03-05
📄 infectious diseases

Genomic surveillance of Lassa virus in Guinea through in-country sequencing

Strengthening in-country sequencing capacity in Guinea generated 28 Lassa virus genomes that revealed cross-border transmission dynamics with Liberia and Sierra Leone, highlighting the critical role of enhanced genomic surveillance in guiding future public health actions.

Camara, J., Annibaldis, G., Klaps, J., Ifono, K., Koundouno, F. R., Sidibe, Y., Ryter, S., Conde, M., Millimono, S. L. (…)2026-03-05
📄 infectious diseases

An Exploratory Study of Host Plasma Proteomic Signatures that Distinguish Active Syphilis in Adults

This exploratory study utilized quantitative proteomics on plasma samples from adults with active syphilis and matched controls to identify specific protein signatures that effectively distinguish active disease from prior treatment, suggesting a promising avenue for developing novel diagnostic tools.

Chou, C., Morton, S. R., Konda, K. A., Vargas, S., Reyes-Diaz, M., Vasquez, F., Caceres, C., Klausner, J. D., Toombs, T. (…)2026-03-05
📄 infectious diseases

Antibiotic Use Among Children Under Two Years With Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana.

This cross-sectional study at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital reveals that two-thirds of children under two with confirmed Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) infection received antibiotics, primarily driven by markers of disease severity rather than bacterial co-infection, highlighting an urgent need for improved diagnostics and antimicrobial stewardship in Ghana.

Dame, J. A., Osman, K. A., Nguyen, A., Shaaban, F., Obodai, E., Pecenka, C., Bont, L., Goka, B.2026-03-05
📄 infectious diseases

Modelling the impact of adopting new-generation insecticide-treated nets on malaria transmission and insecticide resistance

Using an agent-based model calibrated with Tanzanian data, this study demonstrates that transitioning from standard pyrethroid-only nets to new-generation insecticide-treated nets (pyrethroid-PBO and Interceptor G2), potentially combined with periodic indoor residual spraying, significantly reduces malaria transmission and disrupts the evolutionary trajectory of insecticide resistance.

Gervas, H. E., Mayengo, M. M., Chacky, F., Mlacha, Y. P., Ngowo, H. S., Okumu, F. O., Selvaraj, P.2026-03-05