📄 Category

infectious diseases

125 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.

Transmission of rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam: a prospective genomic epidemiology study

This prospective genomic epidemiology study in Ho Chi Minh City reveals that the majority of rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis cases are driven by the ongoing transmission of already-resistant strains rather than *de novo* resistance acquisition, highlighting the need for strategies that combine early diagnosis to interrupt transmission with efforts to identify and control the drivers of newly acquired resistance.

Spies, R., Hanh, N. H., Phu, P. T., Lan, L. K., Lan, K., Hue, N. N., Quang, N. L., Thu, D. D. A., Huong, N. T. L., Thao, T. L. T. N., Tram, T. T. B., Ha, V. T. N., Ha, D. T. M., Lan, N. H., Hai, N. P. (…)2026-03-24📄 infectious diseases

Plasma proteomics identifies early markers of endothelial and inflammatory activation associated with dengue disease severity in children

This study utilizes plasma proteomics and machine learning to identify early biomarkers, such as PTX3 and CLEC11A, that distinguish subclinical from severe dengue cases in children by revealing early endothelial dysfunction and inflammatory activation.

Shamorkina, T. M., Kalaidopoulou Nteak, S., Lay, S., Kallor, A. A., Ly, S., Duong, V., Heck, A. J. R., Cantaert, T., Snijder, J.2026-03-23📄 infectious diseases

Pattern of rpoB gene mutations among Mycobacterium tuberculosis patients in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a five year hospital based study

This five-year hospital-based study in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, reveals a low but steady rate of rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (2.3%) driven primarily by primary transmission of strains harboring the codon 526 rpoB mutation, underscoring the urgent need to shift from reactive clinical management to proactive public health strategies like universal drug susceptibility testing and enhanced contact tracing.

Woldesenbet, Z., Sisay, A., Desta, A. F.2026-03-20📄 infectious diseases

High diversity amongst African Treponema pallidum genomes provides a window into global transmission dynamics of syphilis: A genomic epidemiology study

This genomic epidemiology study reveals that African *Treponema pallidum* strains exhibit remarkable local diversity and limited global sharing compared to high-income countries, with significantly lower macrolide resistance, underscoring the need for intensive local sampling to inform targeted surveillance, treatment guidelines, and vaccine design.

Beale, M. A., Marks, M., Burl, S., Ambridge, K. E., Dauya, E., Mussa, A., Bame, B., Moyo, S., Owusu, M., Kateete, D. P., Kamulegeya, R., Kigozi, E., Kimbugwe, D., Handley, B. L., Mahlangu, M. P., Vent (…)2026-03-20📄 infectious diseases

Behavioural determinants of testing behaviour during a hypothetical avian influenza outbreak: an interview study

This interview study identifies key behavioural determinants of testing during a hypothetical avian influenza outbreak, highlighting that individual autonomy, personal and familial health benefits, external constraints, and trust in authorities significantly influence testing decisions, while past pandemic experiences shape current attitudes.

van Hoorn, R. C., van Gestel, L. C., Griffioen, D. S., Petrignani, M. W., Kersten, C., Muskens, M., Vols, L., Borgdorff, H., van der Meer, I. M., Adriaanse, M. A., van der Schoor, A. S.2026-03-19📄 infectious diseases

A systematic review of Nipah virus disease epidemiological parameters, outbreaks and mathematical models

This systematic review synthesizes epidemiological data, risk factors, and mathematical modeling of Nipah virus from 119 studies to characterize its severe disease outcomes, variable fatality rates, and transmission dynamics, while providing an accessible R package to support future outbreak responses.

Naidoo, T. M., Morgenstern, C., Doohan, P., Earl, R., Rawson, T., Sheppard, R. J., Hicks, J. T., Radhakrishnan, S., Johnson, R., Hartner, A.-M., Cattarino, L., McCain, K., Vicco, A., Imai-Eaton, N., P (…)2026-03-19📄 infectious diseases

Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum mixed infections in human and mosquito hosts: the impact of multi-species infection on parasite densities and transmission to mosquitoes

This study of Ethiopian malaria patients reveals that while mixed *Plasmodium vivax* and *Plasmodium falciparum* infections exhibit altered parasite and gametocyte densities compared to mono-infections, they do not show evidence of interspecies competition in mosquitoes and remain a significant, often undetected, risk for sustaining malaria transmission.

Chali, W., Ejigu, L. A., Atele, T., Sisay, S., Jebessa, G., Habtamu, G., Abdo, M., Shimelash, A., Demisse, M., Bezabih, M. K., Nibret, D., Gizat, A., Getachew, K., Abi, K., Zeleke, A. J., Getnet, B. (…)2026-03-18📄 infectious diseases

Protocol for DNA Extraction from QuantiFERON-TB Gold Tubes for PCR and Sequencing Applications

This study establishes a novel, optimized protocol for extracting high-quality genomic DNA directly from QuantiFERON-TB Gold tubes, demonstrating that the resulting DNA is suitable for both PCR and whole-exome sequencing, thereby enabling the integration of latent tuberculosis diagnosis with downstream molecular research without requiring additional blood sampling.

Subhan, U., Akram, Z., Shafqat, S., Younis, S.2026-03-18📄 infectious diseases

PvGAP: Development of a globally-applicable, highly-multiplexed microhaplotype amplicon panel for Plasmodium vivax

The study introduces PvGAP, a cost-effective, globally applicable, and highly multiplexed microhaplotype amplicon panel designed to enhance *Plasmodium vivax* genomic surveillance by enabling robust genotyping of polyclonal infections for drug resistance monitoring, case classification, and distinguishing between reinfection, recrudescence, and relapse.

Hubbard, A., Solares, E., Bradley, L., Jeang, B., Yewhalaw, D., Janies, D., Lo, E., Yan, G., Hemming-Schroeder, E.2026-03-15📄 infectious diseases