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.
This study characterizes a near-complete genome of an Arctic-like 1a rabies virus from a 54-day-old puppy in Pune, India, which presented with atypical pruritus and self-biting, thereby highlighting the diagnostic challenges of neonatal canine rabies and the importance of genomic surveillance in endemic regions.
This paper presents an integrated operational-epidemiological framework demonstrating that optimizing both sampling strategies and sequencing capacity within India's genomic surveillance network is critical for timely variant detection, effective intervention, and cost-effective health outcomes.
This study utilizing a controlled human infection model reveals that pre-existing serum antibodies protect against *Bordetella pertussis* infection, while symptomatic disease is driven by localized nasal inflammation dominated by myeloid cells rather than systemic immune responses, highlighting the critical role of mucosal immunity in vaccine design.
By integrating genotyping with RNA-sequencing of tuberculin skin test biopsies, this study identifies key genetic determinants of the human immune response to *Mycobacterium tuberculosis*, highlighting the roles of *ERAP2* expression, HLA class II pathways, and cell-cycle control in TB susceptibility and antigen-specific immunity.
This participatory qualitative study in Nairobi, Kenya, engaged adolescents and young adults who completed TB treatment alongside stakeholders to co-create youth-responsive service improvements, revealing that while social support and diagnosis were pivotal, significant barriers like diagnostic delays and stigma necessitate practical adaptations such as flexible clinic hours, enhanced privacy, and peer support.
This study models the substantial health and economic burden of chikungunya across 31 countries from 2025 to 2050, demonstrating that preventive vaccination campaigns, particularly standalone population-wide efforts, are highly cost-effective with threshold costs ranging from $1.11 to $48.10 per dose.
Through a community-engaged Best-Worst Scaling study involving 81 stakeholders across 28 countries, researchers identified and prioritized key multi-level barriers to tuberculosis care in high-burden settings, revealing that systems-level supply challenges, financial factors, and inadequate holistic care are the most impactful issues while highlighting specific high-priority targets for intervention in both Asian and African regions.
A comparative study of Busia and Meru counties in Kenya reveals that cooler highland climates and distinct topographic features significantly limit vector presence and malaria transmission, whereas warmer lowland environments sustain higher mosquito densities and infection rates.
This paper outlines a simulation study protocol designed to systematically compare the type I error rates and statistical power of various endpoints and analysis methods for randomized clinical trials in hospitalized patients with acute viral respiratory infections, aiming to guide the selection of efficient and clinically meaningful primary strategies for future studies.
This retrospective study of 69 patients with central nervous system tuberculosis-associated proliferative arachnoiditis and vasculitis at an Indian tertiary center reveals high mortality and morbidity rates, identifies older age as the sole predictor of death, and highlights the limited efficacy of adjunctive therapies like aspirin, thalidomide, and intrathecal hyaluronidase, underscoring the urgent need for alternative treatment strategies.