A new study in Science identified piperacillin for treating Lyme disease. Researchers tested nearly 500 FDA-approved compounds to find effective drugs. Piperacillin, related to penicillin, best eliminated Lyme-causing bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi.

Doxycycline is currently the main treatment but has significant drawbacks. It harms helpful gut bacteria, causes side effects, and affects children negatively. Doxycycline also leaves 10–20% of Lyme disease cases incompletely treated. Piperacillin provides targeted treatment of Borrelia burgdorferi with fewer side effects.

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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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