When most people imagine fungi living on human skin, they probably don’t think of anything beneficial. However, a new study from the University of Oregon found a skin yeast molecule that kills Staphylococcus aureus. S. aureus causes approximately 500,000 hospitalizations in the U.S. each year.
Caitlin Kowalski, the study’s lead researcher, says skin fungi are an untapped resource for finding new antibiotics.
Ticks are a common problem for anyone who spends time outdoors. After hiking, gardening, or mowing, many instinctively check for ticks. These tiny parasites can carry dangerous diseases like Lyme and anaplasmosis.
Most people use DEET to repel ticks and other biting insects. But DEET can feel sticky, smell unpleasant, and raise safety concerns. Many want a natural alternative that still works well. Lemongrass has shown promise as a natural repellent. Now, researchers have found another option—this time from donkey skin.
A new study shows how a compound called (E)-2-octenal, secreted by donkey skin, repels deer ticks. The research was published in PLOS One and conducted by researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Deer ticks, also known as Ixodes scapularis, are the main tick that bites humans in the U.S. (E)-2-octenal stops ticks from moving toward treated areas. It was even more effective than DEET in some cases.
When most people think of leprosy, they picture history books or ancient tales. The disease is rarely linked to early populations in the Americas. However, new research challenges that assumption in a surprising way. A recent study published in Nature Communications sheds new light.
Researchers studied two ancient skeletons from northern Chile. They found DNA from Mycobacterium lepromatosis, a rare leprosy-causing bacterium. This species causes Hansen’s disease, a lesser-known form of leprosy. The bones are about 4,000 years old.
This pushes back the known history of leprosy in the region. Until now, experts believed leprosy arrived with European colonizers. There was no confirmed bone evidence before the colonial era. These findings raise new questions about leprosy’s spread and origins.
Most known cases involve Mycobacterium leprae, which came from Eurasia. M. lepromatosis, by contrast, may have evolved in the Americas. The two bacteria likely emerged on opposite sides of the world. This discovery reshapes how scientists understand the disease’s global history.
If a superhero saved over 2 million people in four years, we might call them the best in the world. That title could instead go to COVID-19 vaccines. From 2020 to 2024, these vaccines saved 2.5 million lives.
They prevented one death for every 5,400 doses given. Researchers also calculated 14.8 million years of life gained from vaccination. The study was published in JAMA Health Forum by Università Cattolica and Stanford University researchers.
In addition to its early devastation, COVID-19 has left lasting damage. Millions of Americans now suffer from long-term symptoms after infection. Fatigue, chronic pain, and brain fog impact daily life and work. ME/CFS and post-COVID syndrome (PCS) now pose major health risks.
The Long COVID crisis continues with few clear answers. Every new finding helps build a better picture of the illness. A recent study published in Allergy offers fresh hope. It shows a strong link between gut health and PCS fatigue.
Researchers in Vienna found the gut barrier may play a key role. They tracked patient gut health before, during, and after infection. Blood, saliva, and stool samples were used to find biomarkers. People with prior gut issues were more likely to develop PCS.
These patients also showed shifts in their immune system markers. The study suggests PCS could begin with immune and gut disruptions. Researchers say tracking symptoms and biomarkers may lead to earlier diagnosis. This could help identify at-risk patients and guide treatment.
