Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a significant health concern at the population level, affecting tens of millions of individuals globally. It is predominantly spread through contact with infected blood (whether it be via blood transfusions, or the sharing of syringes or needles, amongst other possibilities). The majority of those with acute HCV infection end up … Continue reading Pathogen Profiles: Hepatitis C
Pathogen-Driven Autoimmunity: Vaccinating Against MS & Diabetes
Our immune system is a robust defensive network, fighting against pathogens that enter our body and protecting us from severe infection. But sometimes, all does not go according to plan, and the focus of attack is our own body’s cells and tissues. These instances of aberrant immune responses, known as autoimmune conditions, are quite prevalent … Continue reading Pathogen-Driven Autoimmunity: Vaccinating Against MS & Diabetes
Masking Up Against Respiratory Infections
The COVID-19 pandemic has provided us with a stark example of the sheer morbidity, mortality, and economic losses that respiratory infections contribute to. Each year, viruses like the flu, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are responsible for extensive hospitalizations and deaths, in particular during the fall and winter months. Respiratory viral infections, which infect … Continue reading Masking Up Against Respiratory Infections
Vector-borne Diseases: Infection Knowing no Borders
Mosquitoes are a common summer-time inconvenience, leaving behind welts and itchiness of the skin. More concerning, however, is their capacity to spread severe disease. For millions upon millions of years, these insects have developed the ability to silently and efficiently feed on human blood without notice. This ability is being taken advantage of to maximize … Continue reading Vector-borne Diseases: Infection Knowing no Borders
Protecting Against Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Every day, over a million curable sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are acquired globally. Dozens of pathogens are responsible for these infections which are passed from person to person via oral, anal, and vaginal sex, as well as genital contact. There are parasites like Trichomonas vaginalis, which causes trichomoniasis, an STI acquired by over 150 million … Continue reading Protecting Against Sexually Transmitted Diseases
The Scoop on the Poop: Eliminating Gastrointestinal Infections
Death by diarrhea is one of the ten leading causes of mortality globally. Every single minute, tens of thousands of cases of gastrointestinal illnesses emerge globally. Every day, these diseases kill thousands of children, a greater figure than AIDS, malaria, and measles combined. Gastrointestinal infections, commonly associated with symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea, can be … Continue reading The Scoop on the Poop: Eliminating Gastrointestinal Infections