News: Infectious Diseases

Read the latest news from the College of Natural Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin

Research

Alzheimer’s Drug Fermented With Help From AI and Bacteria Moves Closer to Reality

An innovative approach uses artificial intelligence and biosensors to pave the way for faster drug development.

Image of bacteria and biosensors

UT News

Cancer Prevention, Screening and Research Programs Expanding With CPRIT Support

Yi Lu and Lauren Ehrlich of the College of Natural Sciences are among the cancer researchers with exciting projects on the horizon.

Five head shots of scientists include two men and three women

Research

Increased Use of Paxlovid Could Cut Hospitalizations, Deaths and Costs

Epidemiologists found that treating even 20% of symptomatic cases would save lives and improve public health.

A hand holding two white pills in the palm

Research

Bacteria Store Memories and Pass Them on for Generations

Bacteria use iron levels to store memories and pass them on to later generations, scientists have found.

Microscopic image of E.coli bacteria

Research

Researchers Find a New Avenue to Combat Biofilm Threat

A team of researchers at The University of Texas at Austin and other institutions have unlocked a clue about how bacteria form biofilms.

Electron microscope image of bacterial biofilm

Research

Researchers Identify Potential New Target for Treating T Cell Leukemia

A team led by Lauren Ehrlich found a link between myeloid cells and the cancer that often strikes children.

Green and red cells under a microscope

Research

Cancer Drug Restores Immune System’s Ability to Fight Tumors

Drug candidate developed by Everett Stone and his team is effective in mice with cancers of skin, bladder, blood and colon.

Microscope image of cancer cell with immune cells attached

Announcements

CDC Taps UT for National Disease Outbreak Response Network

Lauren Ancel Meyers and colleagues will help scale up decision-support tools that were successful in earlier outbreaks for use across jurisdictions.

A scientist points to a pandemic model visualization in front of a standing audience

Research

Vulnerable Neighborhoods Bore Brunt of Pandemic Well into its Second Year

A study in PLOS Computational Biology from University of Texas at Austin epidemiologists examined COVID infection and hospitalization rates by zip code.

A map of Travis County shows different Zip codes in different colors against a grid. Lines intersect higher and lower income areas.

Research

New Imaging Tool Shines a Light on Role of GlycoRNAs in Cancer and Immunity

The previously unknown molecule was just discovered two years earlier and appears to play important roles in health.

Illustration of the ARPLA system detecting glycoRNAs