News: Infectious Diseases

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

Research

A Secret Weapon from Salmonella Could Help Us Maintain Healthier Microbiomes

The discovery could also lend itself to the development of future antibacterial therapies.

An illustration of pink, rod-shaped bacteria connected by filaments

Research

Experimental Chemo Drug May Trick the Immune System Into Fighting Cancer

The finding suggests other chemo drugs, too, may be making cancer cells cause a surprising immune-system reaction.

A microscope image of round cells that resemble lemon slices, but stained purple.

Research

A Step Towards Needed Treatments for Hantaviruses in New Molecular Map

An innovative imaging technique enabled dramatically higher resolution structures than previous efforts.

Two views of a mushroom-shaped protein complex with individual proteins colored in vibrant red, green, blue and yellow

UT News

Cytomegalovirus Breakthrough Could Lead to New Treatments

A new antibody design blocks cytomegalovirus from hiding from the immune system and could lead to safer, more effective treatments for vulnerable patients.

A woman in a lab coat and goggles connects a plastic tube to a piece of laboratory equipment laden with wires.

Research

AI Tips Off Scientists to New Drug Target to Fight Monkeypox Virus

The breakthrough could be used in a new vaccine or antibody therapy to fight mpox, the disease caused by the monkeypox virus.

Structure of a surface protein on the monkeypox virus

Research

A New Tool for Healthcare Gives Better Outbreak Forecasts

Pinpointing an outbreak’s peak, the approach can boost health systems’ preparedness and risk communication.

A graph shows a line curving up to a peak and then decaying away

Research

New Gene-Editing Tech Holds Promise for Treating Complex Genetic Diseases

Advanced biotechnology repurposes two bacterial immune systems to correct large stretches of DNA.

A microscope image shows human cells. There are two blue spheres in the center, surrounded by a green structure, with orange dots scattered around the green structure.

Accolades

Virus Slayer Awarded ‘Genius Grant’ by MacArthur Foundation

The award recognizes Jason McLellan’s work to investigate how viruses infect our cells and to develop new treatments for infectious disease.

Portrait of Jason McLellan in a suit, standing in front of three-dimensional displays of proteins

Accolades

Three UT Austin Faculty Members Selected to the American Association for the Advancement of Science

Ken Keiler studies basic molecular biology with the aim of developing new antibiotics.

Headshots of three scientists

Research

Research Identifies Key Antibodies for Development of Broadly Protective Norovirus Vaccine

Discovery brings us one step closer to vaccine and treatment for prevalent virus.

image of norovirus. cluster of blue circles on tan background