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Results of the Wellcome Trust funded trial of the experimental anti-Ebola drug TKM-130803 have been published today in PLOS Medicine. Using a novel approach designed to get rapid indications of a drug's effectiveness, the trial showed that at the dose given the drug did not improve survival compared to historic controls.
Phenotypic and genotypic insecticide resistance profiles of main malaria vectors in Kwale county, coastal Kenya
Posted 17/06/2025. Marta Maia and colleagues characterised phenotypic and genotypic insecticide resistance of malaria vectors in Coastal Kenya. Multiple mutations associated with resistance mechanisms were detected, including target site (L1014S and L1014F) and metabolic resistance (CYP6P9a, CYP6P9b, 6.5kb S.V, GSTe2-L119F). Resistance has increased since 2017. Evidence supports regular monitoring and the use of PBO-combination nets.
Pneumococcal density and respiratory co-detection in severe pediatric pneumonia in Laos
Posted 03/06/2025. Worldwide, acute respiratory infection is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children. The first study in Laos on respiratory pathogen co-detection was conducted at Mahosot Hospital and confirmed an association between pneumococcal density and influenza but not between respiratory syncytial virus and severe pneumonia in children less than 5 years old. By Audrey Dubot-Peres and Sue Lee.
Hide and seek with falsified medicines: Current challenges and physico-chemical and biological approaches for tracing the origin of trafficked products
Posted 28/05/2025. The trade in falsified medical products is a major public health threat and also a huge, profitable business. Despite detection methods, tracing their origin remains difficult. Cathrin Hauk and colleagues explore analytical techniques adapted from other fields such as food, drug, and wildlife investigation to help identify their sources and empower enforcement efforts.
Genetic surveillance of Plasmodium falciparum populations following treatment policy revisions in the Greater Mekong Subregion
Posted 27/05/2025. The GenRe-Mekong project analysed 5,982 Plasmodium falciparum samples in the Greater Mekong Subregion (2017–2022), using genetic surveillance to inform malaria control. A sharp decline in piperaquine-resistant strains followed drug policy changes, highlighting how real-time genetic data can support timely, evidence-based responses to shifting malaria threats. By Varanya Wasakul
Operational evaluation of the deployment of Malaria/CRP Duo and Dengue Duo rapid diagnostic tests for the management of febrile illness by village malaria workers in rural Cambodia
Posted 23/05/2025. Village malaria workers in rural Cambodia provide essential early diagnosis and treatment; however, their importance is diminishing following a significant decline in malaria. James Callery and colleagues explore the potential expansion of their roles to ensure that febrile patients continue to utilise their services until local malaria elimination is achieved and the risk of reimportation subsides.
A comparison of national seasonal influenza treatment guidelines across the Asia Pacific region
Posted 21/05/2025. Seasonal influenza remains a major health burden in Asia. Our new comparative analysis reviews national influenza treatment guidelines across Asia Pacific countries, finding significant variation in availability, rigour, and recommendations. Our findings reveal key opportunities to strengthen evidence-informed, systematic guideline development as part of national and regional influenza preparedness and response. By Ellen Beer.
The impact of mass screening and treatment interventions on malaria incidence and prevalence: a retrospective analysis of a malaria elimination programme in eastern Myanmar, and systematic review and meta-analysis
Posted 20/05/2025. Targeted interventions are often necessary to eliminate malaria, but some are more effective than others. Jade Rae and colleagues investigated the impact of village-level mass screening and treatment interventions, highlighting key factors that influence the effectiveness of targeted malaria interventions, including baseline endemicity, population demographics, and the timing and uptake of the intervention.
Age structure and parity status determination of Afrotropical malaria vectors using MALDI-TOF MS
Posted 15/05/2025. Understanding the age structure of a mosquito populations is the best way to evaluate how well vector control interventions are working. However, age-grading is hard and usually done through complex dissections. Here Marta Maia and colleagues present a method using MALDI-TOF MS exploiting protein changes associated with senescence for age-grading of malaria vectors.
Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Afghanistan
Posted 13/05/2025. Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a very neglected tropical disease. Afghanistan has an exceptionally high CL burden fueled by war and poverty. This review focuses on the clinical and epidemiological aspects of CL and highlights the need to grow the research culture so evidence can inform policy. By Bob Taylor
How do study participants want to be informed about study results: Findings from a malaria trial in Cambodia, Ethiopia, Pakistan, and Indonesia
Posted 13/05/2025. Patient interest in receiving clinical trial results varies widely across countries, underscoring that one-size-fits-all strategies fall short. This study, embedded in an antimalarial trial, explores locally tailored dissemination approaches shaped by patient preferences and stakeholder input offering essential guidance for ethical result sharing in diverse global health settings. By Bipin Adhikari
Placental and cord blood DNA methylation changes associated with gestational diabetes mellitus in a marginalized population: the untold role of saturated fats
Posted 09/05/2025. First report on DNA-methylation changes associated with saturated fat consumption in the context of gestational diabetes in a disadvantaged population. Rose McGready and colleagues suggest that population-specific nutritional interventions to reduce saturated fats, while promoting healthier oil (sunflower or soyabean) intake in pregnancy could mitigate negative consequences of DNA hypomethylation, improving transgenerational health impacts.
Real-time investigation of a Burkholderia cenocepacia bacteraemia outbreak in a Vietnamese Intensive Care Unit
Posted 07/05/2025. Duy Pham and colleagues at OUCRU investigated a Burkholderia cenocepacia bacteraemia outbreak in Vietnam. Their rapid response was made possible by strong collaboration between scientists and hospital staff. Nosocomial infections caused by this and other overlooked pathogens require global efforts to improve diagnostics, treatment guidelines, and infection control strategies.
Incorporating acute HIV infection screening, same-day diagnosis and antiretroviral treatment into routine services for key populations at sexual health clinics in Indonesia: a baseline analysis of the INTERACT prospective study
Posted 02/05/2025. In the INTERACT study, Raph Hamers and collaborators successfully implemented “test-and-immediately-treat” services for persons with acute HIV infection (AHI) at sexual health clinics in Jakarta and Bali. AHI screening at scale offers the potential for enhanced interventions to achieve the full population benefits of “treat-all” strategies and curb the escalated HIV epidemic among key populations in Indonesia.
Defining the noma research agenda
Posted 30/04/2025. The results from a September 2024 symposium on Defining the Noma Research Agenda at the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute has identified research needs and the way forward. The symposium included noma survivors as well as clinical and epidemiological researchers, and follows the WHO’s official recognition of noma as a neglected tropical disease. By Philippe Guerin.
Creating different global health futures: mapping the health research ecosystem and taking decolonial action
Posted 29/04/2025. Decolonisation in global health emphasises the need to challenge and change entrenched power asymmetries and unfair health research practices. Nadia Tagoe, Sassy Molyneux, Caesar Atuire and colleagues have proposed practical decolonial action using a four-step framework and a reflexive tool that can help transform key domains of the global health knowledge ecosystem.
Effect of a novel house design (star home) on indoor malaria mosquito abundance in rural Tanzania: secondary outcomes of an open-label, household, randomised controlled trial
Posted 23/04/2025. A novel screened house design with bedrooms on the second storey reduced indoor mosquito abundance (51% less Anopheles gambiae; 61% less Culex species) and were 0·5°C cooler compared with traditional houses in Mtwara, Tanzania. By Lorenz Von Seidlein
Putting health facilities on the map: a renewed call to create geolocated, comprehensive, updated, openly licensed dataset of health facilities in sub-Saharan African countries
Posted 15/04/2025. Healthcare service provision and planning depend on the availability of a comprehensive health facility database (HFDB) to adequately meet the healthcare needs of a population. However, the availability of HFDBs has remained a big challenge in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Peter Macharia and colleagues elaborate historical developments and the current status of HFDBS while describing the steps required and challenges to overcome for harmonized SSA-wide HFDBs.
Call for a fairer approach to authorship in publishing biomedical research
Posted 11/04/2025. Phaik Yeong Cheah and Michael Parker advocate for fairer authorship in collaborative biomedical research to enhance equity and inclusiveness. They highlight how current practices overlook contributors and discuss challenges in authorship decisions, including project size, multidisciplinary complexity, and the varied roles of researchers at different stages.
Longitudinal tracking of healthcare professionals: a methodological scoping review
Posted 09/04/2025. How do health workers move through their careers - and how do we know? A new scoping review led by Yingxi Zhao and colleagues examined 263 studies tracking healthcare professionals over time, exploring how career choices, working conditions and wellbeing are measured. The review highlights the need for stronger, standardised tracking methods to inform workforce planning and better support health worker wellbeing across contexts.