March 24, 2025
Geographic disparity in R&D funding for human bacterial vaccines
An analysis of the global funding landscape for human bacterial vaccine research and development (R&D) revealed a large disparity in funding distribution globally, with low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in the Global South receiving less than 20 percent of the allocated US$4.5 billion between 2007 and 2024. Funding from philanthropic and intermediary organizations, such as Product Development Partnerships, accounts for nearly 15 percent of total funding received by LMICs and should be leveraged to drive equitable vaccine R&D and subsequently tackle antimicrobial resistance. [Vaccine]
Innate immunity and natural antibiotics
A recent study elucidates a previously unrecognized role for constitutive antimicrobial peptides, molecules that are part of the body’s innate immune response to several types of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. On their way to degradation, their transformation to proteasome-derived defense peptides (PDDPs) is further induced by bacterial infections. The human genome contains 270,872 putative PDDPs, highlighting the vast knowledge gap about these molecules and warranting further investigation into their potential as alternatives to conventional antibiotics. [Nature]
High AMR prevalence among bacterial pathogens isolated from cancer patients
A systematic review and meta-analysis revealed a high prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in bacterial pathogens isolated from cancer patients between 2000 and 2024. Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus aureus were the most commonly identified bacterial pathogens, while Acinetobacter baumannii displayed the highest rates of multidrug resistance. Possible factors underlying these high rates of resistance among cancer patients include immunosuppression, prolonged antibiotic exposure, and invasive medical procedures. [BMC Infectious Diseases]
The impact of U.S. international aid funding cuts on global health
In January 2025, the United States government issued an executive order to halt foreign aid for a minimum of 90 days and a stop-work order which led to the effective dissolution of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The sudden suspension of programs, such as the President’s Malaria Initiative and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, threatens lives in countries with fragile health systems and severely limits U.S.-based global health research and programming. Without reliable funding from the United States, LMICs must accelerate efforts to build regional capacity and promote local political will to fund national health initiatives and global health work. [International Journal of Infectious Diseases]
AMR and conflict in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region
A recent analysis in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region revealed that between 2017 and 2021, conflict-affected countries reported significantly fewer bloodstream infections (BSIs) surveillance sites than countries not affected by conflict (mean difference: 0.60) and fewer cases of bacteriology-confirmed BSIs per million population (MD: 31.00). However, the highest prevalence of resistant pathogens, such as carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter spp. and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, was found in conflict-affected and fragile countries, highlighting the need for strengthened BSI surveillance systems and AMR mitigation strategies. [Infectious Diseases of Poverty]
The current landscape of antibacterial therapies
Despite the growing prevalence of multidrug resistance in Gram-negative bacteria, novel antibiotic development has significantly declined, posing serious threats to our ability to treat bacterial infections. A review of the landscape of novel bacterial therapies describes the potential benefits and challenges of phage therapy, fecal microbial transplants to treat patients with Clostridioides difficile, antimicrobial peptides, plasmapheresis therapy, anti-virulence therapies, and immunotherapy. [npj antimicrobials and resistance]
Low awareness and support for slaughterhouse workers exposed to brucellosis in Brazil
A cross-sectional serological study found that 4.2 percent of slaughterhouse workers in Paraíba State, Brazil, tested positive for brucellosis, a re-emerging zoonotic disease that commonly occurs in cattle. Consuming undercooked meat was a risk factor, increasing the risk of infection three-fold. Nearly all individuals who tested positive reported not knowing what brucellosis is, emphasizing the need for policies that support education and treatment of brucellosis among occupationally exposed individuals. [One Health Outlook]
Social media influencers’ role in increasing HPV vaccine awareness and uptake
A mixed methods study determined that leveraging social media influencers in Nigeria led to increases in awareness of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine from 50 to 80 percent, vaccination rates among eligible girls from 30 to 50 percent, and willingness to recommend the vaccine from 50 to 60 percent among social media users. Notably, this effort did not mitigate concerns about the HPV vaccine’s side effects, which likely requires more targeted communication and support from experts. [International Journal of Infectious Diseases]
Modeling of avian influenza virus transmission patterns in Japan and South Korea
A spatial time-series model predicted that 80.8 percent of detections of H5 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) in wild birds and poultry in Japan and South Korea were epidemic and only 19.1 percent were endemic. The model was used to identify consistent seasonal patterns in HPAIV transmission, with the most detections occurring in the autumn and spring. These results highlight the model’s potential to prevent HPAIV epidemics in regional poultry farms. [Nature]
High vaccination coverage is needed to prevent imported measles outbreaks in Canada.
Simulated measles outbreaks using a stochastic Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Recovered model suggest that community-level outbreaks of imported measles cases in Canada can be controlled at or above 85 percent vaccination coverage. Although Canada has reported high rates of measles vaccination coverage at 90 percent or above between 2017 and 2021, significant geographic variations exist, necessitating vaccination campaigns in under–immunized communities. [BMC Infectious Diseases]
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