Topic description and stories

Combating infectious diseases and the threat of antimicrobial resistance remains one of the greatest global challenges.

Cast of Laetoli footprints, Tanzania, in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History

Natural killer cells played a vital role in human evolution

08 Feb 2013

Natural killer cells – a vital part of the immune system – have a dual role in protecting against infection and ensuring reproduction. Scientists...

Read more

Finding malaria's weak spot

06 Feb 2013

A ground-breaking imaging system to track malarial infection of blood cells in real time has been created by a collaboration catalysed by the...

Read more

Sleeping sickness by stealth

04 Feb 2013

New research is helping to unveil how the parasite that causes sleeping sickness uses stealth tactics to escape detection by the human immune system.

Read more

Researchers join forces against infectious disease

01 Feb 2013

Professor Sharon Peacock leads a Strategic Research Initiative that is harnessing expertise in infectious diseases across the University of Cambridge...

Read more
Chest x-ray

Scientists discover ‘switch’ that turns on aggressive infection in superbug

30 Jan 2013

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria thrive in the lungs of seriously ill patients and is major cause of death in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Read more
The ‘suicide complex’ ToxIN.

Lethal weapon: bacteria’s high-risk suicide strategy

24 Dec 2012

New research shows how some bacterial cells keep a ‘suicide complex’ ready to hand at all times.

Read more

Researchers at the WHO Collaborating Centre for Modelling, Evolution and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases

Cambridge researchers support the WHO

20 Dec 2012

A newly designated Collaborating Centre at the University of Cambridge will support the World Health Organization (WHO) in detecting and responding...

Read more
Salmonella.

New study sheds light on how Salmonella spreads in the body

07 Dec 2012

Research could have major implications for improving treatment and vaccination.

Read more
MRSA

Bacterial DNA sequence used to map an infection outbreak

14 Nov 2012

Researchers use genome sequencing to dissect and control an MRSA outbreak.

Read more

Fading hope

Viruses evolve mechanism to prevent bacteria from committing suicide

09 Nov 2012

Viruses are capable of outmanoeuvring the ability of bacteria to commit 'suicide', new research shows.

Read more
Cattle

Scientists build a clearer picture of the spread of bovine tuberculosis

18 Oct 2012

Each year thousands of cattle are slaughtered to control the spread of bovine tuberculosis. New research reveals that testing misses many animals...

Read more

Original sin and the risk of epidemics

10 Oct 2012

Mathematicians are helping to build a better picture of how populations develop immunity to flu and which groups are most at risk of getting – and...

Read more

Pages