Category: 8. Health

  • Livestock implicated in spread of ancient strain of plague

    Livestock implicated in spread of ancient strain of plague

    The pathogen that causes plague has been identified in a 4,000-year-old domesticated-sheep carcass, suggesting that livestock helped transmit an early, mysterious form of plague that circulated throughout Eurasia during the Late Neolithic Bronze Age (LNBA), according to a study published yesterday in Cell.

    Roughly 5,000 years ago, a mysterious kind of plague distinct from that responsible for bubonic plague spread among people throughout Eurasia before disappearing 3,000 years later, leaving scientists curious about its probable zoonotic source and transmission, said the study team, led by Max Planck Institute researchers in Germany.

    Strain previously identified only in ancient humans

    The investigators studied sheep bones and teeth excavated at Arkaim, a former site of the Sintashta-Petrovka culture, which was known for cattle, sheep, and horse husbandry on the Western Eurasian Steppe.

    Until now, the genome of ancient Yersinia pestis bacteria, which can’t spread via fleas as in bubonic plague, had been identified only in ancient Eurasian humans because of a lack of direct DNA evidence tying animals to human infections in prehistory.

    Arkaim “offered us a great place to look for plague clues: they were early pastoralist societies without the kind of grain storage that would attract rats and their fleas—and prior Sintashta individuals have been found with Y. pestis infections,” coauthor Taylor Hermes, PhD, of the University of Arkansas and Max Planck Institute, said in an institute news release.

    Many infectious diseases emerged during prehistory, coinciding with animal domestication, which presented opportunities for spillover into people, they added. For example, the domestication of sheep, goats, pigs, and cattle and their interface with people are thought to have driven the emergence of deadly human pathogens causing infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, salmonellosis, and measles.

    Sheep, humans probably not main spreaders of disease

    A comparison of the ancient Y pestis genome from the sheep with other ancient and modern genomes revealed that the sheep Y pestis genome closely matched one that had infected a human at a nearby site at about the same time. 

    We collect evidence supporting a scenario where the LNBA lineage, unable to efficiently transmit via fleas, spread from an unidentified reservoir to sheep and likely other domesticates, elevating human infection risk.

    “We show that this ancient lineage underwent ancestral gene decay paralleling extant lineages, but evolved under distinct selective pressures, contributing to its lack of geographic differentiation,” the authors wrote. “We collect evidence supporting a scenario where the LNBA lineage, unable to efficiently transmit via fleas, spread from an unidentified reservoir to sheep and likely other domesticates, elevating human infection risk.”

    “Collectively, our results connect prehistoric livestock with infectious disease in humans and showcase the power of moving paleomicrobiology into the zooarchaeological record,” they concluded.

    But sheep and humans are unlikely to have been the main spreaders of disease, because there are examples of nearly identical LNBA Y pestis genomes at the same time but thousands of kilometers apart, which the researchers say is too far for sick humans or land animals to travel.

    Fortunately, the search for pathogens in ancient animal remains is just beginning, because results from past excavations are available for further study. “I think there will be more and more interest in analyzing these collections—they give us insights that no human sample can,” senior author Felix Key, PhD, of Max Planck Institute, said in the release.

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  • Other Nations Want to Make Their Own Vaccines as US Pulls Back

    Other Nations Want to Make Their Own Vaccines as US Pulls Back

    At least a dozen countries are interested in developing their own vaccines because they’re losing confidence that the US government will have immunizations ready for the next pandemic, a top biotech investor said.

    Other nations have largely depended on the US to make shots that are deployed globally. The Covid-19 vaccines, developed by Pfizer Inc. and Moderna Inc. and embraced by the US government, were used by tens of millions of people around the world.

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  • Global virologists group reaffirms support for mRNA vaccine platform

    Global virologists group reaffirms support for mRNA vaccine platform

    An international virologist group representing more than 80 research labs across more than 40 countries yesterday reaffirmed their support for the continued development and deployment of mRNA vaccines, a statement that came in response to the United States’ top health agency announcement earlier this month that it was scrapping further work on projects involving the mRNA vaccine platform. 

    gorodenkoff / iStock

    Scientists and public health experts said dismantling the research is a dangerous move that will dramatically hobble US pandemic preparedness. However, the head of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Jay Bhattacharya, MD, PhD, on X yesterday amplified what many scientists say is misinformation about mRNA risks and benefits by posting a clip from a far-right political talk show where he said the mRNA vaccine platform is no longer viable for public health purposes.

    The Global Virus Network (GVN), which is dedicated to advancing pandemic preparedness, said vaccination is one of public health’s greatest achievements and has prevented 4.4 million deaths each year. It added that mRNA vaccine platforms have emerged as one of the most significant biomedical achievements of the 21st century, and have reshaped the world’s ability to quickly respond to new viral threats. 

    The group estimated that the COVID-19 vaccines averted 7.5 million deaths between 2000 and 2024 globally, and that of the more than 298 million doses administered in the United States in the first 6 months of rollout, fewer than 1% of recipients experienced adverse reactions or complications. GVN added that clinical data suggest between March 2021 and January 2022, mRNA cut the death rate by about 90% and were 94% effective against severe disease during the Omicron wave.

    mRNA work continues for other disease threats and cancer therapy

    Johan Neyts, PhD, who directs the GVN Center of Excellent in at KU Leuven in Belgium, said in a statement, “Various members of the GVN are working across continents to accelerate innovation in mRNA-based vaccines, not only for coronaviruses but also for dengue, Zika, Lassa fever, and other high-consequence pathogens.” The group noted that the mRNA vaccine platform has also shown promise for cancer immunotherapy.

    The statement also said scientific transparency, public health engagement, and a global commitment to research must remain at the heart of mRNA vaccine deployment strategies. GVN said it advocates for a globally coordinated approach to mRNA vaccine development and deployment that hinges on expanding capacity in low- and middle-income countries, supporting next-generation mRNA innovation, and battling misinformation through collaboration.

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  • Virologist network reaffirms support for mRNA vaccine platform

    Virologist network reaffirms support for mRNA vaccine platform

    An international virologist group representing more than 80 research labs across more than 40 countries yesterday reaffirmed their support for the continued development and deployment of mRNA vaccines, a statement that came in response to the United States’ top health agency announcement earlier this month that it was scrapping further work on projects involving the mRNA vaccine platform. 

    gorodenkoff / iStock

    Scientists and public health experts said dismantling the research is a dangerous move that will dramatically hobble US pandemic preparedness. However, the head of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Jay Bhattacharya, MD, PhD, on X yesterday amplified what many scientists say is misinformation about mRNA risks and benefits by posting a clip from a far-right political talk show where he said the mRNA vaccine platform is no longer viable for public health purposes.

    The Global Virus Network (GVN), which is dedicated to advancing pandemic preparedness, said vaccination is one of public health’s greatest achievements and has prevented 4.4 million deaths each year. It added that mRNA vaccine platforms have emerged as one of the most significant biomedical achievements of the 21st century, and have reshaped the world’s ability to quickly respond to new viral threats. 

    The group estimated that the COVID-19 vaccines averted 7.5 million deaths between 2000 and 2024 globally, and that of the more than 298 million doses administered in the United States in the first 6 months of rollout, fewer than 1% of recipients experienced adverse reactions or complications. GVN added that clinical data suggest between March 2021 and January 2022, mRNA cut the death rate by about 90% and were 94% effective against severe disease during the Omicron wave.

    mRNA work continues for other disease threats and cancer therapy

    Johan Neyts, PhD, who directs the GVN Center of Excellent in at KU Leuven in Belgium, said in a statement, “Various members of the GVN are working across continents to accelerate innovation in mRNA-based vaccines, not only for coronaviruses but also for dengue, Zika, Lassa fever, and other high-consequence pathogens.” The group noted that the mRNA vaccine platform has also shown promise for cancer immunotherapy.

    The statement also said scientific transparency, public health engagement, and a global commitment to research must remain at the heart of mRNA vaccine deployment strategies. GVN said it advocates for a globally coordinated approach to mRNA vaccine development and deployment that hinges on expanding capacity in low- and middle-income countries, supporting next-generation mRNA innovation, and battling misinformation through collaboration.

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  • Between politicisation and securitization – Middle East Monitor

    Between politicisation and securitization – Middle East Monitor

    During humanitarian crises and armed conflicts, children are the most vulnerable to the devastating consequences, such as the outbreak and resurgence of diseases like polio. Mainly children under the age of five are affected by polio, with prevention proving the only effective strategy to confront it, as there are no proven curative approaches yet. Some Arab countries are at great risk of witnessing a polio outbreak, with protracted crises and ongoing instability, and the subsequent paralysis in health systems, making the region more prone to such epidemics. For instance, over half of the attacks reported during armed conflicts in 2024 on health care took place in the Middle East, revealing the extreme vulnerability of public health—especially the health of children—in the region. 

    As a result, armed crises and humanitarian disasters led to declined national and subnational polio vaccination coverage, putting the lives of children at grave risk in the Arab world. With the recent conflicts, a wave of new polio cases has emerged in the Arab region, raising critical concerns about the effectiveness and applicability of standard strategies for enhancing immunisation against polio in complex and crisis-prone settings.

    Contextualizing polio in the Arab world 

    The ongoing securitisation and politicisation of polio immunisation in the Arab world undermined the health systems’ capacities to develop and implement prevention strategies. This further marginalised vulnerable populations and resulted in cycles of disease and health injustice. 

    Internationally, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) has contributed significantly to decreasing polio cases by 99.9 per cent. However, certain factors lead to the repeated failure of GPEI in crisis-affected contexts in the Arab world. These obstacles include limited access to healthcare institutions, deliberate targeting of hospitals and ambulances, weaponising medical aid and lack of safety and security for health workers to operate. 

    READ: Gaza’s Health Ministry warns of ‘health disaster’ amid Israeli ban on polio vaccines

    In light of chronic conflicts, massive refugee crises and the collapse of health systems in the Arab world, new polio cases have been reported in the past decades. For instance, with the outbreak of the crisis in Gaza in 2023, a confirmed case of polio was detected in August, 2024, the first case in 25 years. However, the Israeli aid blockade and policies aimed at controlling what is going in Gaza played a critical role in undermining the effectiveness of response or prevention mechanisms to polio risks in Gaza. Syria is another prominent example of how political instability and security threats weaken health responses to polio crisis. The country experienced two polio outbreaks in 2013 and 2017, highlighting the fragility of Syria’s immunisation strategies, after which the outbreaks were controlled through intensive polio vaccination campaigns and surveillance. Other crisis-affected Arab countries, such as Yemen and Iraq, have also been affected by polio in the last decade. Thus, wars and humanitarian crises are the most significant drivers for the polio outbreaks and the inability of health systems to effectively face and contain such health crises.

    Severe implications for the future generations

    Ineffective polio immunisation poses a severe threat to future generations in the already deteriorated Arab world. Given the unprecedented cross-border displacement in the region and the cross-border poliovirus transmission, this underlines the urgency of the issue for the whole region. Millions of people are fleeing Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Palestine, carrying the risk of transmitting poliovirus to refugee-hosting countries, such as Lebanon and Jordan, that already struggle with responding to the increasing health needs of refugees. This not only puts the lives of millions of children in the region and the wider Global South, with a long history of conflicts and health inequity, at severe risk, but also raises concerns about the potential of polio becoming a global pandemic.

    Recognising these and failing to act upon them forms an intentional killing of future generations, particularly children who are vulnerable among already marginalised populations, such as refugees and stateless children. The region has for decades been prone to intrastate and interstate conflicts. Thus, the absence of context-specific mechanisms to prevent the outbreak of diseases like polio is either a deliberate failure or an example of the ineffectiveness of global health governance. In the long run, overlooking the future of these children’s health damages trust in public health in conflict settings. Moreover, the hierarchical structure in the international order, where the Global North monopolises the essential health-related financial and technical resources, also plays a key role in depriving children of the right to polio immunisation.

    The power of context-sensitive immunisation action plans for healthier generations

    Due to the unique context of the Arab World, effective polio response and prevention necessitates strategies that are deeply attuned to local realities, driven by community-based health initiatives, and leverage diplomacy as a vital instrument.

    There needs to be a medical focus, led by local health workers and medical humanitarian institutions, on pre-crisis polio prevention. Given the unique context of the conflict-prone Arab world, it is important to start with raising awareness about polio resistance through prevention and strengthening the immunisation infrastructure. These strategies are central in both peacetime and wartime, urging local medical mobilisation to fight polio in the Arab region. Moreover, in contexts affected by complex crises, local actors are situated as the most decisive actors to take on the role and alleviate the polio risks caused by armed conflicts. Thus, community-level and mobile vaccination campaigns, using inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) and oral polio vaccine (OPV), emerge as critical tools, leveraging the profound knowledge of local context and easier access to isolated areas. 

    In the face of politicisation and securitisation of polio vaccination efforts, a strong political and diplomatic commitment is essential to ensure effective and timely response and prevention mechanisms. Thus, the role of public health diplomacy must me highlighted, since it lies at the heart of effective immunisation strategies by engaging key stakeholders—including key states, World Health Organizations, and United Nations—towards one aim, that is protecting children from polio to build stronger generations in future. This is fundamental for both the response phase during or after crises and preparedness in crisis-prone settings to prevent any occurrence of polio case. More importantly, vaccine diplomacy—utilising polio vaccine development, distribution and safe access as a tool of diplomacy and foreign policy—emerges as a key policy and advocacy strategic approach not only to confront but also to put an end to polio.

    OPINION: Trump’s move to lift sanctions against Syria: A humanitarian move or carrot-and-stick politics?

    The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.

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  • Cohort profile of the Heidelberg study on diabetes and complications HEIST-DiC

    Cohort profile of the Heidelberg study on diabetes and complications HEIST-DiC

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  • Long COVID linked to lasting financial hardship and work disruption

    Long COVID linked to lasting financial hardship and work disruption

    While the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be widely studied and debated, the financial toll of the COVID-19 pandemic for individual patients is less understood. To address this gap, Rush University Medical Center analyzed self-reported data from more than 3,600 participants in the INSPIRE (Innovative Support for Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Infections Registry) to assess return-to-work, work productivity, and financial toxicity.

    The INSPIRE study found that individuals with long COVID-19 experienced worse financial and employment outcomes – lasting up to three years after their initial infection. Notably, vaccination against COVID-19 was associated with strikingly improved work and financial outcomes. The study, “Work Impairment and Financial Impact among Adults With vs. Without Long COVID“, was published Aug. 12 in JAMA Network Open.

    INSPIRE is a CDC-funded multi-center collaboration including eight academic medical centers seeking to better understand the long-term effects of COVID-19. 

    “While much of the focus in Long COVID research has been on the medical impact, we must also consider the sustained financial burden faced by those whose symptoms persist,” said lead author Michael Gottlieb, MD, an emergency medicine physician and vice chair of research at Rush University Medical Center Gottlieb and co-authors suggest that better understanding of the economic challenges millions of Americans face can lead to better workplace policies, disability support systems, and health care strategies. 

    Of the more than 777 million reported cases of COVID-19 worldwide, data compiled by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality suggest that approximately 13% of patients experience persistent symptoms lasting three months or longer, a condition which is commonly referred to as long COVID.

    Gottlieb and colleagues working on the INSPIRE research already have contributed valuable scientific data about the medical nature of Long COVID, such as identifying that it is not a single condition but rather four distinct symptom patterns, called phenotypes, which can help guide treatments. INSPIRE’s unique, long-standing self-reported survey structure also helps researchers better understand and measure the financial burdens associated with the illness and, importantly, the beneficial effect of prior vaccination. Researchers used survey responses to track the degree of missed work and work impairment and a tool long used by cancer researchers to calculate “financial toxicity,” which estimates the negative consequences experienced by patients due to the cost of medical care. 

    Three years of study data revealed that those with Long COVID continue to experience significantly higher odds of missing more work per week than those who did not have Long COVID. Nearly half of participants currently experiencing Long COVID had not returned to full-time work within three years of their initial infection. 

    Financial toxicity scores also showed that those with Long COVID had more than three-times higher odds of moderate-to-high financial toxicity compared to those whose Long COVID symptoms had resolved, and more than five-times higher odds compared to those who never experienced Long COVID.

    Authors noted that this financial strain could be caused by medical expenses, job loss, reduced work-hours due to limited work capacity, or lower work productivity resulting in reduced bonuses or raises. 

    Gottlieb emphasized that vaccination status had a clear impact on rates of work impairment and financial toxicity scores with markedly better outcomes in the vaccinated patients compared with the unvaccinated patients. This is consistent with other recent research from their team which also identified improved physical and mental health outcomes among those who were vaccinated against COVID.

    “Throughout all or our research, whether someone was vaccinated was shown to be strongly associated with more symptom reduction and measurably better quality of life. The COVID-19 vaccine kept us healthier – both physically and financially.” 

    Source:

    Rush University Medical Center

    Journal reference:

    Gottlieb, M., et al. (2025). Work Impairment and Financial Outcomes Among Adults With vs Without Long COVID. JAMA Network Open. doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.26310,

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  • Women with Down syndrome show more advanced Alzheimer’s signs at diagnosis

    Women with Down syndrome show more advanced Alzheimer’s signs at diagnosis

    According to research by the University of California, Irvine, women with Down syndrome have more advanced signs of Alzheimer’s disease than men do at the average age of diagnosis, which is the same for both sexes. The findings, published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, can shape how we understand and approach treatments for Alzheimer’s in this population and beyond. The National Institutes of Health supported the study.

    If women with Down syndrome are further along in disease progression at the time of diagnosis, it could change how we time interventions and interpret outcomes in clinical trials. This research could help tailor therapies more effectively, not just for people with Down syndrome, but for the broader Alzheimer’s population as well.”


    Elizabeth Head, corresponding author, UC Irvine professor of pathology

    Alzheimer’s disease is the primary cause of death for individuals with Down syndrome, who are genetically predisposed to develop the condition earlier in life. While previous studies observed that women with Down syndrome may live longer with dementia than men who have Down syndrome, few have looked closely at whether the underlying brain pathology differs by sex. In this study, the researchers examined postmortem brain samples from the UC Irvine Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Brain Tissue Repository and the NIH NeuroBioBank, measuring levels of two hallmark Alzheimer’s proteins: beta amyloid and phosphorylated tau.

    The results suggest that women with Down syndrome may carry a higher burden of these disease-related proteins than men, particularly in the occipital lobe, which is an area typically affected later in disease both for people with Down syndrome and for women with sporadic Alzheimer disease – the more common, late-onset form of Alzheimer’s that occurs without a clear genetic cause.

    This insight points to the need for more sex-specific approaches in both Alzheimer’s research and treatment planning, especially in the design of clinical trials.

    “Understanding selective vulnerabilities within the brain and how these differ in women versus men will help us to better navigate treatment outcomes. We’re learning the importance of modifiable risk factors, which includes accounting for sex-specific risk,” said the study’s lead author, Elizabeth Andrews, a Ph.D. candidate in Head’s lab group.

    The research team will next investigate whether sex-based differences extend to other types of pathology – such as blood vessel integrity, white matter connectivity and additional contributors to dementia – and how those findings correlate with biomarker data collected during life. These efforts will help advance the field of precision medicine and offer more personalized strategies for Alzheimer’s care and prevention.

    Source:

    University of California – Irvine

    Journal reference:

    Andrews, E. J., et al. (2025). Age and sex are associated with Alzheimer’s disease neuropathology in Down syndrome. Alzheimer’s & Dementia. doi.org/10.1002/alz.70408.

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  • Mount Sinai receives major grant for new initiative dedicated to reducing cancer care disparities

    Mount Sinai receives major grant for new initiative dedicated to reducing cancer care disparities

    The American Cancer Society (ACS) has awarded The Tisch Cancer Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai a $4.08 million grant to establish the Cancer Health Research Center at Mount Sinai, a new initiative dedicated to reducing cancer-related health inequities across New York City.

    The Center aims to become a leading model for community-driven research that addresses disparities across the cancer care continuum, from prevention to end-of-life support. The primary goal of the Center is to conduct research focused on community-engaged navigation to address multi-level social determinants of health.

    The center will collaborate closely with its community advisory board and its expanding network of trained Community Scientists to ensure that every research initiative is shaped by the lived experiences and needs of local residents.

    We would like to thank the American Cancer Society for this grant, which allows us to conduct community-engaged research that addresses the social determinants of health and delivers solutions that reflect the priorities of the communities we serve.”


    Melissa Mazor, PhD, MS, RN, Co-Associate Director for Community Outreach and Engagement at The Tisch Cancer Institute

    “It was an honor to shape the vision for the Cancer Health Research Center at Mount Sinai,” said Cardinale B. Smith, MD, PhD, Principal Investigator of the initiative and current Chief Medical Officer, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). “Although I remain at MSK, I am proud to continue collaborating with Dr. Mazor, who is taking a leadership role as the site lead. Her deep commitment to community engagement and health equity ensures that the Center’s mission will thrive and make a lasting impact.”

    Among the goals of the Center will be to develop and implement innovative models of cancer care delivery that are community-delivered, culturally and linguistically concordant, and designed to address structural barriers to care. The Center will identify, develop, and propel new and/or established postdoctoral and faculty investigators committed to cancer health research. It will also expand and empower community scientists to translate research into actionable outcomes that reduce disparities and improve cancer care for all New Yorkers.

    “This grant from the American Cancer Society is a powerful endorsement of the work we’re doing at Mount Sinai to confront cancer disparities head-on,” said Ramon Parsons, MD, PhD, Director of The Tisch Cancer Institute. “The Cancer Health Research Center will not only generate groundbreaking research; it will help reimagine how cancer care is delivered in communities that have long been underserved. We’re proud to lead this national effort to create more just, equitable outcomes for every patient, everywhere.”

    The Center will begin work immediately, with the launch of three integrated research projects led by Jamilia Sly, PhD, Deborah Doroshow, MD, PhD, and Chris Woodrell, MD, MHS, with its full program expected to roll out over the next several months.

    Source:

    Mount Sinai Health System

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  • Powerful optical technique can analyze the biochemical fingerprints of vaginal fluid

    Powerful optical technique can analyze the biochemical fingerprints of vaginal fluid

    Vaginal health is tightly linked to the balance of bacteria in the microbiome, especially certain species of Lactobacillus. When this balance is disturbed-a condition known as dysbiosis-it can lead to increased risk of infections, complications during pregnancy, and other long-term health concerns. Despite this risk, existing diagnostic methods often fall short, especially in detecting Lactobacillus iners, an important vaginal bacterium, which doesn’t always show up under a microscope or in lab cultures. Researchers at Vanderbilt University are working to change that by using a powerful optical technique known as surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) to analyze the biochemical fingerprints of vaginal fluid.

    In a pilot study published in Biophotonics Discovery, the researchers collected vaginal fluid samples from 19 participants during routine gynecological exams. They used two different devices-a laboratory Raman microscope and a portable Raman spectrometer-to record the SERS spectra of each sample. These spectra reveal the biochemical makeup of the fluid, including the presence of proteins, lipids, organic acids, and sugars. The team then used a molecular technique called quantitative PCR to identify whether key microbes were present, focusing on Lactobacillus iners, Lactobacillus crispatus, Gardnerella vaginalis, and Streptococcus agalactiae.

    By comparing the SERS spectra of samples with different microbial compositions, the researchers found consistent biochemical signatures. The presence of Gardnerella vaginalis (G. vaginalis), a microbe linked to bacterial vaginosis, was marked by increased protein and lipid signals and decreased organic acid content-trends that align with what’s known about its role in disrupting the vaginal environment. In contrast, Lactobacillus iners (L. iners), a protective microbe that can be difficult to detect with current methods, was associated with elevated levels of organic acids and reduced signals from proteins and polysaccharides. These patterns were visible not only with the high-end lab equipment but also with the more accessible portable device.

    Notably, the samples containing G. vaginalis were from participants without any diagnosed infections or symptoms. This suggests that SERS may be able to identify early-stage or subclinical shifts in the microbiome before they become clinically evident-a critical advance for prevention and early intervention.

    The findings also highlight how SERS could be used in routine monitoring of vaginal health, especially if integrated into point-of-care devices. The portable Raman system produced results similar to the benchtop microscope, showing that accurate biochemical readings don’t necessarily require a full laboratory setup.

    While this was a pilot study and only a limited number of bacterial species were evaluated, the study provides proof of concept for using SERS to detect meaningful changes in the vaginal microbiome. Future studies aim to expand the participant pool and use genetic sequencing for broader microbial analysis. But even in its current form, the research demonstrates a promising path forward for better, faster, and less subjective diagnostics in women’s health.

    Source:

    SPIE–International Society for Optics and Photonics

    Journal reference:

    Rourke-Funderburg, A. S., et al. (2025) Investigating microbiota and biochemical changes in vaginal fluid toward point-of-care microbial monitoring using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Biophotonics Discovery. doi.org/10.1117/1.BIOS.2.4.042102.

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