Fresh Off The Journal: October 2025

A multicentre Belgian study led by ITM found that autistic traits are more common among people living with HIV (4%) and PrEP users (8%) than in the general population (2%). Yet only a third had a prior autism diagnosis. The findings reveal an overlooked intersection between autism and sexual health, highlighting the need for autism-friendly care and communication in HIV clinics to improve health access and quality of life.

Huyst, V., Van Praet, J., Tsoumanis, A., Vanbaelen, T., Sauvage, A., Dewinter, J., Noens, I., Van Damme, K., & Roelens, K. (2025). Prevalence of autistic traits in people living with HIV and users of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis: a cross-sectional study in Belgian HIV reference centres. AIDS Care, 1–16.

With antimicrobial resistance causing nearly 5 million deaths each year, Experts from Belgium, Benin and Canada call for urgent action to make bacteriology diagnostics accessible worldwide. In many African countries, only 1% of labs perform bacterial testing. The authors urge global investment and local innovation to bring reliable culture and antibiotic susceptibility testing to resource-limited settings. Without accessible diagnostics, the fight against drug-resistant infections will remain one step behind.

Hardy, L., Jacobs, J., Yansouni, C., & Affolabi, D. (2025). Revisiting bacteriology diagnostics: how to make them globally available and accessible. Clinical Microbiology And Infection.

ITM and INRB researchers documented the first molecular evidence of transplacental mpox infection across all stages of pregnancy. In three cases from the clade Ib outbreak, the virus was detected in placental and fetal tissues, confirming vertical transmission. Outcomes included pregnancy loss and one live birth with skin lesions. The findings highlight the need for preventive measures, including vaccination and close monitoring of pregnant women during mpox outbreaks.

Vakaniaki, E. H., Kuispond, N. S., Hirata, Y., Bangwen, E., Brosius, I., Kinganda-Lusamaki, E., Ozono, S., Katano, H., Ndunge, L. G., Mulopo-Mukanya, N., Tshomba, J., De Vos, E., Van Dijck, C., Munganga, P., Mukari, G., Mujula, Y., Mambo, D. M., Kitwanda, S. B., Maliyamungu-Bubala, N., . . . Mbala-Kingebeni, P. (2025). Three Cases of Vertical Transmission of Clade Ib Mpox Virus. New England Journal Of Medicine, 392(23), 2385–2387.

ITM researchers helped uncover the surprising history of the so-called London Underground mosquito, Culex pipiens form molestus. Genomic analysis of 350 mosquitoes shows that this human-biting form didn’t evolve beneath London’s streets 200 years ago, as long believed, but over 1,000 years ago in the Mediterranean or Middle East, possibly alongside ancient agriculture. The findings rewrite a textbook example of urban evolution and reveal how early human societies primed today’s mosquitoes for the colonization of modern urban environments.

Haba, Y., Korlević, P., McAlister, E., Lawniczak, M. K. N., Schumer, M., Rose, N. H., McBride, C. S., Aardema, M. L., Afonso, M. O., Agramonte, N. M., Albright, J., Alho, A. M., Almeida, A. P. G., Alout, H., Alten, B., Altinli, M., Korba, R. A., Andreadis, S. S., Anghel, V., . . . Zittra, C. (2025). Ancient origin of an urban underground mosquito. Science, 390(6771).

Researchers from ITM’s Virology Unit, together with the University of Antwerp and Ghent University, developed an innovative enzyme-free biosensor that directly detects dengue virus RNA without heating or complex lab steps. By designing probes that help “unfold” the virus’s RNA, it achieved high specificity and high sensitivity at room temperature. This proof-of-concept marks a major step toward faster, affordable point-of-care tests for dengue and other RNA viruses, supporting early outbreak detection in low-resource settings.

Op De Beeck, H., Daems, E., Hauner, A., Colaker, A., Madder, A., K. Ariën, K., & De Wael, K. (2025). Singlet oxygen-based photoelectrochemical biosensor for dengue virus RNA. Microchemical Journal, 218.

A partnership between ITM and partners in Nepal mapped sand fly species across 43 districts in Nepal to support the country’s visceral leishmaniasis elimination goal by 2030. The main vector, Phlebotomus argentipes, was found in nearly all areas with active cases, while other potential vectors appeared even in high-altitude regions. Using DNA barcoding, scientists achieved 97% accuracy in species identification, an important step toward stronger surveillance and targeted vector control in Nepal.

Roy, L., Uranw, S., Rai, K., Cloots, K., Das, M. L., Smitz, N., & Van Bortel, W. (2025). Mapping the distribution of phlebotomine sand fly species with emphasis on Leishmania vectors in Nepal and exploring the potential of DNA barcoding for their identification. Scientific Reports, 15(1).