Who is at risk, and who is reached? Eight new insights into infection, care and prevention

In a study of people naturally infected with malaria in Burkina Faso, researchers found that Plasmodium falciparum parasites converted to their sexual, transmissible forms at higher rates in red blood cells carrying the sickle-cell trait (HbAS) or haemoglobin C trait (HbAC) than in normal HbAA red blood cells. The increase was particularly pronounced for HbAS and was independently confirmed in controlled laboratory experiments. The study shows that P. falciparum sexual conversion is increased in HbAS and HbAC red blood cells in naturally infected individuals. The findings suggest that inherited haemoglobin variants may influence the transmission potential of malaria parasites.

Drissi-El Boukili, Y., Kühne, V., Natama, H. M., Moris, P., Tintó-Font, E., Bere, A. W., Goovaerts, O., Guetens, P., Moreno-Murillo, A., Valgaerts, Y., Traoré, T. E., Ouedraogo, D. F., Tinto, H., Van de Velde, A., Cortés, A., Caljon, G., & Rosanas-Urgell, A. (2026). Elevated Plasmodium falciparum sexual conversion in HbAC and HbAS red blood cells in naturally infected malaria patients. PLOS Pathogens, 22(9), e1014542. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1014542

Researchers studying plasma collected from children with dengue in Cambodia found that different antibody responses were associated with disease severity. Antibodies targeting one region of the virus were more common in severe cases and showed greater potential to enhance infection in laboratory tests. In contrast, antibodies that recognise a specific structure on the surface of the dengue virus were better able to block infection and were associated with protection from severe disease.

Lay, S., Auerswald, H., Heng, S., Sorn, S., Ken, S., Duran, V., Rebellón Sanchez, D. E., Vinueza, D., Villar Centeno, L. A., Rosso, F., Einav, S., Sakuntabhai, A., Rey, F. A., Ariën, K. K., Ly, S., Duong, V., Barba-Spaeth, G., & Cantaert, T. (2026). Dengue virus envelope epitope-specific antibodies are associated with protection from severe dengue. EMBO Molecular Medicine, 18(9), 3448–3473. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44321-026-00485-7

A study in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, followed 310 people hospitalised with clade Ib mpox and found that 43% developed mpox-related eye disease. Most cases affected both eyes, with inflammation of the eye surface the most common problem. Corneal disease occurred in 8%, and two people remained blind after severe corneal ulcers. Young children and people with severe malnutrition were at higher risk.

Kabesha, T., Van Dijck, C., Mudwanga, S., Houben, S., Mujula, Y., Munganga, P., ... & Mbala-Kingebeni, P. (2026). Prevalence, characteristics, and clinical course of mpox-related ophthalmic disease (MBOTE-EYE): a prospective cohort study in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Lancet Global Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.langlo.2026.104054