Fungi produce volatile compounds that attract insects. Benefit for fungi may be spore dispersal. Attraction signature suggests new opportunities for designing mosquito traps. publichealth.jhu.edu/2026/beyond-...

What is missing in all these discussions is the fact that Ebola convalescent plasma is already potentially available and could provide a therapeutic bridge to the time when antivirals, vaccines, monoclonals are available. See this OpED thehill.com/opinion/heal...

What fungi can tell you about a dying ecosystem A new study by @johnshopkinssph.bsky.social @jhu.edu @jhu-bdps.bsky.social @acasadevall1.bsky.social and Rosanna Baker in @pnas.org reports a finding that complicates the standard version of the dinosaur extinction. spacedaily.com/d-the-astero...

In this @thehill.com piece @johnshopkinssph.bsky.social @jhu.edu @jhu-bdps.bsky.social @acasadevall1.bsky.social explores convalescent plasma as a possible therapy for recent outbreaks hantavirus and Ebola, and for other public health threats. thehill.com/opinion/heal...

As we face new viral outbreaks there is a potentially available therapy already available in the plasma of survivors. The experience with convalescent plasma during COVID-19 can inform dealing with outbreaks of Ebola, hantavirus and whatever else will come. thehill.com/opinion/heal...

Excited to announce our new journal from @isme-microbes.bsky.social ISME Host Microbe is live and now accepting submissions. Look forward to receiving your papers! #Microsky 🧫 🦠

Is SARS-CoV-2 teratogenic? In this editorial we argue that although risk in pregnancy is low, there are enough observations to raise cautious concerns. This question needs more study given that the virus is now endemic. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42096206/

Visiting @symbionticism.bsky.social and was greeted with starburst candy thanks to @markowenmartin.bsky.social who told him about using these to collect fungi from Baltimore sidewalks. All credit goes to highly innovative Daniel Smith who thought of this - see pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41142051/

Research inspired by melanin studies with C. neoformans suggests new approach to mosquito control for malaria. publichealth.jhu.edu/malaria-rese...

🎙️ Just published a new #Communicable episode: Communicab... Hosted by Angela Huttner @angelahuttner.bsky.social Josh Nosanchuk @josh-nosanchuk.bsky.social with invited guest: Arturo Casadevall @acasadevall1.bsky.social (Johns Hopkins University) Listen here: #IDSky #Clinmicro #MedSky

📣 Next #Communicable drops Mon 14 July! @angelahuttner.bsky.social & @josh-nosanchuk.bsky.social invite Arturo Casadevall @acasadevall1.bsky.social (Johns Hopkins) to discuss the spread of #fungi due to climate change, and what that means for fungal pathogenesis & infection #IDSky #clinmicro #MedSky

Quoted here about the increasing problem of drug resistance in Aspergillus isolates. www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...

To what extent can we predict future pathogenic #microbes? @acasadevall1.bsky.social discusses why probabilistic predictions are difficult, but not impossible. 🧪 plos.io/3EXieQp

CAN WE STOP KILLER FUNGI? Fungal diseases are more common, more dangerous & more difficult to treat. This fascinating BBC podcast features 4 global #fungi experts including @johnshopkinssph.bsky.social @jhu.edu @acasadevall1.bsky.social - interview at 10:55 time marker www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

The Last of Us may be over for now, but fungus pandemic news endures. Here's my story on how white-nose disease, which has battered North American bats, may have more devastation in store. 🧪 Gift link: nyti.ms/4mGRyV8

Review @natrevimmunol.bsky.social @acasadevall1.bsky.social New insights into antibody structure with implications for specificity, variable region restriction and isotype choice www.nature.com/articles/s41...

share.transistor.fm/s/ee922716 - nice interview with Joe Heitman on Fungi

A tribute to @johnshopkinssph.bsky.social Professor Diane Griffin, MD, PhD, noted virologist, former @johnshopkinsmmi.bsky.social dept chair, written by @acasadevall1.bsky.social & J. Marie Hardwick, published in @pnas.org @jhu.edu @hopkinsmedicine.bsky.social www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

🧟‍♂️ #TheLastOfUs S2 drops April 13—brush up on the science behind the spores with this throwback. 🎧 In #NETEC’s #FungalPathogens podcast episode, Dr. Arturo Casadevall (@acasadevall1.bsky.social) breaks down the fungal fact vs. fiction behind the show. Listen now:

New Perspective article from Scott McConnell & @acasadevall1.bsky.social @johnshopkinssph.bsky.social highlights the importance of constant regions in influencing the specificity and functionality of #antibodies #immunology #immunosky

I don't understand why articles like this one never mention that we have an option for preventing disease: measles gamma globulin has a 100% efficacy in preventing disease in exposed vulnerable children. See this reference: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29028959/. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/w...

It's Thursday: time for #MattersMicrobial Episode #82! Dr. Arturo Casadevall talks with the #QualityQuorum about how fungi can use melanin to collect energy from light (and radiation), and adaptation to high temperatures. Please spread the #GoodMicrobialWord! youtu.be/D7uzJzglC40?...

check #MattersMicrobial #82 👇 ...and as "supplementary material" > schaechter.asmblog.org/schaechter/2... #FungiFriends

Today's podcast recording session for #MattersMicrobial was with the amazing Dr. Arturo Casadevall. He has such interesting ideas, and I cannot wait to share them with you.

The pandemic crisis may be over, but SARS-CoV-2 remains a major problem for the immunocompromised that do not make good antibody responses. European RCT confirms efficacy of COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) in this population. CCP is FDA licensed in US

As physicians confront the widening measles outbreak it is important to keep in mind that we have a highly effective means of protecting those exposed - hyperimmune IgG. It showed 100% efficacy in the 2013 NYC outbreak.

A call for the United States to continue investing in science journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/... @acasadevall1.bsky.social @bladerlab.bsky.social @goodrumviruslab.bsky.social Highlights of U.S. government-funded advances in biomedical sciences/healthcare:

As we enter another week of crisis in the biomedical sciences, I thought I would make a list of the advances in field of infectious diseases THAT I HAVE WITNESSED since I became board certified in 1990. I am sure I missed a few advances, and this is only in the field of ID.

Five years after it became the first emergency therapy for COVID-19 convalescent plasma is FDA licensed, effective, safe and relatively inexpensive since it is a donated product and keeps up with the variants. hub.jhu.edu/2025/02/03/i...

JHU has established a planning committee for immunology. The committee will be co-chaired by two Bloomberg Distinguished Professors, @acasadevall1.bsky.social and Erika Pearce, and BDP Nicole Baumgarth will be a member of the committee. hub.jhu.edu/2025/02/11/n...

Hey #fungal people - the applications for this years MOMY course are open! Wonderful course in a wonderful place with wonderful people. Check it out here: www.mbl.edu/education/ad...

Warmer climates could supercharge fungal diseases transmitted by insects. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39907444/

If you're a pediatrician you should read this nice recent paper by @acasadevall1.bsky.social et al about the discovery of #RSV, the history and scientists behind it, and go back to those years. We've reached recently amazing advances in prevention. #medsky #idsky #pedssky doi.org/10.1128/mbio...

Gain-of-function research could enable health officials to recognize H5N1 bird flu mutations and identify targets for antivirals and vaccines. BDP @acasadevall1.bsky.social offers insights on the value of such research. www.latimes.com/environment/...

Not a great picture since the window was cloudy from de-icing fluid. I am always impressed by the beauty of a sunset from a plane. Scenes like this take me back to my PhD qualifying exam where the first two questions were: why is the sky blue and the sunset red. I passed.

As of today, high titer certified COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma is available in the USA from an @US_FDA licensed supplier. To physicians out there - here is the way to order it for your patients. www.oneblood.org/pages/high-t...

If H5N1 outbreak occurs convalescent plasma will be used again. For most efficacy: 1) identify sites for outpatient infusion; effectiness = early use; 2) get IRB paperwork done; 3) Use high titer units. www.statnews.com/2024/12/26/h...

Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) for prevention of COVID-19 progression can affect subsequent infection/vaccination. Phenomenon was not seen with convalescent plasma and may reflect large IgG dose associated with mAb therapy. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39504352/

I just joined blue sky where I will continue to write about science and medicine.