What is Infectious Disease?

Infectious disease is a general term for illnesses caused by pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. These pathogens can attack virtually any part of the body and are contacted in many different ways: through the environment, through contaminated food and medical supplies, or from encounters with infected individuals. Many infectious diseases are highly contagious and can spread rapidly throughout a population. Examples include tuberculosis, AIDS, cholera, and athlete's foot. For additional information click here.

Image: Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that causes tuberculosis, as seen through a microscope.

Hand washing: The handiwork of good health

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Research News

Featuring Harvard Medical School and Affiliated Hospitals

Treatment of Extensively Drug Resistant TB (XDR-TB) works.

Study identifies mechanism underlying multidrug resistance in fungi

Enzyme offers protection against bacterial toxin.

Blood Stem Cells Fight Invaders.

Source of Fever Identified An important question is answered.

Underinsured Children get fewer vaccines.

A New Tool: Helps distinguish between bacterial and viral meningitis.

New Model of Key Immune-system Component may lead to better understanding of infectious disease.

Why Doesn't the Immune System Attack the Small Intestine? New study provides an unexpected answer.

Scientists Find Genetic Defects in immuno-
logical tolerance.

Premature Infants Born During Winter Virus Season may face threats to lung health.

Do Preschoolers Drive Flu Epidemics? Surveillance data suggests that they do.

Learning how the SARS Virus Spikes its Quarry

New Findings about protection against pneumococcal disease.

Research Stories

From the Harvard University Gazette

Blood stem cell’s roles could help clarify pathogenesis

Viruses Get the Silent Treatment Any disease is a target.

Harvard Maps Malaria
First map of the malarian parasite's genetic diversity.

Past, Present of Flu Pandemics Examined
Experts seek lessons from a range of disciplines.

Harvard Continues
'What-if' Planning
Develops response plans for avian flu, other emergencies.

Research Reports

From HMS Faculty Newsletter Focus

Toxic to Tasty Bacteria that thrive on antibiotics

Flu Fighters Record Hit Against Infection

Combined Common Drugs Can KO Neglected Tropical Infections

Signal Gives Green Light to Immune Forces

Genetic Blueprint Drawn for natural antibiotic.

Lethal New World Viruses Seize receptor for infection leading to hemorrhagic fever.

Aging Helper T Cells gain new life as regulatory agents, stifle graft rejections.

Shorter Course Drugs Against TB may multiply long-term benefits.

RNA Sequence
restrains fatal encephalitis.

RNAi Solution
knocks down herpes infection.

Sublethal Force:
Disarming cholera takes punch out of pathogen.