https://ki.se RSS News Listing https://news.ki.se/new-blood-test-may-improve-mapping-of-mosquito-borne-viruses Mosquito-borne viral diseases such as dengue, Zika and chikungunya are spreading to new regions as the climate becomes warmer. A new study from Karolinska Institutet and Institut Pasteur, published in Nature Communications, shows that a newly developed blood test can distinguish between similar viruses and thereby contribute to better surveillance of how these infections spread. Wed, 15 Apr 2026 11:01:10 +0200 https://news.ki.se/education-in-outbreak-epidemiology-strengthens-expertise-and-preparedness-for-future-health-crises The Centre for Health Crises at Karolinska Institutet works to ensure that experience gained from working on health crises internationally can be transformed to benefit Sweden’s crisis preparedness. As part of this, they have conducted a one-day training excerise on global outbreak epidemiology in collaboration with the Swedish Red Cross. Its aim is to provide further education for people who have worked on projects abroad. Mon, 30 Mar 2026 16:35:19 +0200 https://news.ki.se/aiming-to-improve-care-for-children-with-pneumonia-in-low-resource-settings Carina King, an infectious diseases epidemiologist, has dedicated over a decade to improving the diagnosis and treatment of paediatric pneumonia in sub-Saharan Africa. Recently, she received a prestigious Consolidation Grant from the Swedish Research Council for a project that aims to refine referral guidelines for children with moderate hypoxaemia – a critical gap in current clinical practice. Tue, 03 Feb 2026 17:15:42 +0100 https://news.ki.se/point-of-care-rapid-tests-can-improve-screening-for-latent-tuberculosis A new test shows promising results for detecting latent tuberculosis infection in resource-limited settings. This is according to a study from Karolinska Institutet, published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases. Thu, 27 Nov 2025 15:42:51 +0100 https://news.ki.se/international-symposium-focusing-on-global-health-and-tuberculosis Tuberculosis remains a global health issue affecting more than 10 million people every year. On October 20, leading international tuberculosis researchers gathered at the Nobel Forum to discuss how to reduce the remaining gaps in prevention, care, and research. Fri, 14 Nov 2025 09:19:41 +0100 https://news.ki.se/the-immune-system-is-more-dynamic-than-previously-thought Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have discovered that some natural killer cells, NK cells, temporarily reside in our organs and then leave them via the lymphatic system. The study, published in Nature Immunology, shows that our immune system is more dynamic than previously thought. The results may contribute to better treatments that direct the immune system where it is needed. Tue, 14 Oct 2025 11:00:13 +0200 https://news.ki.se/pots-common-in-patients-with-long-covid A new study from Karolinska Institutet shows that an heart rhythm disorder, POTS, is particularly common in people with long COVID. The majority of those affected are middle-aged women. The study has been published in the scientific journal Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology. Fri, 03 Oct 2025 15:12:16 +0200 https://news.ki.se/key-protein-for-tick-borne-infection-revealed-how-the-tbe-virus-enters-brain-cells Researchers at Karolinska Institutet, together with international colleagues, have identified a protein that is crucial for the TBE virus to infect human cells. The discovery, published in the journal Nature, could pave the way for new treatments for tick-borne encephalitis. Thu, 25 Sep 2025 14:14:15 +0200 https://news.ki.se/training-for-health-crises-makes-us-better-prepared During the ongoing Preparedness Week (Beredskapsveckan), the importance of being ready for crises is highlighted. When infectious diseases spread rapidly, it takes more than medical expertise and knowledge – it also requires the ability to collaborate under pressure. Hedvig Glans, expert coordinator at the Centre for Health Crises, recently participated in an international exercise focused on exactly this. Mon, 22 Sep 2025 16:15:42 +0200 https://news.ki.se/seeking-to-reduce-antibiotic-resistance-with-the-right-treatment-at-the-right-time Pontus Nauclér is hoping to improve the treatment of severe infections while reducing the development of antibiotic resistance by combining data from registries and medical records with AI and clinical studies to make antibiotic treatments more precise. Meet one of the new professors of Karolinska Institutet who will participate in this year's installation ceremony at Aula Medica on 9 October. Thu, 11 Sep 2025 10:00:13 +0200 https://news.ki.se/even-healthy-children-can-be-severely-affected-by-rsv It is not only premature babies and children with underlying diseases who suffer from serious respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections. Even healthy, full-term babies are at significant risk of intensive care or prolonged hospitalisation – especially during the first three months of life. This is according to a comprehensive registry study from Karolinska Institutet published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe. Wed, 10 Sep 2025 01:30:11 +0200 https://news.ki.se/proteins-in-the-blood-can-reveal-the-severity-of-malaria Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have identified over 250 proteins that are strongly affected by malaria, which could help predict the severity of the disease and thus enable faster treatment for the most critical patients. Mon, 14 Jul 2025 17:00:39 +0200 https://news.ki.se/researchers-restore-antibiotic-effect-in-the-event-of-resistance Bacterial resistance negates the effect of antibiotics in the treatment of infection. Using mouse models, researchers now show that if antibiotics are administered with an enzyme called endolysin, the combined effect protects against infection by resistant bacteria in all bodily organs – including the brain, which antibiotics alone have difficulty reaching. The results are reported in the journal Molecular Medicine. Wed, 07 May 2025 14:49:33 +0200 https://news.ki.se/jan-albert-submits-proposals-to-improve-pandemic-preparedness-to-the-government A law to quickly limit the spread of infection in the event of a pandemic and research efforts to strengthen Sweden's pandemic preparedness and close knowledge gaps in the event of new outbreaks. This was included in the interim report from the Inquiry on Strengthening Future Infection Control, which KI Professor Jan Albert submitted to the government yesterday. Thu, 24 Apr 2025 13:28:01 +0200 https://news.ki.se/infection-control-and-outbreak-preparedness-when-the-virus-is-loose We all recognise the scene from countless horror movies and thrillers. A new, unknown virus is spreading. Panic ensues! Suddenly, the streets of New York are filled with people in yellow hazmat suits with big helmets, carrying stretchers where people lie writhing in terrible agony. But what is does it really look like when we prepare for and manage communicable diseases? The Centre for Health Crises’ expert coordinator knows more. Fri, 27 Sep 2024 08:51:41 +0200 https://news.ki.se/new-study-reveals-specialisation-of-immune-cells-in-different-tissues A new study from Karolinska Institutet has mapped how a specific type of immune cells, MAIT cells, adapt and specialise in different tissues of the human body. Mon, 09 Sep 2024 11:01:07 +0200 https://news.ki.se/kis-collaboration-with-ivi-increases-knowledge-about-vaccines-in-low-and-middle-income-countries The International Vaccine Institute (IVI) will be teaming up with specialists from KI again this year for a vaccinology course aimed at healthcare professionals and researchers from around the world. The course also now forms part of doctoral education at KI. Tue, 03 Sep 2024 15:41:58 +0200 https://news.ki.se/new-covid-vaccine-induces-good-antibody-response-to-mutated-viral-variants Researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Danderyd Hospital have followed recipients of the new updated COVID-19 vaccine and analysed the antibody response to different SARS-CoV-2 variants. The results show a surprisingly strong response to the now dominant and highly mutated Omicron variants. [This news article has been updated] Fri, 22 Dec 2023 12:10:37 +0100 https://news.ki.se/long-covid-most-prevalent-in-the-most-seriously-ill A collaborative study involving researchers from Karolinska Institutet has charted the prevalence of severe physical symptom burden amongst Scandinavians for up to two years after a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Most affected were people who had a severe COVID-19 infection, while the researchers found no elevated prevalence of long COVID in those who had never been bedridden. The study is published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe. Fri, 27 Oct 2023 07:00:05 +0200 https://news.ki.se/outbreak-preparedness-and-response-new-expert-coordinator-area-at-the-centre-for-health-crises Her involvement in health crises work at KI goes back to her role in one of the expert groups that were formed at KI during the COVID-19 pandemic, which proceeded what became the Centre for Health Crises. Now she is the latest in the group of expert coordinators at the Centre. Hedvig Glans wants to use her clinical and academic experience to improve the Centre’s competence in outbreak preparedness and response to infectious diseases. Mon, 27 Mar 2023 17:07:29 +0200 https://news.ki.se/improved-blood-testing-could-help-sepsis-patients How should healthcare providers identify bacteria or other pathogens in the blood of sepsis patients as quickly as possible? Volkan Özenci is focusing on this in his research. This article is part of an in-depth feature from KI's popular science magazine Medicinsk Vetenskap. Thu, 23 Mar 2023 17:25:47 +0100 https://news.ki.se/digital-sniffer-dog-finds-patients-with-sepsis Some patients get sepsis because of hospital-acquired infections. A new digital system is now being implemented to find these patients by constantly scanning medical records for signs of sepsis. This article is part of an in-depth feature from KI's popular science magazine Medicinsk Vetenskap. Thu, 23 Mar 2023 17:11:05 +0100 https://news.ki.se/helena-hervius-askling-expert-coordinator-infectious-diseases-and-vaccine-preparedness-at-the-centre-for-health-crises Helena Hervius Askling is new in the growing group of expert coordinators at the Centre for Health Crises. Her extensive experience in the field of infectious diseases and the topic of vaccine, as a medical doctor in infectious diseases, county medical officer and associate professor, will strengthen the centre’s competence in the field. Thu, 23 Mar 2023 13:46:53 +0100 https://news.ki.se/arne-lost-his-toes-due-to-sepsis Just over two years ago, Arne Persson had a bad fall while walking his dog in the woods. He struck his coccyx badly but was able to get home. The pain just grew and grew over the next few days, so in the end he went to A&E at the hospital. After an X-ray, he was sent home because nothing was broken. This article is part of an in-depth feature from KI's popular science magazine Medicinsk Vetenskap. Mon, 20 Mar 2023 21:36:42 +0100 https://news.ki.se/petra-got-sepsis-after-giving-birth Petra Kormo’s second baby was born on Wednesday, 4 January 2017. Everything went well with the birth, but Petra developed a fever after she arrived home. She felt weaker and sicker for every day that passed. This article is part of an in-depth feature from KI's popular science magazine Medicinsk Vetenskap. Mon, 20 Mar 2023 16:33:07 +0100 https://news.ki.se/sepsis-the-hidden-killer Sepsis has a way of flying under the radar. Public awareness of the life-threatening disease is low, and official statistics are misleading. Now researchers are using special alarm systems and AI to increase detection. This article is part of an in-depth feature from KI's popular science magazine Medicinsk Vetenskap. Mon, 20 Mar 2023 16:23:28 +0100 https://news.ki.se/funding-for-global-study-on-hpv-burden-among-girls-and-women Several KI researchers are part of an international project that has been awarded nearly $15 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, with $1 million co-funding from the Swedish government. The project involves a multi-country study to better understand the burden of Human papillomavirus (HPV) among girls and women in low and lower middle-income countries. Wed, 08 Mar 2023 08:48:18 +0100 https://news.ki.se/education-minister-visits-ki-hearing-about-the-potential-gives-me-goosebumps Minister for Education Mats Persson met researchers and students when he visited Karolinska Institutet on 1 February. Topics of discussion with the students included the conditions relating to clinical placements, student funding rules and the situation for overseas students and doctoral students. The researchers, for their part, talked about the progress being made in areas such as precision medicine and about KI’s preparedness for new health crises. Mon, 06 Feb 2023 11:22:11 +0100 https://news.ki.se/blood-group-can-predict-risk-of-contracting-viral-disease The risk of being infected by parvovirus is elevated in those people who have blood group Rh(D), according to a study published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases by researchers from Karolinska Institutet in collaboration with Octapharma. Fri, 25 Nov 2022 15:41:14 +0100 https://news.ki.se/new-study-explains-link-between-diabetes-and-utis Lower immunity and recurring infections are common in type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet now show that the immune system of people with diabetes has lower levels of the antimicrobial peptide psoriasin, which compromises the urinary bladder’s cell barrier, increasing the risk of urinary tract infection. The study is published in Nature Communications. Tue, 20 Sep 2022 11:00:07 +0200 https://news.ki.se/repeated-serious-infections-linked-to-increased-risk-of-some-neurodegenerative-diseases Infections treated with specialty hospital care in early- and mid-life are associated with an increased subsequent risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, but not amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to a study by researchers from Karolinska Institutet, published in PLOS Medicine. Fri, 16 Sep 2022 11:57:59 +0200 https://news.ki.se/mucosal-antibodies-in-the-airways-protect-against-omicron-infection High levels of mucosal antibodies in the airways reduce the risk of being infected by omicron, but many do not receive detectable antibodies in the airways despite three doses of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. These are the findings of a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine, led by researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Danderyd Hospital. Wed, 14 Sep 2022 23:00:06 +0200 https://news.ki.se/how-the-brains-housekeeper-malfunctions-during-bacterial-meningitis Bacterial meningitis is a life-threatening infectious disease of the brain that leaves many survivors with long-lasting neurological impairments. Now, researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden show in a study on rats that the brain’s tool for waste clearance, the glymphatic system, malfunctions during bacterial meningitis, causing a buildup of toxic garbage that damages brain cells. The findings are published in the journal mBio. Mon, 29 Aug 2022 17:00:05 +0200 https://news.ki.se/new-treatment-principle-for-chronic-hepatitis-b-and-d-infections A new immunological treatment against hepatitis B and D viruses, both of which can cause liver cancer, shows promising results in animal models. Results from the treatment, which is being developed by researchers at Karolinska Institutet, have been published in the journal Gut. Fri, 26 Aug 2022 11:30:27 +0200 https://news.ki.se/new-findings-may-reduce-the-risk-of-infection-for-patients-with-urinary-catheters Patients who have indwelling urinary catheters often suffer from urinary tract infections, which can be difficult to treat. Now, researchers at Karolinska Institutet have discovered that the synthetic peptide CD4-PP has a good bactericidal effect against urinary tract bacteria, even those resistant to antibiotics. The study, published in the journal Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, opens up for new possible treatment methods. Fri, 22 Jul 2022 10:27:54 +0200 https://news.ki.se/air-pollution-linked-to-higher-risk-of-covid-19-in-young-adults Residential exposure to ambient air pollutants is linked to an elevated risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, an observational study of young adults in Stockholm, Sweden shows. The study was conducted by researchers from Karolinska Institutet and is published in JAMA Network Open. Wed, 20 Apr 2022 17:00:06 +0200 https://news.ki.se/a-new-understanding-of-how-the-immune-system-deals-with-malaria By analysing samples from patients who have been treated for malaria in Sweden, researchers at Karolinska Institutet can now describe how the immune system acts to protect the body after a malaria infection. The results, published in the journal Cell Reports, provide knowledge that can aid in the development of more effective vaccines against the disease. Tue, 19 Apr 2022 17:00:06 +0200 https://news.ki.se/promising-drug-candidates-for-crimean-congo-haemorrhagic-fever-identified Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have identified key signalling pathways that when blocked by existing drug candidates limit reproduction of the Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus. The findings, published in the journal eLife, offer hope for patients affected by this potentially deadly disease. Tue, 19 Apr 2022 09:08:40 +0200 https://news.ki.se/elevated-inflammation-persists-in-immune-cells-months-after-mild-covid-19 There is a lack of understanding as to why some people suffer from long-lasting symptoms after COVID-19 infection. A new study from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, the Helmholtz Center Munich (HMGU) and the Technical University of Munich (TUM), both in Germany, now demonstrates that a certain type of immune cell called macrophages show altered inflammatory and metabolic expression several months after mild COVID-19. The findings are published in the journal Mucosal Immunology. Tue, 15 Mar 2022 02:00:06 +0100 https://news.ki.se/covid-19-genetic-risk-variant-protects-against-hiv The major genetic risk variant for severe COVID-19, one we inherited from Neandertals, is associated with a 27 percent lower risk of HIV infection. This is according to a new study from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany published in the journal PNAS. Mon, 21 Feb 2022 21:00:05 +0100 https://news.ki.se/why-natural-killer-cells-react-to-covid-19 Little has been known to date about how the immune system’s natural killer (NK) cells detect which cells have been infected with SARS-CoV-2. An international team of scientist led by researchers from Karolinska Institutet now shows that NK cells respond to a certain peptide on the surface of infected cells. The study, which is published in Cell Reports, is an important piece of the puzzle in our understanding of how the immune system reacts to COVID-19. Mon, 21 Feb 2022 13:02:14 +0100 https://news.ki.se/persistent-t-cell-response-to-omicron-after-infection-and-vaccination The omicron variant can partly evade the antibody response provided by vaccination or infection with previous variants of SARS-CoV-2. However, T cells still recognise omicron, scientists at Karolinska Institutet report in a study published in the journal Nature Medicine. Wed, 19 Jan 2022 10:42:15 +0100 https://news.ki.se/asymptomatic-healthcare-workers-may-have-contributed-to-the-spread-of-sars-cov-2 Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have charted the number of healthcare workers in Stockholm who were on duty during the first wave of the pandemic despite being infected with SARS-CoV-2, having been asymptomatic at the time. The results of the study, which is published in the journal PLOS ONE, present very low figures but the researchers believe that this could still have affected the spread of infection. Mon, 20 Dec 2021 11:38:49 +0100 https://news.ki.se/federico-iovino-recognised-world-expert-by-expertscape Federico Iovino, Assistant Professor and group leader at the Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, has been recognised "World Expert" in the field "Streptococcus pneumoniae” by Expertscape, a website that objectively ranks physicans, researchers and institutions by their expertise in more than 29,000 biomedical topics. Wed, 17 Nov 2021 16:33:21 +0100 https://news.ki.se/study-identifies-new-potential-drug-target-for-pneumonia Researchers at Karolinska Institutet report that a recently discovered inflammatory mediator, interleukin-26, appears to have an important role in pneumonia and contribute to the killing of bacteria. The study is published in the scientific journal Frontiers in Immunology - Microbial Immunology. Fri, 29 Oct 2021 06:48:55 +0200 https://news.ki.se/major-investment-on-precision-medicine-and-its-clinical-application The government is set to invest through the innovation authority Vinnova another SEK 96 million on Genomic Medicine Sweden (GMS), a national organisation led from Karolinska Institutet. Regions and universities are also putting up SEK 124 million, making a total of SEK 220 million that will make it possible to continue introducing precision medicine into Swedish healthcare. Thu, 30 Sep 2021 08:34:59 +0200 https://news.ki.se/tuberculosis-programs-should-focus-more-on-young-people-researchers-say Young people are at risk of falling seriously unwell with tuberculosis and spreading the disease. Therefore, researchers at Karolinska Institutet, among others, have mapped key factors that affect the treatment outcomes in 10- to 24-year-olds with tuberculosis in Brazil, where the disease is increasing. To deal with the global tuberculosis epidemic, researchers say that greater focus is needed on this age group in tuberculosis programs. The study is published in The Lancet Global Health. Wed, 15 Sep 2021 00:30:05 +0200 https://news.ki.se/new-biomarkers-for-life-threatening-soft-tissue-infections Rapid diagnosis is crucial in bacterial soft tissue infections to reduce the risk of severe injury or amputation. Vague symptoms and a heterogeneous patient group increase the risk of misdiagnosis. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet and other research institutions have now, with the help of AI, identified a new and very promising biomarker. The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, may have implications for both diagnosis and treatment. Thu, 15 Jul 2021 18:00:05 +0200 https://news.ki.se/microneedle-patch-delivers-antibiotics-locally-in-the-skin MRSA skin infections are often treated with intravenous injection of antibiotics, which can cause significant side effects and promote the development of resistant bacterial strains. To solve these problems, researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden are developing a microneedle patch that delivers antibiotics directly into the affected skin area. New results published in Advanced Materials Technologies show that the microneedle patch effectively reduces MRSA bacteria in the skin. Mon, 10 May 2021 14:32:40 +0200 https://news.ki.se/new-findings-on-barriers-and-support-in-global-fight-against-tuberculosis Nine out of ten cases of tuberculosis appear in 30 identified low and middle-income countries, each of which has a national tuberculosis programme. The managers of these programmes agree that it is important to screen for tuberculosis outside of health facilities. However, each screening programme must have its own well-considered, sustainable strategy and sufficient resources for it to be meaningful – which is not always the case today. This is one conclusion drawn by Olivia Biermann’s thesis. Mon, 03 May 2021 12:50:25 +0200 https://news.ki.se/study-shows-how-meningitis-causing-bacteria-may-sense-fever-to-avoid-immune-killing Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have discovered a mechanism through which meningitis-causing bacteria can evade our immune system. In laboratory tests, they found that Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae respond to increasing temperatures by producing safeguards that keep them from getting killed. This may prime their defenses against our immune system and increase their chances of survival, the researchers say. The findings are published in PLoS Pathogens. Thu, 29 Apr 2021 20:00:05 +0200 https://news.ki.se/new-research-on-vitamin-d-and-respiratory-infections-important-for-risk-groups Earlier studies have shown that supplementary vitamin D seems to provide a certain degree of protection against respiratory infections. A new study involving researchers from Karolinska Institutet has now made the most comprehensive synthesis to date of this connection. The study, which is published in the journal Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, confirms that vitamin D protects against respiratory infections, a result that can have significance for the healthcare services. Wed, 31 Mar 2021 00:30:04 +0200 https://news.ki.se/covid-19-vaccine-from-new-vaccine-platform-effective-in-mice It is necessary to develop additional COVID-19 vaccines, as different vaccine approaches have their advantages and disadvantages and may work synergistically. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden now report that they have developed a prototype vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 using a DNA vaccine platform that is inexpensive, stable, easy to produce, and shows a good safety profile. A study published in Scientific Reports shows that the vaccine induces potent immune responses in mice. Thu, 04 Feb 2021 13:14:49 +0100 https://news.ki.se/myeloid-immune-cells-in-the-blood-tied-to-severe-covid-19 Individual variations in how the immune system responds to SARS-CoV-2 appear to impact the severity of disease. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have now been able to show that patients with severe COVID-19 have significantly elevated levels of a certain type of immune cells in their blood, called myeloid-derived suppressor cells. The study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation may bring an increased understanding of how early immune responses impact disease severity. Tue, 26 Jan 2021 09:43:03 +0100 https://news.ki.se/new-small-antibodies-show-promising-effects-against-covid-19-infection Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have developed, in collaboration with researchers in Germany and the U.S., new small antibodies, also known as nanobodies, which prevent the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus from entering human cells. The research study, published in Science, shows that a combined nanobody had a particularly good effect – even if the virus mutated. According to the researchers, the nanobodies have the potential to be developed into a treatment for COVID-19. Tue, 12 Jan 2021 16:00:04 +0100 https://news.ki.se/diabetes-and-obesity-risk-factors-for-severe-malaria Infectious diseases doctor Katja Wyss’s thesis is the product of many years’ research on malaria in Sweden. With clinical data from almost 3,000 diagnosed cases over a twenty-year time span, Katja Wyss at Karolinska Institutet’s Department of Medicine in Solna presents risk factors for malaria and new links between malaria and lymphoma – results that are of potential significance to people in many parts of the world. Tue, 08 Dec 2020 09:00:04 +0100 https://news.ki.se/study-shows-why-some-people-may-become-seriously-ill-from-meningococcal-bacteria Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have come one step closer toward understanding why some people become seriously ill or die from a common bacterium that leaves most people unharmed. In a study published in The Lancet Microbe, the researchers linked RNA mutations within the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis to invasive meningococcal disease, marking the first time a non-coding RNA in a bacterium has been linked to disease progression. Tue, 08 Dec 2020 00:30:02 +0100 https://news.ki.se/researcher-survey-can-hepatitis-c-be-eliminated-0 The discovery of the hepatitis C virus is this year acknowledged by The 2020 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. It is now possible to detect the virus in blood and to provide an effective treatment for the infection. WHO wants to eliminate hepatitis C by 2030, but is this possible? We asked three researchers what they think. Mon, 07 Dec 2020 09:59:41 +0100 https://news.ki.se/new-study-explains-important-cause-of-fatal-influenza It is largely unknown why influenza infections lead to an increased risk of bacterial pneumonia. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have now described important findings leading to so-called superinfections, which claim many lives around the world every year. The study is published in the journal PNAS, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and can also contribute to research on COVID-19. Wed, 25 Nov 2020 08:58:22 +0100 https://news.ki.se/immunological-cause-of-severe-covid-19-identified More than 10 percent of young and previously healthy people who develop severe COVID-19 have misguided antibodies that attack the immune system itself, and another 3.5 percent carry a specific genetic mutation. This is according to new research published in Science by an international consortium involving researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. Fri, 25 Sep 2020 08:24:10 +0200 https://news.ki.se/sars-cov-2-during-pregnancy-was-not-associated-with-complications-in-neonates In a study published in JAMA researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital have examined the association between a positive SARS-CoV-2 test during pregnancy and complications in mothers and their newborn babies. Almost two out of three pregnant women who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 were asymptomatic and the researchers found no higher prevalence of complications during delivery or of ill-health in the neonates. However, preeclampsia was more common in infected women. Wed, 23 Sep 2020 17:14:29 +0200 https://news.ki.se/virus-in-the-blood-can-predict-severe-covid-19 A blood test on hospital admission showing the presence or absence of SARS-CoV-2 can identify patients at a high risk of severe COVID-19. Admitted patients without virus in their blood have a good chance of rapid recovery. This according to researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Danderyd Hospital in a new study published in the scientific journal Clinical Infectious Diseases. Wed, 02 Sep 2020 09:58:09 +0200 https://news.ki.se/immunity-to-covid-19-is-probably-higher-than-tests-have-shown A new study from Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital shows that many people with mild or asymptomatic COVID-19 demonstrate so-called T-cell-mediated immunity to the new coronavirus, even if they have not tested positively for antibodies. According to the researchers, this means that public immunity is probably higher than antibody tests suggest. The article has been published in the esteemed scientific journal Cell. [This news article has been updated] Tue, 18 Aug 2020 08:45:00 +0200 https://news.ki.se/antirheumatic-drug-linked-to-reduced-ventilator-time-for-patients-with-severe-covid-19 The drug tocilizumab, which is used in the treatment of various forms of arthritis, is associated with shorter time on ventilation and shorter hospital stays for patients with severe COVID-19, a new study from Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital published in The Journal of Internal Medicine reports. Tue, 04 Aug 2020 14:14:38 +0200 https://news.ki.se/she-is-the-new-torsten-soderberg-professor Common respiratory bacteria carried in the nose by healthy children, can sometimes cause life-threatening infections. Birgitta Henriques Normark, Professor at the Department of Microbiology, Tumour and Cell Biology, is investigating why this occurs. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has now awarded her the Torsten Söderberg Academy Professorial Chair in Medicine – a SEK 10 million grant over a period of five years. Fri, 26 Jun 2020 08:12:51 +0200 https://news.ki.se/children-unlikely-to-be-the-main-drivers-of-the-covid-19-pandemic It is highly likely that children can transmit the new coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, but several factors suggest that children are unlikely to be the main drivers of the pandemic. Opening up schools and kindergartens is unlikely to impact COVID-19 mortality rates in older people, according to a systematic review that spanned 47 publications and was conducted by researchers at Karolinska Institutet. The paper is published in the scientific journal Acta Paediatrica. Wed, 20 May 2020 10:22:44 +0200 https://news.ki.se/overlooked-protein-could-play-important-part-in-pneumonia-and-covid-19-researchers-say In severe cases of COVID-19, a massive release of the endogenous protein HMGB1 in the lungs may contribute to pulmonary inflammation and tissue damage, according to a recent review article published in the journal Molecular Medicine. The researchers conclude that the inflammation could hypothetically be treated with an HMGB1 inhibitor. Thu, 07 May 2020 17:36:43 +0200 https://news.ki.se/new-findings-on-hepatitis-c-in-infants-can-lead-to-improved-treatments Only about five per cent of the babies born to mothers with hepatitis C are themselves infected by the disease. A possible reason for this low figure is that the baby’s immune system has already destroyed the virus before birth. A new study from researchers at KI and published in tje journal Gut reveals clear adaptations of the uninfected babies’ immune system that can lead the way to new treatment methods. Mon, 27 Apr 2020 10:30:06 +0200 https://news.ki.se/milder-symptoms-and-better-prognosis-in-children-with-covid-19 Children infected with the new coronavirus generally have less severe symptoms than adults, they rarely need intensive care and very few child deaths have been reported. This according to a systematic review of COVID-19 in children, based on 45 relevant publications and performed by researchers at Karolinska Institutet. The review is published in the scientific journal Acta Paediatrica. Mon, 23 Mar 2020 17:16:12 +0100 https://news.ki.se/pandemic-likely-to-go-in-waves-researchers-say Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and the University of Basel in Switzerland have produced a mathematical model that shows that the spread of the new coronavirus can decline in the summer and then return in the autumn and winter. The analysis has been published in the scientific journal Swiss Medical Weekly. Fri, 20 Mar 2020 16:13:41 +0100 https://news.ki.se/new-whooping-cough-vaccine-shows-promise A clinical phase I study led by the Public Health Agency of Sweden and researchers from Karolinska Institutet shows that a new vaccine for pertussis (whooping cough) given as drops into the nose is more efficacious than the current vaccine. The results of the study are presented in The Journal of Clinical Investigation. The vaccine will now be evaluated in a larger phase II clinical trial. Wed, 29 Jan 2020 12:41:02 +0100 https://news.ki.se/update-what-we-know-about-the-new-corona-virus The new corona virus continues to spread despite significant measures taken by the authorities in China to stop the outbreak. However, this time the fast response coupled with increased knowledge about the nature of the virus means the world is better placed to handle the outbreak compared to 18 years ago when SARS caused widespread concern, says virus researcher Ali Mirazimi, adjunct professor at the Department of Laboratory Medicine at Karolinska Institutet. Tue, 28 Jan 2020 10:18:31 +0100 https://news.ki.se/new-discovery-on-the-activity-and-function-of-mait-cells-during-acute-hiv-infection In a new study published in Nature Communications, researchers at Karolinska Institutet show that MAIT cells (mucosa-associated invariant T cells), part of the human immune system, respond with dynamic activity and reprogramming of gene expression during the initial phase of HIV infection. The study fills a knowledge gap, as previously there has been a lack of awareness of the function of MAIT cells during this particular phase. Tue, 14 Jan 2020 11:00:00 +0100 https://news.ki.se/newly-discovered-immune-cells-contribute-to-toxic-shock Recently discovered immune cells called MAIT cells play a key role in group A streptococcal toxic shock, researchers at Karolinska Institutet report. The results, which are published in the journal PNAS, have potential implications for the diagnosis and treatment of this life-threatening condition. Mon, 25 Nov 2019 21:00:00 +0100 https://news.ki.se/immune-cells-in-skin-kill-mrsa-bacteria-before-they-enter-the-body A type of immune cell called neutrophils could be responsible for controlling bacterial numbers of an antibiotic-resistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) on human skin before the bacteria get a chance to invade, according to a new study from Karolinska Institutet published in Cell Reports. The results could provide an explanation for why this superbug is only carried transiently by some people. Tue, 29 Oct 2019 11:11:53 +0100 https://news.ki.se/new-method-provides-vehicles-for-rna-vaccines A new way of producing nanoparticles that can function as carriers in so-called mRNA vaccines has been developed by researchers at the Hong Kong node of Karolinska Institutet – the Ming Wai Lau Centre for Reparative Medicine – and the MIT, USA. Using the method, which is described in the scientific journal Nature Biotechnology, the researchers have identified a new class of carrier molecules that inhibit tumour growth and prolong survival in mouse models of cancer. Mon, 30 Sep 2019 17:00:00 +0200 https://news.ki.se/researchers-learn-more-about-severe-liver-disease Approximately one out of every ten people with hepatitis B are coinfected with hepatitis D, which is among the most serious liver conditions. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet and their German colleagues have described the impact of chronic hepatitis D on parts of the immune system. The study was published in the Journal of Hepatology. Wed, 15 May 2019 11:12:05 +0200 https://news.ki.se/detailed-map-of-lung-immune-response-in-tb The picture above shows a tuberculosis (TB) infection in a mouse lung, in which immune cells form a granuloma around the bacteria. The different symbols represent working copies of active genes, called messenger RNA, which are different in the granuloma centre in comparison to the surrounding cells. Tue, 23 Apr 2019 13:07:19 +0200 https://news.ki.se/eu-and-russia-collaborate-in-new-project-on-infectious-diseases Mon, 28 Jan 2019 12:37:11 +0100 https://news.ki.se/new-study-on-the-function-of-mait-cells-in-bacterial-infections Tue, 18 Dec 2018 11:37:20 +0100 https://news.ki.se/how-pneumococci-challenge-our-immune-system Pneumococci are the most common cause of respiratory tract infections, such as otitis and sinusitis, as well as of severe infections like pneumonia and meningitis. A new study from Karolinska Institutet published in Nature Microbiology shows how the bacteria can inhibit immune cell reaction and survive inside cells to give rise to pneumonia. Mon, 12 Nov 2018 17:00:00 +0100 https://news.ki.se/structural-map-of-bacterial-toxins-raises-hopes-for-new-anti-infectives Mon, 17 Sep 2018 12:05:26 +0200 https://news.ki.se/cleverly-located-surface-proteins-make-some-pneumococcal-strains-especially-dangerous Successful pathogenic strains of pneumococci have two proteins that, owing to their location on the surface of the bacteria, enhance their survival and ability to cause disease, a study from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden published in Nature Communications, reports. Thu, 23 Aug 2018 11:12:47 +0200 https://news.ki.se/no-link-found-between-oral-antifungal-drug-and-stillbirth Wed, 13 Jun 2018 09:56:10 +0200 https://news.ki.se/immune-system-does-not-recover-despite-cured-hepatitis-c-infection Mon, 11 Jun 2018 11:01:52 +0200 https://news.ki.se/new-strategy-to-cure-chronic-hepatitis-b-infection Thu, 17 May 2018 12:42:21 +0200 https://news.ki.se/respiratory-infections-in-children-often-treated-unnecessarily-with-antibiotics Fri, 19 May 2017 18:01:30 +0200 https://news.ki.se/wallenberg-clinical-scholar-for-research-on-pneumococcal-infections Thu, 23 Mar 2017 10:04:37 +0100 https://news.ki.se/safe-to-take-influenza-drugs-during-pregnancy Wed, 01 Mar 2017 08:00:00 +0100 https://news.ki.se/vitamin-d-protects-against-colds-and-flu Wed, 15 Feb 2017 16:13:40 +0100 https://news.ki.se/vital-comprehensive-perspective-on-antibiotic-resistance Global figures betray a worrying situation. At the same time, it appears the world has woken up. Our PopSci magazine, Medicinsk Vetenskap, has taken the temperature of the fight against antibiotic resistance. Fri, 04 Nov 2016 14:00:42 +0100 https://news.ki.se/swine-flu-jab-harmless-to-unborn-babies Tue, 20 Sep 2016 08:36:24 +0200 https://news.ki.se/why-pneumococci-affect-primarily-humans A special variant of a sugar molecule in the human nose might explain why pneumococcal infections are more common in humans than in other animals, researchers from Karolinska Institutet report in a study published in the journal Cell Host & Microbe. The discovery can help in the search for a broader vaccine able to protect against all types of pneumococci. Thu, 01 Sep 2016 18:10:00 +0200 https://news.ki.se/doctor-and-ki-scientist-helena-nordenstedt-a-volunteer-in-the-fight-against-ebola Mon, 21 Sep 2015 16:26:06 +0200 https://news.ki.se/new-treatment-principle-for-tuberculosis-activates-the-bodys-own-defence-system Wed, 29 Jul 2015 11:55:17 +0200 https://news.ki.se/recent-infections-may-curb-risk-of-rheumatism Thu, 05 Feb 2015 10:39:20 +0100 https://news.ki.se/severely-ill-ebola-patient-saved-by-conventional-intensive-care Thu, 23 Oct 2014 08:00:00 +0200 https://news.ki.se/newly-discovered-bacterial-defence-mechanism-in-the-lungs Tue, 21 Oct 2014 10:53:27 +0200 https://news.ki.se/johan-sandberg-new-professor-of-viral-immunology Johan Sandberg, who has worked at Karolinska Institutet since 2003, was appointed Professor in 2013 at Center for Infectious Medicine (CIM), Department of Medicine, Huddinge. Thu, 22 May 2014 16:10:09 +0200 https://news.ki.se/major-research-project-on-hantavirus Fri, 14 Feb 2014 15:48:10 +0100 https://news.ki.se/three-doses-of-hpv-vaccine-recommended-against-genital-warts Wed, 12 Feb 2014 21:15:29 +0100 https://news.ki.se/detecting-disease-by-smell Thu, 23 Jan 2014 00:00:00 +0100 https://news.ki.se/estrogen-a-new-weapon-against-urinary-tract-infection-in-menopause Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:00:00 +0200 https://news.ki.se/scientists-gather-to-tackle-lethal-soft-tissue-infections Tue, 15 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0100 https://news.ki.se/simpler-and-cheaper-antibiotic-prophylaxis-with-insertion-of-nutrition-catheter-in-the-stomach Fri, 02 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0200