The Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases supports research and provides resources for all stages of product development, partnering with public and private institutions to move advances through the product development pipeline. The results are research discoveries that are transforming the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of infectious diseases. The DMID scientific success showcase highlights just a few of these achievements.

NIAID-funded researchers at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) and their collaborators at the National Cancer Institute discovered a potential antibody treatment for Nipah and Hendra virus. The researchers developed a human monoclonal antibody (mAb) known as m102.4 that targets the G glycoprotein of both viruses and found that the mAb effectively protected ferrets after exposure to Nipah or Hendra virus. The mAb was also effective in protecting nonhuman primates after exposure.

An NIAID-supported research company called Osel has developed a novel product called LACTIN-V that consists of a selected strain of Lactobacillus crispatus, one of the bacteria that protect the vagina from invading pathogens, that has been freeze-dried and formulated as a powder. When inserted into the vagina using a specially designed applicator, LACTIN-V helps reestablish the population of these beneficial bacteria.

NIAID, in coordination with the HHS Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), supported preclinical and clinical research to develop several antibody-based therapeutics as anthrax antitoxins. One such product is Anthim, a human monoclonal antibody produced by Elusys Therapeutics, Inc.

NIAID recognized the need for a safer smallpox vaccine than Dryvax and ACAM2000 that could be used to protect patients with weakened immune systems, like those with HIV or cancer. A second-generation vaccine using Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA)-a highly weakened vaccinia virus that does not replicate well in humans is being developed by Bavarian Nordic.

NIAID is supporting a vaccine candidate that is being developed to protect against Candida or Staphylococcus aureus infections.

Tetracyclines are broad-spectrum antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections, but many bacteria are developing resistance to treatment. NIAID is supporting the development of novel tetracyclines that are not subject to existing tetracycline resistance mechanisms and therefore represent important new tools for the treatment of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new anti-tuberculosis (TB) drug, pretomanid (PA-824).

NIAID supported development of diagnostics to detect Ebola virus infection, including rapid identification and can be deployed at the point-of-care where Ebola outbreaks occur. Two diagnostics became available under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the Food and Drug Administration for detection of the Ebola Zaire strain during the 2014 West Africa outbreak.

NIAID is supporting research to promote the development of universal influenza vaccines, which would provide broader protection against multiple strains of influenza viruses.