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Logan James Hamilton
@loganjameshamilton.bsky.social
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B2B & B2C SEO Content & Strategy | Health, Wellness, Education & Social Impact
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Many people who had COVID-19 may have lost their sense of smell without realizing it.
Millions of Americans may have lost their sense of smell unknowingly. COVID-19 can cause a partial or total loss of smell, called hyposmia or anosmia, respectively. Researchers studied nearly 3,000 volunteers with a history of COVID-19 infection. They compared them with 569 participants who had never tested positive. Of the 2,956 people in the COVID-19 group, 1,393 thought they had smell issues. Tests confirmed that about 80 percent of them were correct. The remaining 1,563 believed they had no problems, but 66 percent actually did.
January 16, 2026 at 6:33 PM
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Scientists uncovered a powerful new antibiotic hidden inside bacteria we thought we fully understood.
Scientists have made a surprising discovery that could change antibiotic research. They found a new antibiotic hiding within bacteria already studied for decades. This unexpected find could open a new path for discovering life-saving drugs. It may also become a crucial tool against antimicrobial resistance. Antibiotic resistance is growing worldwide. A 2023 World Health Organization report showed that one in six common bacteria resisted treatment. This marked a 40% rise since 2018, with resistance increasing by 5 to 15% each year. Such rapid growth makes finding new antibiotics more urgent than ever.
January 15, 2026 at 7:18 PM
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A new antibiotic compound precisely targets a survival mechanism in tuberculosis bacteria.
Read more: www.passporthealthusa.com/2025/12/new-...
Tuberculosis remains the world’s deadliest infectious disease, despite being treatable and preventable. It kills about 1.6 million people every year, mostly in low-income countries. Researchers have developed a new compound called CMX410 that targets tuberculosis bacteria. The compound shuts down a vital enzyme called polyketide synthase 13, or PKS-13. This enzyme helps the bacteria build a protective outer shell. By blocking PKS-13, CMX410 removes the bacteria’s ability to survive and spread.
January 9, 2026 at 7:12 PM
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Ancient viruses hidden inside bacteria could lead to new treatments and research pathways.
Like extra bombs tucked away inside a missile, viruses hidden inside bacteria don’t seem like a great place to find new treatments. However, researchers from Penn State found viral DNA within ancient bacteria that helped them fight viruses. Specifically, the enzyme called PinQ flips a switch on bacterial genes. The result is the generation of proteins that block viruses from infecting bacteria. By studying this mechanism, researchers may uncover new antiviral drugs and antibiotics. The discovery could also impact industrial microbiology and bioengineering.
December 22, 2025 at 8:14 PM
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Scientists mapped the yellow fever virus in atomic detail, which could improve vaccines.
They say to know your enemy. What better way than to see it in atomic detail? Researchers at the University of Queensland achieved this with the yellow fever virus. They captured high-resolution images showing structural differences between vaccine strains and wild strains. The study mapped yellow fever virus in unprecedented atomic detail. The findings explain how structure affects immunity and guide safer vaccine design. This knowledge could strengthen future outbreak control and inspire new antiviral treatments.
December 19, 2025 at 6:03 PM
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Scientists identified new vaccine targets that could strengthen protection against tuberculosis.
MIT biological engineers found new targets for a better tuberculosis vaccine. They identified specific antigens that may trigger stronger immune responses. These findings could lead to vaccine candidates that protect more effectively. Tuberculosis remains the world’s deadliest infectious disease. Researchers conducted a large-scale screen of TB proteins to find potential targets. The screening revealed multiple antigens suitable for new vaccine design. From over 4,000 bacterial proteins, scientists pinpointed several highly immunogenic peptides. These peptides caused powerful reactions from T-cells, which fight infections.
December 18, 2025 at 5:14 PM
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Researchers found unusual microclots that may help explain common Long COVID symptoms.
Long COVID remains a major diagnostic and treatment gap today. Millions of Americans battle severe and persistent symptoms each day. Recent research shows a hidden change could drive these symptoms. Researchers assessed blood samples from Long COVID patients. They found abnormal changes in microscopic blood structures linked to common symptoms like brain fog and fatigue. These findings could guide future therapies that address this gap.
December 10, 2025 at 4:35 PM
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Exercise may help immune cells respond better to inflammation and disease threats.
Researchers found exercise may improve immune responses to inflammation. Natural killer cells, or NK cells, are white blood cells. They detect and destroy infected, diseased, or mutated cells. NK cells can also help the body fight cancer. These cells showed changes in regularly exercising adults. NK cells in active adults adapted better to disease threats. They produced lower levels of inflammation during immune responses. They also used energy more efficiently during normal function.
December 9, 2025 at 5:27 PM
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A medieval poem created the myth that the Black Death spread with extreme speed.
Read more: www.passporthealthusa.com/2025/12/uniq...
Many people believe the Black Death spread quickly across Asia. This idea claims the disease raced to Europe at unprecedented speed. Many say this rapid spread created the deadliest outbreak ever recorded. However, the real story of Yersinia pestis transmission is far more complex. This myth about rapid spread comes from a single medieval poem. Ibn al-Wardi wrote this poem in the 14th century. It was always intended as fiction that described the plague’s emotional impact. Yet it became the foundation for centuries of speculation and misunderstanding.
December 3, 2025 at 5:04 PM
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Tuberculosis bacteria can “play dead” to survive the immune system and return later.
Tuberculosis bacteria are like pests that burrow underground and vanish. When pesticides hit, they harden into shells and hide in the soil. They look dead, but later, they erupt and devour everything. A quiet field becomes a feeding ground all over again. TB uses similar tricks. The bacteria “play dead” to survive attacks from the immune system. After vaccination, TB changes its behavior to escape destruction. It becomes quiet, stops growing, and hides from immune cells. Later, the bacteria can wake up and spread inside the host. This reactivation can cause lung disease and infect other people.
December 1, 2025 at 6:07 PM
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Scientists found immune cells in the brain that may relay gut signals.
Read more: www.passporthealthusa.com/2025/11/hidd...
T cells, which help the immune system, were once thought to avoid the brain. Scientists believed they only entered during illness or injury. But the new study found T cells in healthy brains of mice and humans. Researchers located the cells in the subfornical organ, deep in the brain. This small region helps control hunger, thirst, and other survival needs. T cells here may act as messengers between the gut and the brain. These cells could send real-time signals that shape behavior and appetite. Scientists think they may carry updates on gut health and nutrition.
November 26, 2025 at 4:55 PM
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Farming and animal domestication triggered a major surge of new pathogens.
Read more: www.passporthealthusa.com/2025/11/how-...
Some religious traditions teach that world history began 6,000 years ago. Science does not support this exact timeline. But a major shift in human life did happen at that point: farming and livestock domestication began spreading across Eurasia. New research in Nature shows that more than crops and animals multiplied. Zoonotic pathogens—diseases from animals—first appeared about 6,500 years ago. These infections surged around 5,000 years ago. The rise of pastoral life helped them spread more easily.
November 24, 2025 at 6:08 PM
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New gene-editing research could stop the Chagas parasite from transforming and hiding.
Read more: www.passporthealthusa.com/2025/11/how-...
Chagas disease acts as an infiltrator, spy, and assassin at different stages in its lifecycle. The parasite hides so well that most people don’t know they’re infected until it’s too late. Researchers at the University of Cincinnati are trying to stop the parasite’s life cycle. They use gene editing to block the transformations that help it survive. If the parasite can’t transform, it can’t complete its mission. Its cover is blown, and the host finally detects the enemy within.
November 19, 2025 at 7:01 PM
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Discarded dental tissue from wisdom teeth could provide valuable stem cells for brain and body therapies.

Read more: www.passporthealthusa.com/2025/11/rare...
Each wisdom tooth holds dental pulp, a soft core filled with stem cells. In lab settings, researchers can turn these cells into nerve, bone, or heart tissue. Remarkably, lab-grown neuron-like cells from wisdom teeth can fire electrical signals. This means they may one day replace damaged brain cells. Roughly 10 million wisdom teeth are removed in the U.S. each year. Most are thrown away, but they may be a hidden medical resource. New findings suggest these cells could be key to future therapies.
November 17, 2025 at 5:28 PM
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A new theory may explain what causes ME/CFS and Long COVID symptoms — and how to treat them.

Read more: www.passporthealthusa.com/2025/11/brea...
ME/CFS and long-COVID are post-viral illnesses with overlapping symptoms. These include fatigue, brain fog, gut problems, and exercise-related crashes. But the exact cause of these conditions is still not known. This gap limits efforts to create effective treatments. Researchers now propose a new explanation for how these begin. They believe viral infections damage blood vessel cells called endothelium. This damage can happen directly or through other immune responses. In certain body areas, these damaged cells may become senescent. Treatments that target these cells may offer relief and better outcomes.
November 12, 2025 at 5:08 PM
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Daylight may help the immune system fight infections more effectively by activating internal clocks in white blood cells.

Read more: www.passporthealthusa.com/2025/11/dayl...
A new study suggests daylight boosts the infection-fighting power of neutrophils, the body’s most common white blood cells. Neutrophils have internal clocks that respond to light. When the sun is up, these clocks activate and help neutrophils kill bacteria more effectively. Researchers tested transparent zebrafish, which have immune systems similar to humans. Zebrafish are ideal for studying how cells behave in real time. The study’s findings could lead to new treatments that target neutrophil clocks to improve immunity.
November 10, 2025 at 8:30 PM
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Recent research suggests that two common vaccines may also help protect brain health and lower dementia risk.

Read more: www.passporthealthusa.com/2025/11/two-...
Shingrix and Arexvy protect against shingles and RSV, respectively. But they may also reduce the risk of dementia. Both vaccines contain the immune-boosting adjuvant known as AS01. Shingrix recipients showed an 18% lower risk of dementia. Those who received Arexvy saw a 29% reduced risk. Together, the vaccines lowered dementia risk by 37%. The results suggest dementia may not be a standalone disease. Instead, it could reflect an immune disorder within the brain. This shifts how we understand, prevent, and possibly treat dementia.
November 5, 2025 at 6:29 PM
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The brain can detect infection threats before illness begins, activating early immune defenses.

Read more: www.passporthealthusa.com/2025/11/this...
The brain may serve as a watchtower for the immune system. It spots possible infection threats and sounds the internal alarm. As a result, the immune system can react before a virus ever enters the body. A new study explored how the brain senses and prepares for infection. The findings show how this early response could prime immune defenses in advance. Researchers used virtual reality to show sick avatars approaching participants. These avatars moved into participants’ peripersonal space—the area immediately near the body. The brain responded to this possible threat before any real contact happened.
November 3, 2025 at 7:12 PM
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New research reveals that Helicobacter pylori causes most global gastric cancer cases.

Read more: www.passporthealthusa.com/2025/10/rese...
When asked about cancer risk, many think of poor lifestyle choices. People may mention alcohol, diet, lack of exercise, or even plastic exposure. But a common stomach infection may pose a far greater threat. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a bacteria that infects the stomach lining. It spreads through contaminated food or water and often goes unnoticed. Researchers focused on people born between 2008 and 2017 worldwide. They estimate that 15.6 million people in this group will develop gastric cancer. Of these, 11.9 million cases—or 76%—are linked to H. pylori.
October 29, 2025 at 5:12 PM
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Vaccines prevented nearly 6 million infections and saved over 300,000 lives in low-income countries between 2000 and 2023.

Read more: www.passporthealthusa.com/2025/10/outb...
A wave of anti-vaccine sentiment continues to rise across the United States. A 2023 survey showed declining trust in established vaccines. It also found a rise in belief in vaccine misinformation, especially about COVID-19. Despite this trend, new research highlights vaccines’ life-saving impact. A major study in published in BMJ Global Health reviewed 210 outbreaks in 49 low-income countries. Across all outbreaks, vaccines prevented 5.81 million infections. This includes 4 million measles cases and 1.5 million yellow fever cases. Vaccines also saved 327,000 lives, mostly from measles and yellow fever.
October 28, 2025 at 6:26 PM
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A new study found that skin fungi may help fight infections like Staphylococcus aureus.

Read more: www.passporthealthusa.com/2025/10/new-...
When most people imagine fungi living on human skin, they probably don’t think of anything beneficial. However, a new study from the University of Oregon found a skin yeast molecule that kills Staphylococcus aureus. S. aureus causes approximately 500,000 hospitalizations in the U.S. each year. Malassezia, a common skin fungus, uses natural oils to create fatty acids. These fatty acids can kill Staphylococcus aureus. The bacteria are a major cause of skin infections and resist many antibiotics.
October 22, 2025 at 5:28 PM
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Researchers discovered a natural tick repellent in donkey skin that rivals DEET.

Read more: www.passporthealthusa.com/2025/10/new-...
Most people use DEET to repel ticks and other biting insects. But DEET can feel sticky, smell unpleasant, and raise safety concerns. Many want a natural alternative that still works well. Now, researchers have found another option—this time from donkey skin. A new study shows how a compound called (E)-2-octenal, secreted by donkey skin, repels deer ticks. Deer ticks, also known as Ixodes scapularis, are the main tick that bites humans in the U.S. (E)-2-octenal stops ticks from moving toward treated areas. It was even more effective than DEET in some cases.
October 20, 2025 at 6:39 PM
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New research pushes back the known history of leprosy in the Americas by thousands of years.

Read more: www.passporthealthusa.com/2025/10/fasc...
Leprosy is rarely linked to early populations in the Americas. However, new research challenges that assumption in a surprising way. Researchers studied two ancient skeletons from northern Chile. They found DNA from Mycobacterium lepromatosis, a rare leprosy-causing bacterium. This species causes Hansen’s disease, a lesser-known form of leprosy. The bones are about 4,000 years old. This pushes back the known history of leprosy in the region. Until now, experts believed leprosy arrived with European colonizers. There was no confirmed bone evidence before the colonial era. These findings raise new questions about leprosy’s spread and origins.
October 17, 2025 at 4:48 PM
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COVID-19 vaccines saved an estimated 2.5 million lives from 2020 to 2024.

Read more: www.passporthealthusa.com/2025/10/new-...
If a superhero saved over 2 million people in four years, we might call them the best in the world. That title could instead go to COVID-19 vaccines. From 2020 to 2024, these vaccines saved 2.5 million lives. They prevented one death for every 5,400 doses given. Researchers also calculated 14.8 million years of life gained from vaccination. The study was published in JAMA Health Forum by Università Cattolica and Stanford University researchers.
October 16, 2025 at 5:18 PM
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New research links gut health to fatigue in Long COVID patients.

Read more: www.passporthealthusa.com/2025/10/new-...
The Long COVID crisis continues with few clear answers. Every new finding helps build a better picture of the illness. A recent study published in Allergy offers fresh hope. It shows a strong link between gut health and post-COVID syndrome (PCS) fatigue. Researchers in Vienna found the gut barrier may play a key role. They tracked patient gut health before, during, and after infection. Blood, saliva, and stool samples were used to find biomarkers. People with prior gut issues were more likely to develop PCS.
October 15, 2025 at 5:21 PM