ASCLS eNewsBytes

• Bat Gene Provides Insight Into Fighting COVID-19 and Other Viral Diseases December 17, 2025
  From Feb. 11: A Texas Tech University laboratory has identified a gene in bats that can reduce SARS-CoV-2 virus production by up to 90%. This could lead to new medical approaches to combat viral diseases.
• FDA Approves Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Device for MDD Treatment in Youth Ages 15 to 21 December 17, 2025
  From Nov. 25: The 510(k) clearance was based on real-world evidence from 1,120 adolescents across 35 TMS centers in the U.S., treated between 2012 and 2024, who underwent 36 sessions of either high-frequency (18 Hz) Deep TMS or intermittent theta-burst stimulation.
• New Portable Testing Device Rapidly Detects HIV and COVID-19 With High Accuracy December 17, 2025
  From Oct. 21: Scientists have developed LUCAS, a fast, portable, and accurate tool for virus detection. It uses an enzyme to create a glow, similar to fireflies, enabling researchers to identify tiny virus particles in messy samples.
• Bacteria-Treated Insects Could Help Halt Disease Spread December 17, 2025
  From Oct. 7: Around the world, insects wreak havoc on public health as carriers of infectious diseases such as malaria and Zika virus. People in some regions mitigate these risks by deterring the pests from reaching humans, such as with netting and insect-repelling sprays. Those in other areas use pesticides to kill the creepy crawlies, […]
• FDA Approves Ketamine for Surgical Pain Management December 17, 2025
  From Aug. 19: FDA approves ketamine for surgical pain management, marking a significant commercial and clinical innovation in mental health, neurological and pain disorder spaces.