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Zika virus (ZIKV) can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus. Infection during pregnancy can cause microcephaly and other severe birth defects. Currently, there are no vaccines to prevent or medications to treat Zika infections.

Antibiotic resistance is one of the world's most pressing health concerns. ß-lactamases, such as carbapenemases, are enzymes produced by bacteria that provide resistance to multiple ß-lactam antibiotics (e.g., penicillins, cephamycins, and carbapenems) by breaking down the antibiotic molecules and deactivating their antibacterial properties. Carbapenems are broad-spectrum antibiotics often prescribed to treat serious infections in hospitalized patients, and infections with carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) have become a challenge in healthcare settings.

The Zika virus (ZIKV) can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus. Resulting infection by this virus can cause early miscarriage and a pattern of severe birth defects in fetuses and infants. Therefore, a rapid diagnostic assay that can be performed throughout pregnancy in a clinical setting is vital for prenatal care of women living in areas where this virus may be transmitted.

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a flavivirus primarily transmitted by infected Aedes mosquitoes. Infection with ZIKV during pregnancy can affect the fetus causing microcephaly, neurological complications, and other birth defects. Adults are also at risk of developing Guillain-Barre syndrome and other neurological disorders from ZIKV infection. In response to the 2015-2016 Zika outbreak, CDC researchers developed new Zika virus chimeras that can be used for inactivated Zika vaccine candidates and faster Zika antibody (Ab) neutralization assay testing.

Heartland virus (HRTV) is a novel tick-borne virus first discovered in 2009 that causes flu-like symptoms such as fever, headaches, fatigue, muscle aches, and diarrhea. Patients with HRTV often have low white blood cell counts, low platelet counts, and abnormal liver function tests which can become severe. Cases of Heartland virus disease have been identified in the Midwestern and southern United States. There are no vaccines to prevent or medications to treat Heartland virus infections.

Zika virus is a flavivirus that is spread by the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes. The current outbreak and swift dissemination/spread of Zika virus (ZIKV) and its linkage to birth defects and neurological syndromes has prompted the development of novel diagnostic tests. Because ZIKV is serologically similar to other flaviviruses such as dengue virus (DNV), cross-reactivity occurs in diagnostic tests and can result in misdiagnoses. This is especially evident in populations that live in dengue-endemic regions or have received heterologous flaviviral vaccines (i.e., yellow fever 17D).

Dengue Virus (DENV) non-structural protein 1 (NS1) is secreted in blood during the acute phase of viremic DENV infection. While there are commercially available ELISA assays for DENV NS1 detection, these tests have limited sensitivity (50-70%), do not determine the serotype of the infecting DENV, do not detect all four serotypes equally, or are less sensitive in subsequent DENV infections. There is a critical need for serotype specific diagnostics to inform public health and potentially clinical care interventions.

Airborne particles can have great impact on air quality, weather, and human health. In particular, long-term inhalation of toxic particulate matter in workplaces could pose a significant health risk. NIOSH scientists have developed a new, low-cost approach based on application of atmospheric radio frequency glow discharge (rf-GD) optical emission spectroscopy for near real-time measurement of elemental concentration in aerosols. The method involves collection of aerosol particles on an electrode tip in a coaxial microelectrode system, followed by excitation of the particles using rf-GD.

Cancer represents the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with approximately 14 million new cases and 8.2 million cancer related deaths in 2012. This number is predicted to rise by approximately 70% over the next two decades according to the World Health Organization. Prognosis depends heavily on both early detection and frequent monitoring of the patient's response to treatment. Cancerous tumors shed nucleic acids into blood, which can be detected by ultra-deep sequencing of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA).

Rickettsial infections are caused by bacteria from the Rickettsia genus which are often spread by biting ticks, fleas, mites or lice. Rickettsia can cause mild to severe illness and Rickettsia species can be found worldwide. Early stage, nonspecific symptoms of infections can make clinical diagnosis difficult. Rickettsial infection symptoms, if present, typically develop within 1 -2 weeks of exposure and include fever, headache, malaise, rash, nausea, and vomiting.