Nature Index 2021 Infectious disease

Human and economic costs highlight the need for fresh approaches in research.

Despite notable success stories, many conditions still present a complex challenge.

The impact of some of the world’s deadliest diseases, and the research effort that goes into them.

Can these sidelined conditions gain the traction they deserve?

The technology could form the basis of a new generation of vaccines for diseases such as HIV/AIDS and malaria.

The bacterium has helped combat dengue, but can it be used to purge other mosquito-borne diseases?

A description of the terminology and methodology used in this supplement, and a guide to the functionality that is available free online at nature.com/nature-index/.

Management of the COVID-19 pandemic relies on vaccines produced using a variety of approaches.

A*STAR Infectious Diseases Labs, in Singapore, addresses a range of diseases, from COVID-19 and its mutations to many other pathogens. Its mission includes defence against the next pandemic outbreak.

Beijing Ditan Hospital has taken a leading role in China’s fight against infectious disease.

A newly integrated division of medicine and photonics at Tokushima University is investigating ways to inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for COVID-19.

The ability to break microorganisms, viruses, and endotoxins down into smaller fragments enhances the utility of sterilization systems in hospitals and laboratories.

Nobelpharma is a niche Japanese pharmaceutical company with a mission to deliver treatments for rare diseases.

Shenzhen Bay Laboratory is intensifying its research programmes in viral infection.

Drug-resistant bacteria pose a major global threat, and vaccines may be a critical part of the solution.

By combining high-resolution techniques with virology and stem cell science, the Kyoto University Institute for Life and Medical Sciences is paving the way to a new frontier in virus research.

Push and pull funding mechanisms are needed to fix the broken antibiotics market.