Global Virology V: 21st Century Vaccines and Viruses is now published with Springer Nature. A collaboration between USF's own, Dr. Paul Shapshak, Dr. Charurut Somboonwit, and Dr. John Sinnott (pictured).

This volume brings together leading voices in virology to explore vaccines, viral evolution, and global health challenges of the 21st century. Dr. Sinnott shares, "I am deeply grateful to my co-editors and contributors for their scholarship, collaboration, and commitment to advancing knowledge at the frontiers of science. "

"Mentorship and teamwork have been central to this project—many younger colleagues contributed, and I am proud to see their ideas shaping the field," Dr. Sinnott continues. 

This work serves as a resource for scientists, clinicians, policymakers, and students as we navigate the evolving landscape of virology and vaccines.

A team of University of South Florida researchers hopes to treat severe staph infections in the hospital and home by using a simpler and more efficient technique with far less stress to patients than traditional treatment.

The treatment tested use of an antibiotic called dalbavancin — also known under its brand name,  Dalvance — as a possible alternative to antibiotics that must be administered intravenously over weeks and even months. The drug shows promise in fighting Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, the leading cause of death by bloodstream infections worldwide.

The study included evaluating patients with MRSA, or Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, an especially severe form of staph infections that resist treatment with many standard antibiotics.

The multi-site study, published today [August, 13, 2025] in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found dalbavancin to be as safe and effective as the current standard of care for treatment of complicated staph infections, said Kami Kim, MD, professor of medicine and director of the Division of Infectious Disease and International Medicine in the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine.

Read the FULL ARTICLE HERE

Read the JAMA PUBLICATION HERE

We are thrilled to announce a significant milestone in our infectious disease fellowship program. Dr. Lauren Rybolt has successfully arrived in South Africa, marking the beginning of a promising collaborative research initiative and exchange opportunity for the USF Infectious Disease  Fellowship program. This new international rotation aims to strengthen the ties between our institution and those in South Africa, fostering an exchange of knowledge and expertise in infectious diseases as well as global and public health.

This opportunity builds on 10 years of capacity building work, global health exchange, and research collaboration in South Africa by USF Assistant Professor J. Zachary Porterfield, MD PhD. Dr. Lauren Rybolt (PGY-5 Chief ID Fellow), has taken the initiative to help create this opportunity and will be working with Dr. Porterfield over a three-week period to evaluate the clinical and research opportunities for USF fellows in South Africa. Their progress in laying the groundwork for future collaborations has been met with warm reception from our partners in South Africa.

We are excited to see the impacts of this collaboration and eagerly anticipate more such initiatives as we continue to foster international collaboration and advance our understanding of infectious diseases.

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue this international collaboration and discovery journey.