Infectious disease research uncovers novel mechanisms and potential therapies. A new protein therapy emerges as the first-ever antidote for carbon monoxide poisoning. Studies reveal dopamine signaling as key to skin invasion by nematodes, advancing parasitology knowledge. Antimicrobial resistance against Candida albicans is mitigated using laser therapy to boost drug efficacy. Further, detailed mapping of microbial essential genes in Mycoplasma pneumoniae paves way for synthetic biology applications, opening avenues for targeted infection control and novel drug development.