Microbes used to mine magnesium from waste heaps
Researchers have pioneered a microbially driven process that utilises low-value waste products, such as magnesium mine waste and sulfur from desulfurisation plants, to leach the wastes and generate a stream of solubilised magnesium.
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Filtering the future: how low-tech ceramic solutions bring clean water to millions
Access to clean water is one of the most pressing challenges of the 21st century. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than two billion people worldwide lack access to safely managed drinking water, with rural and underdeveloped regions bearing the brunt of this crisis.
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Biosurfactants for oil spill bioremediation
Oil spills across large areas of seawater disturb oxygen circulation for marine organisms, cause hypothermia in birds, adversely affect navigation routes, and hinder anthropogenic actions like fisheries and tourism. Biological treatments appear to be a promising method and offer a sustainable solution.
The power of biofilm engineering: one plus one does not always make two
Biofilms are ubiquitous in aquatic systems, where they play essential ecological roles in nutrient cycling, biogeochemical processes, and surface colonisation dynamics.
Under the microscope: microalgae-based bioremediation
The rapid expansion of the global human population and the increase in industrial and agricultural activities have led to severe environmental contamination. To remedy the situation, green technology has become more prevalent in recent years due to its numerous environmental benefits.
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The problem of microplastics in the oceans: it’s time for effective solutions
Francielly Bruna Neto Francisco and Ricardo Henrique Krüger, from the University of Brasília (UNB), warn that we urgently need technologies that will effectively eliminate partially or nonbiodegradable polymers from the marine environment.
Airport travel and your footwear as a pathogen transmission vector – should you be concerned
Should we be seriously concerned about the role of footwear in pathogen transmission, and what steps can we take to minimize potential risks?
Reproductive biology though the lens of the microbiome
Madangchanok Imchen and Seth R. Bordenstein from the One Health Microbiome Center - winner of AMI’s WH Pierce Prize 2024 - explore the potential of the reproductive microbiome, particularly the fascinating Wolbachia, to counter global disease threats.
Revolutionizing water safety: a rapid solution for detecting Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli contamination
Contaminated water is particularly dangerous in rural areas where private groundwater wells supply drinking water to households - but AMI One Health Advisory Group member Dr Zina Alfahl reveals a low-cost, simple way to check for STEC.
Navigating mid-career challenges in biotech, pharma, and life sciences amid sector-wide layoffs
The current economic climate has cast a shadow over biotech, pharmaceutical, and life sciences industries, with widespread layoffs and restructuring efforts creating an atmosphere of uncertainty.
My autistic academic maze - and my advice to neurodiverse PhD students
In Neurodiversity Celebration Week, PhD student Joshua Yates reveals the challenges of pursuing a career in microbiology with autism and dyslexia - and his advice to others.
National-level actions effective at tackling antibiotic resistance
National-level policies can reduce the impact of antibiotic resistance across diverse countries, according to a new study. The comparison of countries found that national action was consistently associated with improved indicators of antibiotic resistance.
Fungi dwelling on human skin may provide new antibiotics
Researchers have uncovered a molecule produced by yeast living on human skin that showed potent antimicrobial properties against a pathogen responsible for a half-million hospitalizations annually in the United States.
A hidden control center: How bacteria regulate their attack strategies
Researchers have discovered that a key bacterial protein, CsrA, gathers in a droplet-like structure inside cells to control when and how bacteria activate their disease-causing genes.
Food security
No more copy-pasting: DNA base editing for better Lactobacillus strains
Scientists were able to edit the DNA of Lactobacillus strains directly without a template from other organisms. This technique is indistinguishable from natural variation and enabled them to create a strain that doesn’t produce diabetes-aggravating chemicals.
Clean Water
Cyanobacterium study reveals how circadian clocks maintain robustness in changing environments
New research has uncovered how a simple circadian clock network demonstrates advanced noise-filtering capabilities, enhancing our understanding of how biological circuits maintain accuracy in dynamic natural environments.
Marine-derived antibiotics: can ocean microbes help combat superbugs?
The deep expanse of the Earth’s mysterious marine habitat is teeming with opportunities for scientific discovery, including solutions to the world’s most pressing health crises. Among its rich biodiversity are tiny microbes with tremendous potential.
