All Asia & Oceania articles
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NewsScientists identify four ways our bodies respond to COVID-19 vaccines
Researchers tracked individuals’ antibody levels after vaccinations and identified four distinct patterns of immune response after the first booster, suggesting that monitoring how antibody levels change over time could assist in identifying individuals at greater risk of infection.
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NewsHerbs hit the sweet spot to extend shelf life of popular global drink
A team of food scientists has discovered a natural way to significantly extend the shelf life of sugarcane juice. By adding microwave-dried extracts of mint and coriander to the juice in the production process, its shelf life can be extended from three days up to 14 days.
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NewsTraditional herb boosts fish health and immunity, study reveals
A groundbreaking study reveals how the traditional herb Picria fel-terrae (PFL) can significantly improve fish health. When added to fish feed at just 0.1% concentration for six weeks, the herb maintained healthy gut structure while reducing inflammation.
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NewsType 2 diabetes may double risk of sepsis, large community-based study suggests
Living with type 2 diabetes (T2D) may double the risk of developing sepsis—with those aged younger than 60 years and men particularly susceptible, according to a long-term community-based study in Australia.
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NewsScientists link waning Japanese encephalitis immunity to higher dengue severity
Scientists have found that waning immunity to Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) may increase the risk of more severe dengue disease in humans. The study highlights how fading vaccine protection from one virus can unintentionally affect the body’s response to another.
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NewsHow an immune cell receptor dampens the fight against fungal infection
People are constantly exposed to fungal spores, including those of Aspergillus fumigatus, but individuals with weakened immune systems may develop life-threatening infections. In a recent study, researchers clarified the mechanisms by which the dendritic cell immunoreceptor (Dcir) suppresses neutrophil activity during infection with A. fumigatus.
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NewsYour genes could prune your gut bugs and protect you from disease
Researchers uncover genetic peptides that shape gut bacteria and protect against obesity and diabetes, revealing gut health is influenced by more than just diet and opening doors to personalised treatments.
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NewsMaternal gut microbiome composition may be linked to preterm births
Researchers have found that the presence of certain bacteria in the maternal gut microbiome during early pregnancy is linked to a higher risk of preterm birth. The study reports that one particular species, Clostridium innocuum, contains a gene that can degrade estradiol—an important pregnancy hormone.
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NewsWorld-first koala chlamydia vaccine approved
In a world first, a vaccine has been approved to protect Australia’s endangered koalas from infection and death caused by chlamydia.
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NewsGiant DNA discovered hiding in your mouth
Researchers have made a surprising discovery hiding in people’s mouths: Inocles, giant DNA elements that had previously escaped detection. These appear to play a central role in helping bacteria adapt to the constantly changing environment of the mouth.
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NewsNovel Bocaparvovirus identified in goats in China
Researchers identified a novel Bocaparvovirus in goat fecal samples using metagenomic techniques, with detection in goats from 3 regions in China: Sichuan, Hunan and Chongqing.
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NewsPediatric investigation study re-examines chikungunya in neglected pediatric victims
Researchers and policymakers must recalibrate their outlook on pediatric chikungunya to develop effective control measures, a new paper warns.
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NewsStudy reveals how dengue rewires the immune system, reshaping vaccine response
Just as a computer’s operating system can be rewritten after a major update, dengue infection can ‘re-programme’ the body’s immune system, leaving a long-lasting genetic imprint that influences how people respond to future infections—an effect not seen with vaccination.
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NewsStudy shows how diet and gut microbiota can counter the baby blues
Microbiome diversity and relative abundance of butyrate-producing bacteria were associated with high levels of depressive mood. But a diet rich in fermented foods, soy products, mushrooms, and seaweed may help regulate the gut environment and contribute to preventing depression.
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NewsPeanut shell biochar composite shows promise for removing antibiotic-resistant bacteria from aquaculture wastewater
Researchers have developed a novel, low-cost catalyst that efficiently removes antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) from aquaculture wastewater, offering a potential new solution to one of today’s most pressing environmental and public health challenges.
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NewsFrailty fuels gut imbalance and post-surgery gastrointestinal risks
Scientists found that residual intra-abdominal microbes, especially in frail patients, drive gastrointestinal complications after bladder cancer surgery.
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NewsDe-mystifying common misconception about the prevalence of Legionella bacteria
There is a common misconception that Legionella is only found in air conditioners and water towers - however, a new study has found people are likely exposed to the bacteria through other sources, including through soil.
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NewsScientists unveil viral mechanism behind nasopharyngeal cancer spread
Researchers have discovered that the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a common human virus closely linked to nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), can change the 3D structure of the human genome inside cancer cells, much like assembling building blocks.
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NewsFungi–biochar partnership boosts soil health and crop growth under cadmium stress
A study reports that combining arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) with biochar can reshape soil microbiomes, reduce cadmium uptake, and dramatically improve plant growth, offering a sustainable strategy for restoring farmland contaminated with heavy metals.
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NewsHeme-based sulfide sensing in bacteria: a new target for antibiotics
Heme binding to a bacterial transcription factor is critical for hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) signaling, a new study reveals. Heme binding promotes the reaction of H₂S with the transcription factor, leading to structural changes that can regulate stress tolerance in bacteria.