All Asia & Oceania articles
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NewsGeographic bias in virus naming: Lessons from coronavirus show it’s better to act early
A new study highlights the need to avoid geographically-based naming right from the outset of a pandemic. It analyzes the impact of the WHO’s introduction of the Covid nomenclature based on Greek letters - Alpha, Beta, Delta, etc.
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NewsStudy indicates that severe forms of COVID-19 infection in children may increase cardiovascular disease risks
Scientists analysed blood samples from 147 children across different COVID-19 conditions and identified significant metabolic disruptions beyond the acute viral infection phase. These alterations affect how the body processes fats (triglycerides and cholesterol) critical to healthy heart structure.
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NewsSimultaneous knockout of multiple eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E genes confers durable and broad-spectrum resistance to potyviruses in tobacco
Resistant tobacco varieties carrying the va locus significantly reduced Potato virus Y (PVY) incidence and yield loss, according to a new study. However, prolonged cultivation of va-resistant varieties has led to the emergence of resistance-breaking (RB) PVY isolates.
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NewsA promising therapeutic agent for treating excessive inflammation due to COVID-19
Researchers show that iguratimod, a rheumatoid arthritis drug, reduces COVID-19-induced inflammation in mice without suppressing antiviral immunity.
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NewsScientists reveal gene pairs conferring resistance to wheat diseases
A research team led by Prof. Liu Zhiyong at the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has identified two novel genetic mechanisms for disease resistance in wheat, offering promising strategies to enhance resilience against powdery mildew and stripe rust. The discoveries were published in ...
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NewsInstant AI-assisted test for viral infection
A non-DNA based test could identify viral infections in patients in minutes. Scientists designed a test that confirms the presence of live virus by pushing particles through a nanopore, one at a time, and measuring their electrical conductivity, which varies with size and surface charge as well as the unique molecular structure of the virus.
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NewsGene pyramiding protects peppers from devastating viral diseases
Researchers demonstrates how combining two different resistance genes can make pepper plants remarkably more resilient against even the most virulent begomovirus combinations.
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NewsDrone-based tech deployed to detect subtle signs of rice blast disease
Scientists have developed a novel vegetation index—the Rice Blast Index (RBI)—using drone-based hyperspectral remote sensing technology, to rapidly and non-invasively detect subtle signs of rice blast disease and achieve precise field management.
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NewsScientists report well-preserved fossil blue-stain fungus from the Jurassic
A research team has found well-preserved fossil fungal hyphae preserved within a Jurassic petrified wood from northeastern China, dating back 160 million years.
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NewsPossible anti-aging compounds found in blood bacteria
Researchers have discovered compounds with anti-aging properties hidden beneath our own skin. The three molecules, produced by a bacterium in the blood, reduced damage and inflammatory responses in human skin cell cultures.
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NewsNew platform can diagnose infectious disease immune protection using one drop of fingertip blood
Researchers have developed a compact diagnostic platform that can evaluate antibody protection against COVID-19 using only a single microliter of fingertip blood. It delivers a comprehensive immune profile in just 40 minutes.
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NewsGlobal Virus Network issues scientific guidance on new COVID-19 variant NB.1.8.1 and vaccine protection
The Global Virus Network (GVN) is closely monitoring the emergence of a newly identified SARS-CoV-2 variant, NB.1.8.1, a sublineage of the Omicron family first identified in January 2025 and which has rapidly spread across Asia and into other regions.
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CareersMeet the Global Ambassadors: our Q&A with Arsalan Zaidi
The Microbiologist gets to know our new Global Ambassador for Pakistan, Dr Arsalan Zaidi, who is Principal Scientist at the National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering.
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NewsFecal transplants: Promising treatment or potential health risk?
New research shows that transplanting microbes from only one section of the digestive tract can have long-lasting, unintended consequences.
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NewsGlobal study: COVID-19 and adenoviral vaccines tied to GBS risk, not mRNA vaccines
A large-scale study in a population covering more than 230 million people sheds light on the relationship between Guillain-Barré syndrome after COVID-19 vaccines or SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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NewsDiatoms could be key to creating farming systems on the Moon
Diatoms hold immense potential to revolutionize space agriculture, offering a transformative solution for sustainable extraterrestrial ecosystems and a key role in enabling humanity to establish sustainable living environments on the Moon and other planets, a new study argues.
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NewsNanoparticle smart spray helps crops block infection before it starts
As climate change fuels the spread of plant diseases worldwide, a new nanoparticle smart spray could help crops defend themselves by blocking harmful bacteria from entering through tiny pores in their leaves.
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NewsFungal resistance in wheat: preserving biodiversity for food security
Researchers have found traditional wheat varieties from Asia that harbor several genes that confer resistance against yellow rust. They may serve as a durable source of yellow rust resistance in commercial varieties in the future.
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NewsBacteria hitch a ride on yeast puddles to zoom around
Researchers found that bacteria can speed up by using the fluid pockets shaped by neighboring yeast cells. These microscopic moisture trails allow bacteria to swim farther and spread faster—revealing a new way for microbes to travel through soil, plants, and the human body.
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NewsCannabis extracts show remarkable effectiveness against fungal pathogens
Two cannabis-derived compounds have shown remarkable effectiveness against fungal pathogens in laboratory tests, according to new research.