All Asia & Oceania articles – Page 10
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NewsNew research reveals diverse survival strategies of reef-building corals in response to ocean acidification
A research paper has revealed diverse survival strategies of reef-building corals in response to ocean acidification, providing a new perspective for understanding and protecting this fragile marine ecosystem.
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NewsSmart bandage with ‘plant power’ heals chronic wounds faster than market leaders
A multidisciplinary team has unveiled a next-generation wound dressing that behaves like a living leaf yet fights like a miniature pharmacy. It combines neomycin-grafted cellulose nonwovens with a polyvinyl alcohol/cellulose-nanofiber aerogel dyed with blueberry anthocyanins.
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NewsFungal-bacterial crosstalk between Shiraia fungus and its fruiting body-associated bacterium via their metabolites
Scientists have uncovered a molecular interplay between the bambusicolous fungus Shiraia and its bacterial partners. When co-cultured without physical contact, bacterial volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of Rhodococcus sp. No. 3 boosted fungal production of HA by 3.86-fold.
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NewsNew study finds distinct city-specific gut microbiota linked to diet
A new study shows that the human gut microbiota can pinpoint whether an adult lives in Wuhan or Shiyan, two cities 500 km apart in China’s Hubei Province, with 94 % accuracy. This microbial signature is strongly linked to each city’s characteristic diet.
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NewsEngineered yeast converts methanol into valuable compound α-farnesene at scale
Farnesene, a high-value chemical intermediate, has applications in fragrance and pharmaceutical synthesis as well as aviation fuel formulations.To reduce reliance on food-based feedstocks, researchers have engineered microbial cell factories capable of utilizing methanol.
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NewsNew chlorophyll fluorescence imaging technique enables early detection of rice fungal diseases
A research team leverages chlorophyll fluorescence (ChlF) imaging, a cutting-edge technique, to identify reliable pre-symptomatic diagnostic indicators for rice blast and brown spot.
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NewsBreakthrough engineered enzyme for recycling of PET bottle and blended fibers at moderate temperatures
Researchers engineered a novel PET hydrolase PET2-21M and established large-scale production in yeast. This enzyme dramatically boosted PET bottle-grade PET breakdown, offering a promising, energy-efficient path for a circular plastics economy.
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NewsScientists uncover critical role of membrane protein topology in beta-coronaviruses assembly
Beta-coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, have caused global health problems. How the virus infects host cells and triggers immunological responses has been investigated extensively. However, how the virus replicates and assembles in the cell is largely unknown. Researchers at the Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, have uncovered a conserved mechanism ...
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NewsHigh-efficacy adjuvanted subunit vaccine against variant infectious bursal disease virus in chicks
Infectious bursal disease (IBD) is an acute, highly contagious disease caused by the infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), primarily affecting chicks. Notably, the emergence of new mutant strains that exacerbate the disease can cause serious economic losses to the global poultry industry. To date, there is no commercial vaccine against ...
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NewsNew study brings vaccine hopes for deadly Nipah virus
Researchers have tested experimental Nipah vaccines in pigs, aiming to cut off the virus at one of its key transmission routes. The study describes the development of three vaccine candidates using different viral surface proteins.
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NewsMicrobially synthesized bioplastic may solve marine plastic pollution problem
Researchers have demonstrated a new eco-friendly plastic that decomposes in deep ocean conditions. In a deep-sea experiment, the microbially synthesized poly(d-lactate-co-3-hydroxybutyrate) (LAHB) biodegraded, while conventional plastics persisted.
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NewsResearch reveals STIs during pregnancy linked to adverse birth complications
Common sexually transmitted infections during pregnancy have been linked to a higher risk of significant birth complications including preterm birth, stillbirth and babies born smaller than expected.
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NewsCertain fungi can boost the micronutrient content of bread wheat
New research indicates that bread wheat’s micronutrient content can be increased by cultivating it with a specific type of fungus. Crops grown with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis developed larger grains with greater amounts of phosphorus and zinc.
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NewsCan a compound produced by deep-sea bacteria treat cancer?
Investigators purified a long-chain sugar molecule, or exopolysaccharide, from deep-sea bacteria and demonstrated that it triggers pyroptosis—an inflammatory form of programmed cell death—to inhibit tumor growth.
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NewsVitamin D deficiency increases risk of COVID-19 hospitalization
Experts say it’s not just booster shots that could offer protection against Covid-19 – healthy levels of vitamin D may also play a role. Researchers found a clear link between low vitamin D levels and an increased risk of being hospitalised by the virus.
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NewsCo-infections in young bats could underpin coronavirus emergence
A new study finds that young bats are infected more frequently by coronaviruses and could be a key source of viral spillover into other species. It also reveals the dynamics of coronaviruses circulating in Australian bats, which pose no known risk to humans.
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NewsStudy identifies world-first treatments to prevent a life-threatening virus infection
A study found two HIV antivirals already on the market can suppress transmission of HTLV-1 in humanised mice and prevent disease. When used in combination with a compound that induces cell death, infected cells were killed – flagging a potential future curative strategy.
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NewsBacteriostatic activity and mechanism of minerals containing rubidium
A new paper on traditional Chinese medicine outlines the bacteriostatic activity and mechanism of minerals containing rubidium (MCR).
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NewsFermented stevia leaf extract has potential as anticancer treatment, researchers find
Stevia may provide more benefits than as a zero-calorie sugar substitute. When fermented with bacteria isolated from banana leaves, stevia extract kills off pancreatic cancer cells but doesn’t harm healthy kidney cells, according to a research team.
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NewsStudy uncovers the hidden emerging pathogen behind Aspergillosis cases in Japan
Scientists have discovered the ancestral evolutionary links of Aspergillus latus strains through in-depth genome sequencing analyses.