All Asia & Oceania articles – Page 16
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NewsResearch team with the latest Nobel Prize laureate reveals regulatory immune cell precursors disrupted in severe COVID-19
A research team joined by Professor Shimon Sakaguchi – the latest Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine – has identified a subset of immune cells called precursor T follicular regulatory cells (preTfr) that play a critical role in preventing autoantibody production.
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NewsDeadwood-decomposing fungi feed germinating orchids
Deadwood-decomposing fungi feed germinating orchids, providing the carbon their tiny seeds don’t have. The finding not only closes a gap in our understanding of wild orchid ecology but also uncovers an important carbon flux in the ecosystem.
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NewsSoil bacteria and minerals form a natural ‘battery’ that breaks down antibiotics in the dark
Researchers have unveiled a surprising new way that soil microbes can use sunlight energy. The team developed a “bio-photovoltage soil-microbe battery” that can capture, store, and release solar energy to power the breakdown of antibiotic pollutants in the dark.
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NewsChanges in gut microbiota influence which patients get AIG-related neuroendocrine tumors
Researchers have discovered how the balance of bacteria in the stomach affects the growth of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). By identifying the specific bacteria involved and the biochemical reactions that cause tumor growth, they hope to detect which patients are most likely to develop cancer.
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NewsCould slime mold microbes be a source of potent antimicrobials?
The cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum is a soil microbe that produces diverse natural products with potential antibiotic activity. In this study, researchers optimized lab culture conditions of Dictyostelium cells to boost the levels of low-abundance chlorinated compounds and to characterize their antimicrobial properties.
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NewsBiodegradable microplastics rewire carbon storage in farm fields
A pioneering two-year field study has revealed that biodegradable microplastics, often hailed as eco-friendly alternatives to conventional plastics, are quietly reshaping the chemistry of farmland soils in unexpected and complex ways. They attracted a special group of microbes known as K-strategists—slow-growing, efficient decomposers.
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NewsIncrease in cell volume and nuclear number of the Koji fungus enhances enzyme production capacity
This study revealed cellular traits of the koji fungus Aspergillus oryzae linked to enzyme production through cell biological analysis. The authors found that, over time in culture, hyphae thicken, resulting in a tenfold increase in cell volume. Simultaneously, the number of nuclei per hyphal cell also rises tenfold, exceeding 200.
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NewsFinal Call: Submit your breakthrough for the 2025 ISM × RIKEN Microbiota Innovation Awards in Tokyo
Yakult, Meiji, Morinaga, Metagen and other industry pioneers join global scientists at Happo-en to celebrate microbiota-driven discoveries; nominations close October 7, 2025
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NewsMap of bacterial gene interactions reveals potential drug targets
Researchers have developed a new technique called Dual transposon sequencing (Dual Tn-seq), which allows for rapid identification of genetic interactions. It maps how bacterial genes work together, revealing vulnerabilities that could be targeted by future antibiotics.
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NewsRocket test proves bacteria survive space launch and re-entry unharmed
A world-first study has proven microbes essential for human health can survive the extreme forces of space launch. The study found the spores of Bacilus subtilis, a bacterium essential for human health, can survive rapid acceleration, short-duration microgravity and rapid deceleration.
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NewsMarine heatwaves have hidden impacts on ocean food webs and carbon cycling
A new study analyzing data from robotic floats and plankton records reveals how marine heatwaves reshape ocean food webs and slow transport of carbon to the deep sea.
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NewsVolcanic ash may enhance phytoplankton growth in the ocean over 100 km away
A research group has suggested that ash released from volcanic eruptions on Nishinoshima Island led to a temporary surge in phytoplankton levels in the seawater around Mukojima Island, 130 km northeast of Nishinoshima.
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NewsViruses help cut farm greenhouse gas emissions by targeting soil microbes
A new study reveals that soil viruses can reduce nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions by selectively infecting the microbes responsible for producing this potent greenhouse gas.
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NewsLong-term biochar use boosts soil health and soybean yields, study finds
A decade-long field study has revealed that biochar can significantly improve soil quality and boost soybean production in continuous cropping systems. The findings provide new evidence that biochar could be a powerful tool for making agriculture more sustainable.
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NewsPlant microbiota: War and peace under the surface
Scientists unveil the subtle alliances and rivalries that unfold between bacteria and roots, hidden beneath the soil. A new study probed how and when root exudates are released at the microscale relevant to microorganisms.
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NewsIndia could bear biggest impact from chikungunya, new maps suggest
Based on existing evidence of chikungunya transmission, an infectious disease model predicts 14.4 million people could be at risk of infections globally each year, with 5.1 million people at risk in India.
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NewsScientists uncover molecular mechanisms for bacterial lipid transport
Researchers have successfully applied cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to unveil the molecular structures of critical protein machines that transport lipids and maintain the outer membrane (OM) barrier of Gram-negative bacteria.
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NewsNew biochar technology promises breakthrough in soil clean-up and crop safety
Scientists have unveiled a pioneering method that could help farmers reclaim lands blighted by toxic metals and boost the safety of crops grown in contaminated soils. Phosphorus-modified biochar can reduce the threat posed by heavy metals in agricultural soils near mining areas.
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NewsPathogenic yeast strains found in urban air but not along the coast
A pilot study has found that urban air contained pathogenic strains of Candida yeast that were absent in coastal air samples, revealing a potential transmission method.