All Asia & Oceania articles – Page 2
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NewsSelf‑replicating circular RNA persists in extreme environments: Insights from hot spring microbiomes
Researchers who previously identified a highly unusual RNA virus in a high-temperature hot spring ecosystem searched for distinct types of self-replicating RNAs in a similar extreme environment, and a novel circular RNA replicon was identified within the microbial community inhabiting the hot spring.
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NewsTibet’s thawing lakes accelerate greenhouse gas release
Lakes on the Tibetan Plateau are undergoing a dramatic transformation; once stable carbon sinks, they are rapidly becoming significant sources of greenhouse gases due to climate warming.
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NewsBeyond outbreaks: zoonotic disease prevention at the human–animal interface in China
A study synthesizes evidence on 93 zoonotic diseases currently monitored by China’s public health, agricultural, and forestry sectors, and argues that meaningful risk reduction will require shifting from reactive outbreak response toward earlier prevention at the human–animal–environment interface.
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NewsHemp waste biocomposites offer a lower-carbon alternative for packaging and agricultural films
A new study explores how hemp hurd can be converted into microfiber-based biocomposites for packaging films and agricultural mulch films, and shows anaerobic digestion delivers the best environmental outcome for hemp hurd-based bioplastic systems.
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NewsKnowledge gaps expose vulnerable populations to tick-borne disease risks in northern China
While awareness of tick biology is relatively high in Northeast China and Inner Mongolia, a new study reveals alarming gaps in public knowledge about preventing tick-borne diseases—with rural residents and high-risk groups paradoxically showing the lowest protective awareness.
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NewsThe brain–gut health initiative: A pioneering effort in psychiatric research
Researchers analyze brain imaging data, microbiome profiles, and clinical assessments to identify biomarkers for precision mental healthcare. The Brain–Gut Health Initiative is an ongoing long-term clinical study designed to investigate how interactions between the brain and gut microbiome contribute to psychiatric disorders.
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NewsCrab shell by-products could help regulate the marine lifetime of biodegradable plastics
Researchers show that crab shell by-products can reduce the breakdown rate of biodegradable plastics in seawater by altering the microbial communities that colonize their surfaces, known as the plastisphere.
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NewsFrom precision intervention to a “virtual gut”: how close are we to predicting and steering the human microbiome?
A new review maps how multi-omics and machine learning could turn host-microbiome research from correlation hunting into actionable prediction and personalized therapy.
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NewsAutomation platform enables high-resolution spatial mapping of microbial communities
Researchers have developed a sequential error-robust FISH spatial mapping platform (SEER-Map) which enables fully automated, high-multiplexity spatial profiling of complex microbial communities at single-cell resolution.
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NewsResearchers deploy phage therapy in new frontier against antimicrobial resistant infectious diseases
A revelatory treatment for patients with life-threatening infectious diseases is being pioneered in Melbourne. VICPhage, a clinical partnership between The Alfred and Monash, is one of the first in Australia to offer end-to-end capacity in phage therapy to treat some of the most challenging infections.
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NewsDrip-irrigated halotolerant PGPB boost jujube yield and quality in saline soils by reshaping soil bacterial communities
A new study demonstrates that applying halotolerant plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) via drip irrigation during the crop growth period can effectively alleviate soil salinity stress, enhance jujube productivity and fruit quality, and restructure rhizosphere bacterial communities in saline agricultural soils.
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NewsRare orchid Paphiopedilum purpuratum mediates adaptation via a dual-fungal strategy
Paphiopedilum purpuratum, an endangered orchid species with critical conservation value, faces severe challenges in ex situ adaptation despite successful reproductive output. A novel study reveals the integrated physiological and symbiotic adaptation mechanism underlying its ex situ conservation.
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NewsCinnamic acid blocks plasmid conjugation to slow antibiotic resistance spread
A new study reveals that cinnamic acid, a widely used food additive found in cinnamon, can effectively inhibit plasmid‑mediated conjugation, a major route for the global spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs).
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NewsIntestinal Candida albicans is associated with subclinical coronary atherosclerosis in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease with cirrhosis
Researchers have published the first report of gut fungal dysbiosis associated with the severity of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and subclinical coronary atherosclerosis. An increased abundance of fecal C. albicans was observed in patients with cirrhosis and high SCA burden.
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NewsEight-year results from two randomized phase 3 trials of tenofovir alafenamide for chronic hepatitis B virus infection in China
Tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) has demonstrated comparable efficacy to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), with improved renal and bone safety, in Chinese participants with chronic hepatitis B enrolled in two Phase 3 trials.
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NewsStudy shows links between Alzheimer’s and gut health can lead to prevention
Researchers analysed more than 120 everyday factors, including diet, medical history, gut bacteria, and lifestyle, to identify which of them are most strongly associated with Alzheimer’s risk. People who had their appendix removed showed substantially elevated Alzheimer’s risk.
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NewsPlastic texturing kills viruses when they land
Researchers have developed a thin plastic film that tears apart viruses on contact, offering a promising new way to keep high touch surfaces such as smartphones and hospital equipment from spreading disease.
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NewsOral-gut axis points to salivary biomarkers for early gastric cancer detection
A recent study has identified distinct microbial “signatures” within the oral cavity and gut that serve as robust biomarkers for the early detection of gastric cancer (GC). Research shows how specific lactic acid-producing bacteria (LAB) migrate from the mouth to colonize the gastrointestinal tract.
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NewsViruses enhance sulfamethoxazole removal in wetlands by modulating bacteria-phage interactions
A new study examines the role of viruses in sulfamethoxazole (SMX) removal in constructed wetlands. The research demonstrates that the addition of phage-concentrated solutions (PCS) enhances the degradation of SMX by enriching SMX-degrading bacteria.
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NewsImproving oral care more than halves hospital-acquired pneumonia risk, major trial finds
A landmark trial presented at ESCMID Global 2026 shows that improving oral hygiene for hospital patients can reduce the risk of non-ventilator-associated hospital-acquired pneumonia (NV-HAP) by 60%.