All Bacteria articles
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NewsResearchers identify natural compound that disarms drug-resistant bacteria
Scientists studying MRSA discovered that geranylgeranoic acid (GGA) – a naturally occurring fatty acid found in plants like ginger and turmeric – interferes with the bacteria’s virulence, its ability to infect, spread, defend itself, and cause disease.
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NewsDisease-causing pathogen rewires gut metabolism to secure nutrients for growth
Enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis (ETBF), which causes diarrhea and has been implicated in colitis and colorectal cancer, uses a toxin it produces to reprogram intestinal cell metabolism and generate conditions that support its growth.
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NewsStudy identifies multiple viruses and variants simultaneously by controlling the “speed” of CRISPR gene scissors
Scientists have developed a new diagnostic technology that simultaneously identifies various viruses and variants by controlling the “speed” of gene scissors.
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NewsWhy antibiotics may soon fail to curb the plague bacterium - and where we can find new strategies
A new review shows that while most infections caused by the Yersinia plague bacterium can currently be treated with antibiotics, concerns about rising antimicrobial resistance mean that we need to come up with new ways to disarm the bacteria instead of killing them.
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NewsAncient, insect-targeting bacterial toxin may have implications for human health, agriculture, and drug discovery
Scientists have identified and characterized a new class of Streptomyces-produced toxins that are very distantly related to the deadly toxin that causes diphtheria, a serious and contagious infection, in humans.
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NewsSouth American camelids: Potential carriers of the zoonotic pathogen Campylobacter
A comprehensive investigation has identified a previously underappreciated source of thermotolerant Campylobacter spp. in South American camelids (SACs)—alpacas and llamas kept in Germany. The findings underscore the importance of expanding epidemiological surveillance beyond traditional livestock.
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NewsPortable TB test matches lab accuracy in just minutes
A portable device called MiniDock MTB can deliver accurate TB test results in less than half an hour. Researchers show the device is as effective as a laboratory test and can detect cases even among people who have trouble producing phlegm samples from deep within their lungs.
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NewsCan rhizobacterial metabolites enhance plant drought tolerance?
A study shows that lettuce plants inoculated with PGPR strains exhibited significantly higher survival rates and better fresh weight recovery after drought stress compared to the uninoculated control group.
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NewsFrom gut to brain: scientists engineer bacteria to treat severe liver-related brain dysfunction
In vivo studies showed that programmable “living medicines” could reduce brain toxins and prevent neurological symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy, offering distinct advantages over a widely prescribed antibiotic.
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NewsScientists source anti-cancer treatment in bacteria
Researchers have developed an anti-cancer therapy inspired by bacteria found in cancer tumors. The therapy is made from a fragment of a bacterial protein, a peptide called aurB. In cancer tumors in the animal models, aurB prevented energy production in the tumor cells’ mitochondria, essentially cutting off the tumor’s fuel.
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NewsTracking a persistent threat: How antibiotic-resistant bacteria travel from poultry farms to fresh produce
A new study develops an integrated quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) model to trace the pathway of ESBL-producing E. coli from broiler farms to lettuce consumption, quantifying human health risks and identifying effective intervention strategies.
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NewsHow bacteria circumvent plants’ immune system
In order to defend themselves, plants have to quickly produce proteins that detect and combat infiltrating microbes. Researchers discovered that Pseudomonas syringae disrupts this process by triggering the formation of P-bodies – small, droplet-like structures in the cell that store and regulate RNA molecules.
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NewsStick-on gel offers new way to treat and monitor plants
Scientists have developed an adhesive gel that can be loaded with substances, such as small molecule drugs or nanoparticles, and applied directly onto a plant to deliver those materials into its tissues. In tests, a gel loaded with antibiotics cleared a bacterial infection in a plant within about 48 hours.
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NewsScientists pinpoint the changes that happen when gut bacteria invade the bloodstream
Researchers have pinpointed genotypic and phenotypic changes that take place when colonising bacteria in a patient’s gut invade and infect the bloodstream. The team aimed to determine what changes occur within bacteria in a patient’s gut that enable them to become invasive bloodstream pathogens.
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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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NewsA universal toolkit for editing bacterial DNA
A major collaboration involving nine labs has transferred a particularly useful DNA editing system from E. coli into 14 new species of bacteria, spanning three major branches of the bacterial family tree.
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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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NewsGut microbiota impacts resistance to bacterial pneumonia: Study
A gut-lung connection influences susceptibility to infection by Acinetobacter baumannii, according to a new study. Investigators found that antibiotics disrupt the gut microbiota, suppress protective immune system pathways in the lungs; and increase the severity of pneumonia.
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NewsGene-sharing myth challenged as bacteria shown to police DNA exchange
A new study reveals that bacteria can actively limit the spread of antibiotic resistance genes, using a newly characterized mechanism that blocks DNA transfer between cells. It focuses on how bacteria exchange genetic material through tiny intercellular bridges known as nanotubes.