All Bacteria articles – Page 16
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NewsBiochar from peanut shells boosts soil health and crop quality over the long term
A long-term field study across major agricultural regions in China has revealed that biochar made from peanut shells can significantly improve soil fertility and enhance crop quality by reshaping soil microbial communities.
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NewsGetting a glimpse of viral dances in the dark in the Sargasso Sea
In a new study of viral abundance over a short time frame in the Sargasso Sea, researchers found that almost all viruses with cyclical changes in abundance were most active at night – a somewhat surprising find.
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NewsResearch cracks genetic code of growing bacterial threat
Scientists have discovered that a fast‑rising strep bacterium comes in more forms than expected, including ones that may lead to life-threatening infections. Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis (SDSE) was originally considered rare and was believed to mostly infect people who already had other health issues.
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NewsStopping algae blooms with bacteria-busting buoys
Algae blooms make a pond’s surface shine in mesmerizing green hues. But if the microorganisms responsible are cyanobacteria, they can also release toxins that harm humans and wildlife alike. So, a team reporting in ACS ES&T Water has designed a “set it and forget it” system for distributing algaecide using ...
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NewsCopper-loaded starch nanoparticles can target bacteria in microbial communities
Researchers have developed copper-loaded starch nanoparticles that can be broken down by specific bacteria to release antibacterial copper molecules. They hope that these nanoparticles can be used to target biofilms, which account for 50-70% of healthcare-associated infections.
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NewsHow bacteria outsmart the immune system: Two-pronged strategy revealed
A team has uncovered how a common bacterial pathogen uses a single protein to quietly undermine the human immune system, by both shutting down key warning signals and blocking the cell’s ability to restore them.
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NewsSoil bacteria break down toxic chemicals in the environment
Soil bacteria can help to break toxic aromatic compounds down. For one of these, Rhodococcus opacus 1CP, researchers have analyzed the genome and identified many potential metabolic pathways that the bacterium can employ to act as a ‘clean-up specialist’.
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NewsEarly pregnancy probiotics may help prevent spontaneous preterm delivery
A new study suggests that probiotics supplementation during early pregnancy may help reduce the risk of recurrent spontaneous preterm delivery (sPTD). Pregnant women who consumed probiotics containing Clostridium butyricum showed lower recurrence rates of sPTD compared with national averages.
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NewsResearchers move closer to preventing pandemics
Researchers have developed an AI tool that can help determine whether unfamiliar bacteria carry genetic features linked to disease. By enabling the detection of harmful bacteria before they infect humans, this could transform pandemic preparedness.
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NewsVitamin D linked to immune response to gut microbiome in inflammatory bowel disease
Vitamin D supplementation may help shape how the immune system responds to gut bacteria in people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), according to a new study.
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NewsWhen algae stop growing, bacteria start swarming
A new study describes how a recently identified species of marine bacteria targets diatoms based on growth phase and nutrient availability.
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NewsStudy reveals how a live bacterial therapy reshapes the vaginal microbiome and identifies predictors of treatment success
A new study provides the most detailed picture yet of how a promising bacterial therapy works to prevent recurrent bacterial vaginosis (BV) and why it works better for some women than others.
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NewsDegraded soils can regain microbial diversity with soil microbiome transplants
Scientists have discovered that degraded soils can regain their microbial diversity by combining soil microbiome transplants with artificial humic acid amendments.
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NewsOver 250,000 deaths from meningitis globally in 2023; over one third in children under five
In 2023, globally 259,000 people died from meningitis and 2.5 million people were infected with the disease, suggests a study. Although death and infection rates have declined significantly since 1990, progress is insufficient to meet the WHO targets.
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NewsFiber in whole wheat foods protects against gut inflammation in mice, study finds
Enriching the diet with wheat fiber protects mice against intestinal inflammation, according to a study. The finding helps explain why incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has increased, and suggests eating whole wheat foods may reduce one’s risk of developing it.
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NewsMedieval DNA reveals trans-Saharan connections, rapid genetic mixing, and leprosy in Islamic Ibiza
An international research team has revealed that the population of medieval Ibiza was remarkably diverse. One individual was found to be infected with Mycobacterium leprae, the bacterium responsible for leprosy, marking the first genetically confirmed case from medieval Islamic Iberia.
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NewsNew antibiotic alternative fights foodborne salmonella
Researchers have discovered a safe and highly effective natural virus that functions like a precision-guided missile, capable of eliminating harmful Salmonella on various foods and packaging materials, showing great potential as a novel guardian for food safety.
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NewsRNA-guided CRISPR system activates gene expression
In back-to-back studies, researchers report a naturally evolved gene-editing system that can activate genes, offering an advantage over existing CRISPR gene-editing systems that merely find and cut DNA.
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NewsDifferent plastics, different threats: Tracking antibiotic resistance on riverborne debris
While traditional plastics steadily accumulate antibiotic resistance genes over time, biodegradable plastics can trigger short-lived but intense spikes in pathogens and resistance during degradation.
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NewsUnlocking the phosphorus puzzle: How microplastics and hydrochar change the way rice paddies feed
A fresh look at the soil microbiome reveals that the key to freeing up phosphorus locked away in the ground relies heavily on the type of carbon we add, whether that is treated animal waste or, surprisingly, synthetic plastic pollution.