All articles by Basil Fok – Page 3
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NewsWithout oxygen: How primordial microbes breathed
Scientists decode the fundamental mechanisms of a cell respiratory enzyme in ancient bacterial cells, with potential applications in removing greenhouse gases and drug development against pathogens.
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NewsNewly identified bacterial protein helps design cancer drug delivery system
Researchers have identified a previously unknown bacterial protein, the unique structure of which acts as an actin homolog that can be used to design protein nanoparticles for the targeted delivery of anticancer drugs to tumors.
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NewsResearchers demonstrate new technique for boosting plant growth with bacteria
A single combined delivery system incorporating multiple active ingredients, including plant growth-promoting bacteria and agrochemicals, is developed to ensure beneficial bacterial survival and improve plant growths.
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NewsNew method uncovers dynamic microbial community in coastal sediments
Scientists utilises single celll genomics and cell staining approaches to investigate the respiratory rates and metabolic activities of the diverse microbial communities in low biomass aqautic environments, such as Maine’s coastal sediments.
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NewsNew CRISPR-based diagnostic test detects multidrug-resistant pathogens in blood without amplification
A highly sensitive amplification-free CRISPR-based diagnostic test is developed to rapidly detect pathogens, including multidrug-resistant bacteria, at low concentrations in blood samples.
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NewsStudy finds new targets needed for vaccine to prevent herpesvirus transmission to babies
Despite the lack of research on vaccines against congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV), a research has recently discovered that the virus is able to cause cross-placental transmission even with the absence of multple essential proteins, providing insights for future vaccine development.
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NewsCeSPIACE: A broad-spectrum peptide inhibitor against variable SARS-CoV-2 spikes
CeSPIACE, a small remodified peptide, is able to block the binding of ACE2 receptor and the spike protein on SARS-CoV-2 and its variants. Hence, the cheap and simple peptide could treat COVID-19 infection and prevent reinfection after exposure of the virus.
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NewsA review of Clostridioides difficile infection and treatments
<i>Clostridioides difficile</i> is a serious nosocomial infection that could cause from mild diarrhea to fatal colitis. Here presents a general overview that describes the current and emerging treatment practices for the prevention of <i>Clostridioides difficile</i> infection and its recourrences.
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NewsOlder adults might be more resistant to bird flu infections than children
Previous exposures to seasonal flu strains could prime the immune system to produce antibodies against the current version of H5N1 avian influenza virus in older adults, whilst children would benefit more from H5N1 vaccinations.
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NewsNew CRISPRs expand upon the original’s abilities
By scouring through a massive bacterial metagenomic databases, researchers have discovered new CRISPR-Cas systems as efficient as the conventional one. One of the candidate system has found with the technological potential to expand its impact in research, biotechnology and medicine.
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NewsA study identifies ‘surprising’ cause of sargassum blooms in the Caribbean
A group of interantional researchers identified the cause of sargassum blooms in the tropical Atlantic Ocean using computer modelling. They have modelled the ocean currents, wind pattern and the growth conditions that help them thrive in the region.
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NewsFirst coronavirus similar to MERS is found in bats in South America
A novel coronavirus, which shares high genetic similarities with MERS-CoV, was identified in bats in the state of Ceará, Brazil. Experiments to find out whether it can infect humans are set to take place in collaboration with Hong Kong University.
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NewsCOVID-19 discovery opens door to new treatments for chronic lung problems
A discovery was made to understand how severe viral infections, like COVID-19 and flu could destroy the ability of immune cells to repair the tissue damage in lungs, causing long COVID and other chronic lung diseases.
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NewsResearchers develop method to identify dormant cells that carry HIV
A new method is developed that utilizes a fluorescent genetic switch to tag and trace the lineages of the HIV-infected cells, including the dormant ones. This system might help to develop target therapies for the infected immune cells.
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NewsTecovirimat is safe but ineffective as treatment for clade II mpox
The antiviral drug tecovrimat used without other antivirals did not reduce the time to clinical resolution of clade II mpox lesions or improve pain control among adults in an international clinical trial.
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NewsDrug may prevent COVID-19 in exposed people within households, major trial finds
An international clinical trial of the oral antiviral drug, ensitrelvir, which has been proved to prevent COVID-19 cases, was conducted and found to be very effective. The drug will be awaiting for approval before becoming widely available.
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NewsNew automated method increases the efficiency of bioactive natural product discovery
In light of the technological advancement in machine learning and bioinformatics tools, researchers developed a fully-automated and integrated platform that enables them to easily identify bioactive natural products in Streptomyces.
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NewsPromising new research shows potential to cure recurrent urinary tract infectionsed
Researchers examine the effectiveness of nanogel as a drug delivery system to direct antibiotics into targeted infected cells to improve UTI treatment.
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NewsNew immune mechanism revealed in the cellular trash
The enzyme, proteasomes known for its protein degradation and recycling system, has found to serve another useful purpose that provides promising alternatives for strengthening immune defenses against deadly diseases.
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NewsResearch team publishes paradigm-challenging discovery in a Yellowstone thermophile
A graduating PhD student has made an interesting discovery about a common thermophilic bacteria dwelling in hots prings which is able to simultaneously respirate and metabolize via aerobic and anaerobic pathways.