All Biofilms articles
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NewsResearchers discover a previously unknown bacterial component in kidney stone formation
In an unexpected finding, scientists have discovered that bacteria are present inside the most common type of kidney stone, revealing a previously unrecognized component involved in their formation. The findings point to a possible therapeutic target that could be used for prevention and treatment.
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News‘Trojan horse’ may deliver toxic dose of copper to bacterial colonies, including drug-resistant MRSA infections
A research team is developing a drug that works in combination with copper to kill bacteria, including those that cause MRSA, a type of staph infection that is resistant to usual treatments.
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FeaturesFrom Petri dishes to chips: what can microbiology learn from microfluidics?
Microfluidics is a fast-growing field focused on manipulating tiny volumes of fluid, often within channels no wider than a human hair. Despite its potential, around 90% of microbial experiments are still carried out under static conditions. So, what are we missing by ignoring flow? And how can microfluidics help close the gap?
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OpinionListeria: the inconvenient truth that shaped our industry
Director General of the Chilled Food Association, Karin Goodburn MBE, who sits on AMI’s Food Security Advisory Group, reveals why the publication of new Listeria guidance for the UK food industry is regarded as a landmark moment.
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NewsThe hidden microbial communities that shape health in space
A new Perspective article sets out a path to uncover the role of biofilms in health during long-duration spaceflight, and how spaceflight research can reshape our understanding of these microbial communities on Earth.
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NewsNew study shows how light suppresses virulence in antibiotic-resistant pathogen
Researchers uncover a light-sensitive signaling cascade in Pseudomonas aeruginosa that suppresses biofilm formation and virulence, offering a potential new strategy to combat antibiotic-resistant infections.
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NewsBacterial energy model reveals how antimicrobial resistance (AMR) spreads in environment
Researchers analyzed how bacteria in aquatic environments distribute energy across diverse functions such as growth, biofilm formation, conjugative transfer of antimicrobial resistance genes and heavy‑metal tolerance, to clarify bacterial energy investment strategies.
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NewsProbiotic living microneedles designed by interbacterial competition for accelerated infected wound healing
Probiotic therapy offers a promising strategy for chronic infected wound management. Inspired by bacterial competitive interactions, researchers developed a multifunctional microneedle (MN) platform to overcome the limitations of weak competitiveness and poor penetration across biofilm barriers.
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NewsBiodegradable and conventional plastics shape very different antibiotic resistance risks in river microbiomes
Biodegradable plastics are not always safer for rivers and oceans, according to a new study that tracked how different plastics change the risk of antibiotic resistant bacteria over time in a real river.
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NewsA new ally against tooth decay: Arginine offers sweet relief
A new human clinical trial finds arginine can prevent caries due to bacterial plaques by reducing the acidity, altering the plaque structure and reducing harmful bacteria in the plaques.
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NewsPresurgical vaccine may prevent orthopedic device infections
Researchers have developed a novel presurgical vaccine strategy that may prevent dangerous infections in patients receiving hip, knee, and other joint replacements, creating an injectable scaffold designed to stimulate the immune system.
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NewsPlant extracts show promise in reducing human pathogen risks in agricultural soils
A new study has revealed that natural plant extracts can significantly lower the risks posed by human bacterial pathogens in manure amended agricultural soils. The eco friendly strategy disrupts the communication systems that bacteria use to coordinate harmful activities.
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NewsNobel Prize-awarded material that punctures and kills bacteria
Bacteria that multiply on surfaces are a major headache in healthcare. Researchers have found a new weapon to fight these hotbeds of bacterial growth – metal-organic frameworks. These materials can physically impale, puncture and kill bacteria before they have time to attach to the surface.
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NewsAcid rain may be training soil bacteria to become more deadly
Acid rain from fossil fuel pollution may be quietly training soil bacteria to become longer-lived, more transmissible, and more deadly, according to a new study that tracks how a notorious foodborne pathogen rapidly evolved under simulated acid deposition.
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NewsMicroplastics pose a human health risk in more ways than one
A new study shows that microplastics in the natural environment are colonised by pathogenic and antimicrobial resistant bacteria. The study team calls for urgent action for waste management and strongly recommends wearing gloves when taking part in beach cleans.
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NewsNew nanogel technology destroys drug-resistant bacteria in hours
A novel technology shows over 99.9% effectiveness against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). It centres on a heteromultivalent nanogel: a flexible particle made by crosslinking polymers and adding sugar residues (galactose and fucose) alongside antimicrobial peptides.
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NewsBacteriophage characterization provides platform for rational design
Researchers have described the bacteriophage Bas63 in unprecedented detail, supporting new mechanistic understanding of how these viruses function.
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NewsSecrets of microbial motion: How bacteria swash, glide and shift gears to survive
Two new studies reveal surprising ways microbes move, with implications for human health and disease. The first shows that salmonella and E. coli can ’swash’ across moist surfaces even when their flagella are disabled, while the second probes the T9SS gearbox in flavobacteria.
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NewsHarnessing solar energy for environmental cleanup: Iron mineral-bacterial biofilms degrade pollutants
Researchers offer a sustainable, efficient, and scalable method for addressing soil and groundwater pollution, opening new possibilities for clean-up strategies in diverse ecosystems. This process significantly enhances the degradation of antibiotics like tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) and chloramphenicol (CPL).
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NewsData-guided bioelectrodes pave way for greener remediation
There is an urgent need to develop data-driven strategies that can accelerate and scale up microbial dechlorination for contaminated environments. Researchers report a new machine learning framework that integrates experimental features with microbial biofilm data to optimize bioelectrodechlorination.