All Editorial articles – Page 40
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NewsDisease-causing bacteria can deal with stink as long as they get a meal
Bacteria that cause intestinal infections typically avoid a stinky chemical — one that can kill them at high enough concentrations — inside human intestines, but they may actually swim toward it when a hearty meal is the reward.
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NewsNew study reveals how corals teach their offspring to beat the heat
A new study shows that rice coral, an important reef-building species, passes on thermal resistance to their offspring and avoids coral bleaching. Understanding this is important to building healthier coral reefs and protecting their future.
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NewsNitrogen may limit natural climate solutions
A global inventory reveals nitrogen is in shorter supply than previously thought in natural areas, which could limit carbon storage in plants and soils.
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NewsSimple rules govern soil microbiome responses to environmental change
New research shows that a deceptively simple mathematical model can describe how the soil responds to environmental change. Using just two variables, the model shows that changes in pH levels consistently result in three distinct metabolic states of the community.
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NewsA gut microbiota metabolite linked to atherosclerosis could revolutionize diagnosis and treatment
A new study has identified a gut microbiota–derived metabolite, imidazole propionate (ImP), that appears in the blood during the early stages of active atherosclerosis, showing promise as a new diagnostic tool and opening the door to personalized treatment strategies.
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NewsRNA viruses may differentially shape carbon recycling in the ocean
A new study has uncovered that certain ocean viruses—specifically RNA viruses—may disrupt how carbon and nutrients are recycled in the ocean, potentially altering the global carbon cycle.
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NewsPenicillin allergy testing needed to fight antibiotic resistance
Removing incorrect penicillin allergy labels on GP records could combat antibiotic resistance and save lives, an NIHR-funded clinical trial has found.
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NewsHow superfungus Candida auris rebuilds its cell walls to withstand antifungal treatment
A groundbreaking study has revealed how the multidrug-resistant superfungus Candida auris uniquely reconstructs its cell wall to survive antifungal treatments.
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NewsBacteria gene discovery enhances key antibiotic production for farming and medicine
Monensin is a vital antibiotic used in agriculture and medicine. By analyzing the genome of Streptomyces cinnamonensis, the team discovered that specific genes (fadD, fadE, fadB, fadA) in the fatty acid degradation pathway significantly boost monensin synthesis.
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NewsCan biodegradable mulch films harm soil health?
A new study validates the long-term ecological safety of biodegradable plastic mulch films in temperate maritime climates, breaking the traditional belief that “mulch films increase yield at the cost of soil fertility”.
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NewsAntibiotic resistance predicts higher mortality risk in 17-year follow-up
A population-based study finds that in addition to antibiotic use, diet, sex, living environment, income level and certain gut bacteria are associated with a higher burden of resistance.
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NewsEngineered microbe offers promising high-quality protein from methanol
Researchers have identified Methylophilus sp. HN238, a bacterium capable of efficiently converting methanol into high-quality protein. The protein meets WHO standards for quality, containing all 18 amino acids with essential amino acids making up 44.1% of the composition.
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NewsResearchers uncover the antiviral potential of defensins
Scientists have discovered that certain defensins - tiny proteins with powerful antimicrobial potential - could block the virus that causes COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) from entering human cells.
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NewsMicroalgae-based production of dietary protein using solar-derived formate
Researchers have established a robust Chlamydomonas reinhardtii cultivation system capable of rapid growth using formate as the carbon source. They achieved successful algal cultivation at 200 mM formate concentration - the highest level ever reported in microalgae systems.
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NewsMichael Danquah named Fellow of Royal Society of Biology
Michael Danquah, a professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and the associate dean for academic and student affairs at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology.
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NewsAI finds hundreds of potential antibiotics in snake and spider venom
Researchers used a deep-learning system to sift through a database of more than 40 million venom encrypted peptides (VEPs). In a matter of hours, the algorithm flagged 386 compounds with the molecular hallmarks of next-generation antibiotics.
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NewsSwiss genome of the 1918 influenza virus reconstructed
Researchers have decoded the genome of the virus responsible for the 1918–1920 influenza pandemic in Switzerland, revealing that it had already developed key adaptations to humans at the outset of the deadliest influenza pandemic in history.
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NewsReview suggests ending adult boosters for tetanus, diphtheria
The United States could safely drop tetanus and diphtheria booster shots for adults and save an estimated $1 billion a year, according to a new review. The safety and savings depend on maintaining strong childhood vaccination rates, researchers emphasized.
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NewsNighttime pistachio snacking may reshape gut microbiome in prediabetic adults
A new study has determined that nighttime pistachio consumption affects gut bacteria in adults with prediabetes. The potential therapeutic implications of the findings may prove significant for people who are working to improve their metabolic health.
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NewsH5N1 influenza outbreaks in US cattle likely triggered by ‘milk-stealing’ behavior of lactating cows
As of June 2025, H5N1 outbreaks have been reported on more than 1,070 dairy farms across 17 US states. Researchers have solved the mystery of how H5N1 virus enters the mammary glands of dairy cows, and provide a strategy on how to control the disease.