All Editorial articles – Page 5
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NewsLoss of kelp forests reverberates down to microbial level
As one moves north, Maine’s kelp forests are being overtaken by dense mats of carpet-like turf algae. The steady decline of kelp, and transition into this new state, is altering the ecosystem all the way down to the microbial level, according to a new study.
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NewsSemen facilitates infection with mpox virus
Researchers have found that seminal fluid can facilitate infection of skin cells with the mpox virus. An analysis of the seminal fluid showed that certain naturally occurring protein fragments are responsible for this effect.
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NewsMould toxins in food are not destroyed during cooking or baking
A survey shows that only a small proportion of the population (29 per cent) is concerned about potential health risks posed by mould, whilst the majority (51 per cent) do not give it any thought at all.
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NewsAntarctica is home to microbes found nowhere else on Earth
Researchers have found evidence that specific microbes in Antarctica’s soils are endemic — located on the continent and nowhere else on Earth.
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NewsPlant diversity: Does it really matter for gut health? (BTW, dark chocolate counts)
New research shows that eating a more diverse range of plants - including fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, herbs and spices - on a weekly basis may be associated with better gut and metabolic health.
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NewsSwimming in rivers and lakes linked to higher risk of stomach bugs and rashes
Researchers have found that people swimming in rivers and lakes were more than twice as likely to develop skin problems, while higher levels of bacteria linked to faecal pollution were associated with an increased risk of stomach bugs.
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NewsHeat-tolerant corals may be more vulnerable to disease, study finds
Corals that partner with heat-tolerant algae may be better equipped to survive warming oceans but that resilience comes with an unexpected trade-off. Such corals keep their stress response system in a heightened state - and that can backfire.
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NewsPrimed and ready to fight: a nematode pheromone arms plants to battle pathogens
New research has found that a previously unrecognized natural compound can provide lasting protection against a broad range of plant pathogens.
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NewsSurvival of the driest: Directed evolution boosts bacterial tolerance to industrial spray-drying by 1000-fold
Spray-drying is the preferred method for producing dry microbial inoculants for agriculture, offering low cost and easy transport. But many beneficial Gram-negative bacteria struggle to survive the rapid dehydration and heat involved.
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NewsPropionate from gut bacterium Akkermansia mitigates liver fibrosis
A recent study has identified the gut commensal bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila as a potent modulator of liver fibrosis.
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NewsTraditional Chinese medicine compound shows promise against ischemic stroke by targeting the gut-brain axis
Researchers have uncovered new evidence that a polysaccharide derived from the traditional medicinal herb Astragalus membranaceus (Huangqi) can protect against ischemic stroke by acting through an unexpected route: the gut.
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NewsEven ancient bacteria possessed intercellular communication structures like humans today
Communication between cells in plants, animals and humans takes place via specialised connecting structures. Researchers have discovered how the regulation of very similar structures was already present in multicellular bacteria.
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NewsMethylation puts parasites in motion
Researchers identify a molecular mechanism that enables single-celled parasites to switch on the machinery they need to move and invade host cells.
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NewsA full-control strategy could cut simulated mpox infections by 97.8%, suggests mathematical model
Researchers have used mathematical modeling to explore how different interventions could work together to limit Mpox transmission. The model captures Mpox transmission dynamics across two interacting populations: humans and rodents.
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NewsA single gene change turns susceptible peas into fusarium wilt fighters
New research identifies a single dominant gene, PsFwC9, which confers Fusarium wilt resistance in pea plants.
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NewsA bacterial protein fragment drives tissue fibrosis, but antibody treatment can help
A bacterial protein fragment called corisin drives the process of pulmonary fibrosis by infiltrating and disrupting the cell’s quality-control system, researchers found in a new study. Meanwhile, blocking corisin with an antibody impeded the damage.
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NewsRECOVER-VITAL clinical trial finds no benefit of extended duration of PAXLOVID for Long COVID
Results from a clinical trial show that the antiviral drug, PAXLOVID, commonly prescribed to treat acute COVID-19, does not have an impact on Long COVID symptoms when compared to placebo.
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NewsNew artificial intelligence method to support real-time management of infectious diseases
Scientists used a deep learning artificial intelligence method known as neural posterior estimation (NPE) to study how pathogens evolve, the first time this method has been used with genetic data in a phylodynamic application.
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NewsA hidden susceptibility switch may help potatoes fight late blight
New research reveals how the StRWA2 gene may promote late blight susceptibility by reduce the stability of NLR immune receptors in potatoes.
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NewsReview explores the presence, fate, and effects of pharmaceutical compounds in soil and air
Pharmaceutical contamination in soil and air has become a critical environmental concern due to its widespread sources, complex behavior, and long-lasting ecological impacts.