All Editorial articles – Page 52
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NewsFungi help lock carbon into Arctic fjord sediments
A new study shows that fungi may play a surprisingly important role in keeping carbon locked into the seafloor. Researchers have found that marine fungi living in sediments efficiently assimilate dissolved organic matter and retain it as microbial biomass, rather than allowing it to be rapidly remineralised.
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FeaturesUnder the microscope: extremophiles of the Earth
Extremophiles are microbial organisms that live in extreme environments normally considered uninhabitable. Over the past few decades, extremophiles have been discovered in increasingly bizarre and unexpected environments around the globe, including within acid lakes, plastic recycling centres and even in radioactive sites such as Chernobyl.
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NewsHow sea-ice microbes survive the Southern Ocean’s harsh winter, and the implications for climate change
New study reinforces the importance of the Southern Ocean marginal ice zone as a critical hotspot for global sulfur cycling where biogeochemical processes for climate regulation are enhanced.
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NewsFoods containing heat-inactivated bacteria help reduce gum bleeding and improve inflammatory conditions
Continuous consumption of foods containing heat-inactivated Lactiplantibacillus pentosus can help reduce gum bleeding, report researchers. These postbiotic foods can improve inflammatory conditions and enhance gum health in adults with mild gingivitis.
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NewsThe drive to protect Missouri’s $4 billion cattle industry from tick threats
A tiny parasite-carrying tick is posing an outsized threat to Missouri’s cattle. Now, researchers are stepping in to protect the state’s $4 billion cattle industry by tracking different ways the American dog tick spreads a deadly disease known as bovine anaplasmosis.
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NewsAI unlocks the secrets of viruses: Birth of large protein structures for vaccine delivery
An international research team has succeeded in designing large-scale protein structures that faithfully replicate the self-assembly principles found in naturally occurring viruses, using artificial intelligence (AI).
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NewsResearchers find a common weakness in major gut pathogens
The bacteria enterotoxigenic E. coli and Shigella together cause hundreds of millions of infections each year and are among the leading causes of diarrheal death, especially in children. A shared biological feature of these gut pathogens could lead to a vaccine that protects against both.
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NewsMachine-learning how to overcome antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea
An AI-enabled antibiotic discovery proves effective at identifying new chemical structures and targets in the constant fight against antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea.
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NewsAlluring yeast species could yield new mosquito traps to combat malaria
An orange-colored yeast species isolated from a Baltimore sidewalk several years ago could be the basis of eco-friendly mosquito traps that reduce malaria transmission, according to a new study.
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NewsNew biobank decodes survival secrets of extreme acid mine drainage microbes
Over 97 percent of microorganisms in acid mine drainage have never been cultured, leaving their metabolism and adaptation strategies locked as “microbial dark matter.” Now, a new culturomics‑driven resource called the Microbial Biobank of AMD (mbAMD) changes that.
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NewsGenetics: Oldest-known evidence of plague outbreaks in prehistoric communities
Plague outbreaks dating back to around 5,500 years ago documented in hunter-gatherer communities from southeast Siberia are described in a paper. The findings, based on an analysis of ancient DNA, may be the oldest known evidence of the plague and could shed light on its origins.
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NewsA new HIV vaccine study reveals new hope—and new challenges—for aging patients
A new clinical trial demonstrates that novel vaccines can significantly boost T cells targeting and could contribute to curative approaches against HIV.
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NewsNanozeolite-coupled biochar fertilizer may help bamboo forest soils hold on to carbon
A new study finds that a biochar-based phosphate fertilizer can reduce soil carbon loss and lower the temperature sensitivity of carbon decomposition in Moso bamboo forests.
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NewsCows vs plants: which milk delivers the greatest health benefits?
New research suggests that cow’s milk has the edge over plant-based alternatives when it comes to bone strength and nutrient absorption.
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NewsTropical ocean temperatures drive changes in malaria cases in Malawi
New research shows that temperatures in the tropical Atlantic and Indian Oceans drive year-to-year changes in malaria cases in Malawi.
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NewsYoung frogs “play it safe” when disease strikes
New research shows that young frogs prioritize growing quickly even when infected with a deadly pathogen, shifting energy toward immune defense only when infections become severe.
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NewsMicrobes frozen in ancient rubbish heaps help reconstruct ancient Greenlanders’ farms, seal hunts, and toilets
The microbiome of ancient middens in Greenland sheds new light on the daily life of Paleo-Inuit and old Norse communities. Researchers say the middens in the cold Arctic acted like long-term natural experiments, with human- and animal-associated bacterial signals remaining detectable many centuries later.
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NewsInvisible chemical landscapes shape life
Plants, animals, and microorganisms constantly communicate through chemical signals. A research team has now shown that these signals merge in the environment to form complex “chemical landscapes” that have effects far beyond those of their individual components.
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NewsThe hidden danger of cat lick – a case report with reconstruction
Capnocytophaga canimorsus is a bacterium found in the mouths of dogs and cats. It can cause severe sepsis, and in some cases leads to purpura fulminans (PF), a condition that triggers rapid tissue necrosis.
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NewsDietary fiber supplement shows promise for fatty liver, with effects linked to gut microbiota
A study investigating the effects of prebiotic xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) on fatty liver in humans suggest that the fiber supplement may reduce harmful metabolic byproducts in the gut and improve liver health. The composition of the gut microbiota prior to supplementation influences the benefits observed.