All Editorial articles – Page 7
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NewsGut microbes actively support immunity in people living with HIV
A new study shows that gut microbes help bolster immunity in people living with HIV – and that, one day, these microbes may be harnessed to protect this population from infections driven by immune deficiency.
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News‘Living plastic’ activates and self-destructs on command
Living plastics that self-destruct on command incorporate activatable, plastic-degrading microbes alongside the polymers. The latest study used two bacterial strains that worked together and completely broke down the material within just six days, without making microplastics.
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NewsResearchers uncover three families of ‘sponge’ proteins deployed by phages
Using an innovative research approach that combines artificial intelligence with experimental biology, researchers have uncovered new families of sponge proteins in phage genomes that disrupt immune communication in bacteria.
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NewsUncovered: An organelle that powers the methane machine in livestock
Researchers have uncovered a driver of methane emissions in livestock: a newly identified organelle, the hydrogenobody, which fuels methane production in the guts of livestock.
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NewsResearchers identify natural compound that disarms drug-resistant bacteria
Scientists studying MRSA discovered that geranylgeranoic acid (GGA) – a naturally occurring fatty acid found in plants like ginger and turmeric – interferes with the bacteria’s virulence, its ability to infect, spread, defend itself, and cause disease.
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NewsMalaria’s mRNA: Messages that mess with the immune system
A new study uncovers the malaria parasite’s RNA strategies – mechanisms that could inspire unexpected applications for RNA-based tools in multiple areas of medicine.
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NewsMass mating event reveals how yeast find the perfect match
When choosing mates, yeast organisms tend to pick partners that may increase the chances of their offspring’s success, according to a new study which revealed a link between the success of the parents and the genetic distance between them, and the success of their offspring.
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NewsStudy finds four of the CDC’s seven measles elimination status indicators missed
After public health experts declared measles eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, the U.S. CDC established seven indicators of measles elimination status to ensure that the country remained on track. Now researchers find that the U.S. missed four of the seven criteria, with the others at risk.
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NewsDisease-causing pathogen rewires gut metabolism to secure nutrients for growth
Enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis (ETBF), which causes diarrhea and has been implicated in colitis and colorectal cancer, uses a toxin it produces to reprogram intestinal cell metabolism and generate conditions that support its growth.
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NewsChanges in CDC communication undermine public trust in vaccines
Exposure to uncertainty-based messaging about vaccines increased perceived vaccine risks and uncertainty, reduced vaccination intentions, lowered trust in the CDC, and increased endorsement of science-denial strategies.
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NewsCervical cancer: A growing gap between high- and low-income countries
While high-income countries could eliminate cervical cancer by 2048 through human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and screening, the gap with lower-income countries is widening.
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NewsIn mice, viruses gain virulence in some individuals, depending on genetics and sex
New research demonstrates that some hosts appear to serve as “evolutionary accelerators” that could enable viruses to gain virulence more quickly.
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NewsNew study could help scientists produce more accurate records of past ocean change
Tiny plankton shells used to reconstruct past polar ocean temperatures may contain two different chemical stories, a new study has found.
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NewsStudy identifies multiple viruses and variants simultaneously by controlling the “speed” of CRISPR gene scissors
Scientists have developed a new diagnostic technology that simultaneously identifies various viruses and variants by controlling the “speed” of gene scissors.
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NewsWhy antibiotics may soon fail to curb the plague bacterium - and where we can find new strategies
A new review shows that while most infections caused by the Yersinia plague bacterium can currently be treated with antibiotics, concerns about rising antimicrobial resistance mean that we need to come up with new ways to disarm the bacteria instead of killing them.
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NewsStudy confirms effectiveness of medicinal plant against SARS-CoV-2 virus
A study has revealed that galloylquinic acids extracted from the leaves of Copaifera lucens Dwyer, a tree endemic to Brazil primarily found in the Atlantic Forest, have a multi-targeted effect against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
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NewsAncient, insect-targeting bacterial toxin may have implications for human health, agriculture, and drug discovery
Scientists have identified and characterized a new class of Streptomyces-produced toxins that are very distantly related to the deadly toxin that causes diphtheria, a serious and contagious infection, in humans.
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NewsPet cats that roam outdoors carry similar disease risk as feral cats, global study finds
A new study has found that pet cats allowed to roam outside unsupervised carry infectious diseases at rates comparable to feral cats, even when they receive veterinary care, regular meals and shelter.
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NewsSouth American camelids: Potential carriers of the zoonotic pathogen Campylobacter
A comprehensive investigation has identified a previously underappreciated source of thermotolerant Campylobacter spp. in South American camelids (SACs)—alpacas and llamas kept in Germany. The findings underscore the importance of expanding epidemiological surveillance beyond traditional livestock.
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NewsSignificant rise in valley fever cases in El Paso linked to extreme weather and dust
A new study has identified a significant rise in Valley fever cases in El Paso over the past decade and found strong connections between the disease and extreme weather, wind and airborne dust.