All Editorial articles – Page 8
-
NewsFungi that colonise human faeces: first scientific study lays the groundwork for myco-sanitation
Filamentous fungi can colonise fresh human faeces, and the choice of fungal species shapes how the material changes, according to a new study. Depending on the species, the fungi accelerated degradation, reduced faecal indicator bacteria, suppressed faecal odour or changed the appearance of the material.
-
NewsA newly discovered membrane defence help explain antibiotic resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Scientists have uncovered how Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a major multidrug-resistant superbug, helps block antibiotics from entering its cells. The study identifies two proteins that act like plugs inside a membrane channel, revealing a potential new target for treatments designed to weaken bacterial defenses.
-
NewsUniversity of Stirling secures £2.4M grant for major aquaculture project
Antibiotic resistance is becoming an increasing challenge for Vietnam’s vast pangasius catfish industry, where farmers often have few practical alternatives when treatments stop working. A new £2.4 million project will bring scientists, farmers and policymakers together to develop more sustainable ways to control disease and reduce reliance on antibiotics.
-
NewsHow deep-sea clams and bacteria survive shifting energy supplies
Deep-sea clams living at cold seeps survive in an environment where their main energy source can rise and fall dramatically. New research shows that the clams and their bacterial partners respond together, switching metabolic pathways, adjusting symbiont populations and reallocating resources to remain stable under changing conditions.
-
NewsPooling samples could expand TB testing worldwide
Testing sputum samples in small groups could nearly double access to rapid tuberculosis diagnosis without doubling costs. The largest study of pooled TB testing found that the approach cut molecular test cartridge use by 51%, helping inform new WHO guidance for resource-constrained settings.
-
NewsWhat makes hantaviruses jump from rodents to humans?
Why do some hantaviruses jump from rodents to humans while others remain largely confined to wildlife? A new study will combine viral genetics, climate data and wildlife ecology to uncover the conditions that drive spillover and help identify where future outbreaks are most likely to emerge.
-
NewsA ‘society on a chip’ reveals how viruses spread
Researchers have built a centimetre-scale ‘society on a chip’ that recreates how viruses spread through structured populations. By changing cell density, susceptibility and movement, the platform can mimic transmission, social distancing and even herd-immunity-like effects in real time.
-
NewsBeetles build with a yellow pigment gene
More than 80 years ago scientists discovered that differences in yellow pigmentation were critical to courtship success and failure for fruit flies. New research has added a deeper perspective to the study of Yellow, showing how in tortoise beetles this protein has been co-opted as a building material to house symbiotic bacteria.
-
NewsCommon airway bacterium may help prepare lungs to fight pneumonia, study finds
A study found that exposure to Prevotella melaninogenica, a type of bacteria commonly found in healthy airways, changed the behavior of immune cells in the lungs of mice. When the mice were later exposed to Streptococcus pneumoniae, a leading cause of bacterial pneumonia, their immune systems were better able to recognize, engulf and clear the bacteria.
-
NewsThe benefits of vaccination extend beyond protection from infection
A study, carried out in mice, shows how after recovering from an acute viral infection, animals experienced a long period of impaired immune responsiveness which compromised their immune system’s ability to effectively respond to future challenges. Prior vaccination prevented these detrimental consequences, preserving immune function.
-
NewsGut microbes across continents trace ancient human migration
A new study has attempted to answer the question of whether homo sapiens hosted a characteristic and diverse microbiome going back millennia. Gaining insight into which, if any, long-term residents of the microbiome co-evolved with humans could point to ways to investigate how the loss of microbial diversity through industrialization impacts human biology.
-
NewsStudy may explain why IBD patients react to foods they once tolerated
A new study finds that gut inflammation can change the way gut bacteria break down food — possibly triggering immune reactions to foods that were previously fine to eat. The findings may help explain why so many people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) react badly to foods like dairy or gluten, even in remission.
-
NewsPenguin poo is melting Antarctic snow by keeping algae green
Penguin poo is fertilizing snow algae blooms along the Antarctic Peninsula, feeding dense green algae patches along the coastline, a new study shows. These expanding stretches of green snow melt faster than clean, white snow, potentially speeding up the spread of snow- and ice- free areas of Antarctica.
-
NewsDistinct malaria parasites “hidden in plain sight” may contribute to human disease protection
A new study that investigates the genetics of people and malaria parasites has found that people with the sickle cell variant are almost exclusively infected by a distinct variety of malaria parasites, which might contribute to their lower rates of disease.
-
NewsWine-like terroir: Influence of wild plants results in distinctive microbial and flavour signatures in Munkoyo
Wild plants traditionally used as natural starter cultures for fermentation of Munkoyo, a traditional non/very low-alcoholic fermented cereal beverage consumed in parts of Africa, can influence not only the initiation of fermentation but also the microbial communities and flavour characteristics of the final beverage.
-
NewsGlobal study finds stark differences in RSV vaccine uptake
Vaccination against respiratory syncytial virus during pregnancy lowers the risk of severe disease in babies by 74 per cent, but uptake in many countries remains low, according to a review revealing evidence of lower uptake among some socioeconomic and ethnic groups, those with reduced access to healthcare, and mothers of a younger age.
-
NewsGlobal genome atlas reveals hidden life in lakes
Researchers reconstructed nearly 20,000 mitochondrial genomes from around 3,660 species fround in lakes and reservoirs. The result is the first global genomic atlas of these microscopic eukaryotes found in lakes and reservoirs. It reveals a wealth of previously unknown biodiversity: for several groups of algae and related organisms.
-
NewsHPV vaccination before pregnancy linked to lower risk of preterm birth and other major complications
Having received the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine before pregnancy is associated with a lower risk of major pregnancy complications including preterm birth, with the greater reduction in risk seen among women vaccinated at an earlier age, finds a large Swedish study.
-
NewsMaternal vaccines protect babies from serious infections, but unequal access limits benefits across Europe
Europe must act now to strengthen maternal vaccination in pregnancy and ensure all women and babies can benefit from a new generation of vaccines to protect against serious infections, says a new series being launched today.
-
NewsScientists propose an endosymbiont-mediated framework for cryptic speciation in insects
Endosymbionts drive ecological divergence by conferring different physiological capabilities on hosts, providing the impetus for population differentiation under natural selection, a new paper suggests.