Food security
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NewsFood systems, climate change, and air pollution: Unveiling the interactions and solutions
A recent review delves into the complex relationships among food systems, climate change, and air pollution, highlighting the need for sustainable strategies to address these interconnected global challenges.
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NewsStudy reveals complex interaction between plants and root microbiota in nutrient utilization
The root microbiota has a profound impact on plant growth and development, health, and adaptability to the environment. So, do the plants also have effects on the root microbiota, and if so, how do the two interact with each other?
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NewsClove oil yields new Pickering emulsion formulation with enhanced antibacterial properties
Researchers developed a sustainable Pickering emulsion using carbon quantum dots (CQDs), promising solid particles for food applications, derived from clove essential oil residue. They found that CQDs with 40% ethanol demonstrated the highest emulsifying efficacy.
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NewsFA Bio licenses two microbes to IFF’s Crop Biologicals division to advance microbial solutions for crop health
FA Bio, a leader in the discovery of sustainable agricultural products, has extended a license agreement on two microbials to IFF’s Crop Biologicals business.
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NewsBacteria and minerals work together to detoxify arsenic in contaminated soils
New research shows that the interaction between arsenic-oxidizing bacteria and goethite, a common Fe mineral, significantly accelerates the conversion of arsenic from its highly toxic form, arsenite [As(III)], into the less harmful arsenate [As(V)].
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NewsPurified immunoglobulin F(ab′) 2 prevents lethal staphylococcal enterotoxin B intoxication in mice and rhesus monkeys
Purified F(ab′)2 fragments are an effective antidote to lethal SEB doses in mice and rhesus monkeys, and therefore might be a favorable candidate for treating patients with severe SEB intoxication, a new study suggests.
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NewsTranscription factor PoMbp1 promotes the growth of Pleurotus ostreatus by regulating polysaccharide utilisation
A study investigating the growth and development of Pleurotus ostreatus has found that PoMbp1 contains an APSES domain and localizes to the nucleus, indicating it belongs to the fungal-specific APSES transcription factors family.
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NewsScientists reveal anti-bacterial role of plant metabolite
A study shows that a plant metabolite, erucamide, is able to target and disrupt a protein assembly of Gram-negative bacterial pathogens, thus inhibiting their virulence. Understanding the metabolite’s molecular mechanisms could protect crops from infection.
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NewsCan Rhizobium + low P increase the yield of common bean in Ethiopia?
A study found that bean inoculation with Rhizobium alone or in combination with P application, can increase grain yield of two common bean cultivars in Ethiopia.
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NewsScientists probe how phytosiderophore regulates the rhizosphere dialogue between plants and microorganisms
DMA is a common phytosiderophore with the ability to activate the insoluble iron in soil, but has major limitations. A synthesized DMA analog, PDMA, is used to explore the response of rhizosphere microbes under the influence of phytosiderophores.
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NewsE. coli strain in Egyptian dairy products also found in Japan school outbreak
Researchers found E. coli prevalent in over 25% of popular milk and dairy products in Egypt. One of the E. coli strains they isolated from the samples collected in 2018 in Egypt had the same characteristics as the E. coli that caused food poisoning in Japan in 2021.
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NewsTwo different sequence types of Listeria monocytogenes strains used for veterinary vaccines in Russia
Live whole-cell vaccine AUF (LWCV AUF) is used for the prevention of listeriosis in farm animals in Russian regions. A new study investigated whether the two strains used might belong to the same phylogenetic lineage and possess identical sequence types (STs).
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NewsDiscovery of a common ‘weapon’ used by disease-causing fungi could help engineer more resilient food crops
The discovery of a powerful “weapon” used by many disease-causing fungi to infect and destroy major food crop staples, such as rice and corn, could offer new strategies to bolster global food security
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NewsA blueprint for making cereal crops more resistant to fungal disease
Researchers have uncovered the structural interactions between a type of barley immune receptor that helps the crop to fight against devastating fungal disease, powdery mildew and other plant pathogens.
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NewsResearch reveals hidden risks from plastic-coated fertilizers in soil
A study focuses on the microplastic pollution generated by polymer-coated, control-release fertilizers, highlighting the need for biodegradable alternatives.
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NewsGenetic switch controlling microbiota impact could help control leaf growth in poor soils
A new study has identified a genetic circuit in plants that controls individual leaf growth and allows the plants to adapt to their environment. The findings could help the development of more drought-resistant crops.
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NewsSuperbugs in our food: a new hope for tackling drug resistance
Researchers highlight the potential of quorum sensing inhibitors (QSIs) as a novel approach to tackle Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The study explores the mechanisms of action of various QSIs and potential applications in food safety and healthcare.
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NewsStudy uncovers porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus’s impact on swine immunity
Scientists used single-cell RNA analysis to reveal key immune mechanisms in lungs of swine infected with PRRSV. They found higher numbers of protective anti-inflammatory M2-like macrophages (SPP1-CXCL14high) were observed in less virulent infections, suggesting a potential role in promoting lung healing.
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NewsScottish bio-tech company secures £3.4m investment
Scottish biotech engineering company uFraction8 has secured £3.4m in new investment following the completion of a funding round led by Foresight Group.
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NewsFeed additives can reduce campylobacter in free-range broilers
Trials have demonstrated that adding biochar to chicken feed can significantly reduce campylobacter in chickens, which could potentially lead to fewer campylobacter-associated foodborne diseases in humans.