All King’s College London articles
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NewsNew single‑cell technique reveals how tuberculosis‑like bacteria alter human cells
Researchers have developed a new technique to measure the content of individual human cells infected with bacteria that model tuberculosis – and it is already revealing biological changes that conventional analysis would miss.
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NewsStay or stray? Scientists discover why some gut microbes persist after fecal transplants
Scientists have identified why some gut microbes successfully stay in the gut after faecal transplants, whilst others are much more transient. They tracked key genetic features of gut bacteria in 86 healthy adults over the course of a year.
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NewsPeople’s gut bacteria worse in areas with higher social deprivation
Living in a poorer neighbourhood in the UK could impact the make-up of your gut microbiome, potentially leading to worse health. New research found that people living in areas of higher social deprivation have a less diverse range of bacteria in their gut.
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NewsAltered microbiome: Oral bacteria play a role in chronic liver disease
A new study shows that identical bacterial strains occur in both the mouth and gut of patients with advanced chronic liver disease and also reveals a mechanism by which oral bacteria affect gut health. The researchers also found that this process coincides with worsening liver health.
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NewsResearch reveals hidden diversity of E. coli driving diabetic foot infections
New research has shed light on the diversity and characteristics of E. coli strains that drive diabetic foot infections, providing the first comprehensive genomic characterisation of E. coli strains isolated directly from diabetic foot ulcers across multiple continents.
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NewsInside the gut: What our poo could tell us about our diet, gut microbes and health
Researchers have found that molecules in stool samples can accurately reflect what people eat and how their gut microbiome responds, offering a potential new tool to study nutrition and its impact on health.
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NewsResearchers rescue antibiotics from resistance using phototherapy
Researchers have used phototherapy to inhibit a protein in E. coli bacteria that makes them resistant to antibiotics. This new method, if proven safe and effective in living organisms, holds promise for rescuing the effectiveness of antibiotics that bacteria have become resistant to.
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News‘Rotten egg’ gas could be the answer to treating nail infections, say scientists
Hydrogen sulphide, the volcanic gas that smells of rotten eggs, could be used in a new treatment for tricky nail infections that acts faster but with fewer side effects, according to scientists.
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NewsMediterranean diet could reduce gum disease, study shows
People living in the UK and following a diet close to the Mediterranean diet are more likely to have better gum health, with potentially lower amounts of gum disease and inflammation. A new study suggests that people not following a Mediterranean-style diet tended to have more severe gum disease, especially if they consumed red meat frequently.
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NewsVitamin D deficiency increases risk of COVID-19 hospitalization
Experts say it’s not just booster shots that could offer protection against Covid-19 – healthy levels of vitamin D may also play a role. Researchers found a clear link between low vitamin D levels and an increased risk of being hospitalised by the virus.
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NewsScientists target ‘molecular machine’ in the war against antimicrobial resistance
The ‘molecular machine’ flagellum is essential for bacteria to cause infection, allowing bacteria to ‘swim’ around the bloodstream until finding something to infect. But it could also be a target for antibiotics.
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NewsScientists discover protein key to bacteria’s survival in extreme environments
A new discovery sheds light on how certain bacteria – including strains that cause food poisoning and anthrax – form spores for survival.
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NewsNewly identified bacterial protein helps design cancer drug delivery system
Researchers have identified a previously unknown bacterial protein, the unique structure of which acts as an actin homolog that can be used to design protein nanoparticles for the targeted delivery of anticancer drugs to tumors.
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NewsSatellite evidence bolsters case that climate change caused mass elephant die-off
New analysis showing carcass distribution and algae in watering holes points to climate-induced poisoning of over 300 African elephants.
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NewsMicrobiome changes in chronic liver disease highlight the need for personalized treatment
People with chronic liver disease have dramatic changes to the types and functions of bacteria in the gut and mouth, a new study has revealed.
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NewsExperts recommend considering dietary factors in probiotics and prebiotics research
A new Perspective paper finds that, while diet is a major determinant of gut microbiome composition and function, it has rarely been incorporated as a variable in research on the efficacy of probiotics and prebiotics.
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NewsAI tackles huge problem of antimicrobial resistance in intensive care
Artificial intelligence (AI) can provide same-day assessments of antimicrobial resistance for patients in intensive care – critical to preventing life-threatening sepsis.
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NewsAncient viral DNA in human genome linked to multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
New research has revealed a connection between ancient viral DNA embedded in the human genome and the genetic risk for two major diseases that affect the central nervous system.
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News‘Transient’ gut bacteria may affect health and guide diet choices
‘Transient’ populations of gut bacteria may contribute to the development of chronic liver disease and diabetes, but a personalised diet plan could lessen the risk, new research suggests.
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NewsAncient viral DNA in the human genome linked to major psychiatric disorders
New research led by King’s College London has found that thousands of DNA sequences originating from ancient viral infections are expressed in the brain, with some contributing to susceptibility for psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression. Published in Nature Communications, the study was part-funded ...