All articles by Linda Stewart – Page 10
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NewsPlant microbiota: War and peace under the surface
Scientists unveil the subtle alliances and rivalries that unfold between bacteria and roots, hidden beneath the soil. A new study probed how and when root exudates are released at the microscale relevant to microorganisms.
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NewsScientists develop rapid and scalable platform for in planta directed evolution
Researchers have developed a new system that enables rapid and scalable directed evolution of diverse genes directly in plant cells. To address the challenge of slow cell division rate in plants, the researchers harnessed geminiviruses.
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NewsAncient plankton hint at steadier future for ocean life
A team of scientists has uncovered a rare isotope in microscopic fossils, offering fresh evidence that ocean ecosystems may be more resilient than once feared. They analyzed nitrogen isotopes preserved in the shells of tiny plankton called foraminifera.
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NewsCould a fungus provide a blueprint for next-gen hydrogels?
New research finds one fungal species, Marquandomyces marquandii, shows promise as a potential building block for new biomedical materials. It can grow into hydrogels, materials that hold lots of water and mimic the softness and flexibility of human tissues.
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NewsGenetic ‘Trojan horse’ selectively kills cancer cells linked to Kaposi’s sarcoma
A highly targeted gene therapy that could revolutionize treatment for cancers linked to a common herpesvirus harnesses an adeno-associated virus (AAV) to deliver a genetic “Trojan horse” into infected cells.
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NewsDo stranded dolphins have Alzheimer’s disease - and how are cyanobacteria involved?
Scientists have come up with an unusual hypothesis: perhaps dolphins become disoriented by suffering from a form of Alzheimer’s disease. It appears that Alzheimer’s-type neuropathology and disorientation may result from chronic exposure to toxic molecules produced by cyanobacteria.
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NewsNew herpes virus–based vaccine could cure cancer in the future without side effects
The Herpes simplex virus is a widespread virus that often causes cold sores, and most people carry it. By removing a virulence gene, i.e. a gene that makes the virus harmful to humans, the herpes virus can be repurposed as a cancer vaccine.
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NewsQdenga vaccine shows effectiveness against dengue under real-world conditions during Brazil’s 2024 outbreak
An international team of researchers has demonstrated that the tetravalent dengue vaccine Qdenga provides significant protection against the disease under real-world conditions, during the large 2024 epidemic in São Paulo, Brazil.
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NewsHigh-latitude phytoplankton particularly sensitive to climate change
A team of researchers have investigated how high-latitude phytoplankton communities responded to ancient climate warming. High-latitude communities are historically understudied and likely to be particularly sensitive to human-driven climate change.
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NewsGene editing, traditional crossbreeding produce disease-resistant cacao plants
Researchers reported that they edited the gene TcNPR3 in cacao plants, ultimately resulting in disease-resistant cacao plants that had 42% smaller disease lesions when infected with phytophthora, compared to non-edited plants.
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NewsNew insights into how pathogens build protein machinery for survival in the gut
New research reveals how pathogenic bacteria construct tiny protein-based compartments, known as Eut microcompartments, which enable them to digest ethanolamine - a nutrient commonly found in the gut.
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NewsIndia could bear biggest impact from chikungunya, new maps suggest
Based on existing evidence of chikungunya transmission, an infectious disease model predicts 14.4 million people could be at risk of infections globally each year, with 5.1 million people at risk in India.
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NewsCorals might be adapting to climate change, study shows
Researchers showed that despite a gradual increase in ocean acidity levels over the past 200 years, some corals seem to be able to adjust and continue to generate their hard, stony skeleton structures.
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NewsScientists uncover molecular mechanisms for bacterial lipid transport
Researchers have successfully applied cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to unveil the molecular structures of critical protein machines that transport lipids and maintain the outer membrane (OM) barrier of Gram-negative bacteria.
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NewsPotential biomarker for the development of long COVID identified
A research team has demonstrated that a specific component of the immune system (PTX-3) remains at significantly higher levels in the blood of patients who have suffered from severe COVID-19, even months after the acute infection has subsided.
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NewsPeptide study paves path toward new weapon against antibiotic-resistant bacteria
New research into antimicrobial peptides, small chains of amino acids able to damage bacterial cells, shows why some peptides are more effective at doing that and also why some cells are more vulnerable.
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NewsNew biochar technology promises breakthrough in soil clean-up and crop safety
Scientists have unveiled a pioneering method that could help farmers reclaim lands blighted by toxic metals and boost the safety of crops grown in contaminated soils. Phosphorus-modified biochar can reduce the threat posed by heavy metals in agricultural soils near mining areas.
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NewsInvasive mosquito vector species detected in surveillance traps in UK
A study describes the detection of invasive mosquito eggs in the United Kingdom in 2023 and 2024, suggesting an increasing incidence of importation of these species, potentially putting new populations at risk of disease transmission.
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NewsCould bacteria help fix the smoky taste of wildfire-tainted wine?
New laboratory experiments show that a bacterium that lives on grape plants can break down guaiacol—an unpleasant-tasting substance which ruins wines made from grapes exposed to wildfire smoke.