All articles by Linda Stewart – Page 12
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NewsResearchers transfer nitrogen-harvesting genes into new bacteria
New research has identified a key cluster of genes that can be moved from rhizobia bacteria that harvest nitrogen into bacteria that don’t — raising the possibility that microbes that dwell in cereal crops could eventually be engineered to atmospherically harvest nitrogen as well.
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NewsArctic Ocean food chain disrupted as key tipping point passed
An irreversible shift in the chemical make-up of the Arctic Ocean driven by climate change is disrupting the region’s food chain, a study suggests. Widespread loss of Arctic sea ice has led to a sharp fall in levels of a key nutrient, affecting populations of plankton, fish, seabirds and marine mammals.
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NewsResearchers identify immune ‘energy signature’ linked to tuberculosis protection
Researchers found that circulating monocytes from people with latent TB remain metabolically flexible, allowing them to mount strong antibacterial responses, whereas cells from people with active TB disease show impaired metabolism and weaker responses to infection.
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NewsPioneering research sheds new light on what shaped extinction pattern of prehistoric marine life – and size clearly mattered
Scientists have shown conclusively for the first time that tiny marine organisms in polar oceans survived the mass extinction event that wiped out prehistoric dinosaurs because they needed less energy and were more tolerant to darkness.
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NewsBiochar and Bacillus team up to help greenhouse cherry tomatoes grow more fruit
A new study shows that pairing biochar with beneficial Bacillus bacteria can unlock soil phosphorus, improve root growth, and increase cherry tomato yield by 23.53% under greenhouse cultivation.
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NewsWhy antibiotics fail against a common dental implant disease
A study of peri-implantitis found that bacteria corrode implants, causing them to shed microscopic titanium particles into the surrounding tissue. Those particles hijack the immune cells sent to clear the infection and lock them into a state of inflammation that destroys the jawbone they are supposed to protect.
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NewsOrangutans breastfeed their young for six and a half years, the longest among mammals
Researchers show that wild orangutan juveniles keep consuming their mother’s milk continuously until at least six and a half years of age. The study also suggests that the more milk a juvenile consumes, the stronger its biological defenses and the higher the presence of probiotic intestinal bacteria.
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NewsExperimental HIV vaccine achieves a long-sought goal
In a first for the field, all non-human primates given a new series of vaccines generated antibodies capable of fighting multiple strains of HIV. It brings researchers closer to a vaccine effective against the vast diversity of HIV strains circulating worldwide.
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NewsGenetic engineering of cyanobacteria for the production of sulfated polysaccharide
Researchers have developed a novel strategy to genetically engineer bacteria for the production of sulfated polysaccharides. They demonstrated the successful transfer and functional integration of an entire gene cluster responsible for producing a sulfated polysaccharide known as “synechan.”
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NewsSeven European countries observe drop in chlamydia notifications especially among young people in 2024
After a decade of general increases in chlamydia cases across Europe, the first signs of a decline suggest a possible common driver. Is it a true reduction and will it be a sustainable one?
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NewsScientists validate a link between autoimmunity in a subset of people with long COVID
A research team has demonstrated that autoimmunity, where the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues, is responsible for the often-debilitating and confounding symptoms of long COVID in a subset of people.
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NewsUnilever investing $270m in Global Innovation Centre in New Haven, Connecticut
Unilever has unveiled plans to develop a new Global Innovation Centre in New Haven, Connecticut, opening by spring 2029. The centre will be a leading hub for the company’s research and development for its personal care, beauty and wellbeing businesses in the U.S. and globally.
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CareersFrom microbiome research to personalized cosmetics: The genesis of BYOME LABS
BYOME LABS was founded through the initiative of David Suissa, an entrepreneur trained at École Polytechnique and the Corps des Mines. After leading companies in the fields of perfumery and applied microbiology, he chose to structure a new approach centered on the biological evaluation of cosmetic products.
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NewsResearchers link specific microbiomes to archaeological bone degradation
Well-preserved archaeological bone samples have different microbial communities than heavily degraded bone samples, providing a new understanding of how microbes contribute to bone degradation, according to a study.
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NewsFungal surges marked Cretaceous mass extinction that ended age of dinosaurs
The asteroid impact thought to have wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago was followed by surges of fungi in North America. These are the first findings to provide direct evidence that this post-asteroid fungal bloom may have been a global event.
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NewsArchaic DNA may lower defences against common DNA viruses in people today
Researchers explored the contribution of archaic DNA - primarily Neandertal ancestry - to the DNA viral load of participants in the UK Biobank. By analysing viral sequences detected in large-scale genomic data, they asked whether archaic variants correlate with the presence or quantity of common DNA viruses.
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News The hidden carbon sponges: Karst reservoirs proven to be powerful climate allies
A new study provides a mechanistic explanation for why reservoirs in karst landscapes are exceptionally effective carbon sinks. The research demonstrates that these unique ecosystems not only capture vast amounts of carbon but also lock it away in a highly stable, long-lasting form.
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NewsResearchers may now understand why chikungunya virus infections turn chronic
About half of people infected with chikungunya virus will progress to a chronic form of the disease. A new study finds that chikungunya virus persists in joint-associated macrophages, a specialized type of white blood cell that helps the body defend against pathogens.
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NewsNew study finds neighborhood-level sampling could close equity gap in wastewater disease surveillance
Researchers working with New York State’s wastewater surveillance network found that while the system does a reasonably fair job of including vulnerable populations, it struggles in larger populations when an outbreak is starting, which is when it matters most.
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NewsScientists fight antimicrobial resistance by treating diseases with human antibodies
In a review, researchers highlight the promise of using human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to treat patients more effectively and tackle AMR. They say AMR needs to be addressed with multiple and differentiated strategies, and vaccines and mAbs are the most promising tools.