All articles by Linda Stewart – Page 22
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NewsNative litter jump-starts microbial recovery in mine soils
By applying litter collected from nearby native woodland to rehabilitated mine land, a study has shown increases in microbial diversity, enrichment of carbon- and nitrogen-cycling microorganisms, and stronger biochemical potential for soil organic matter decomposition and nitrogen mobilization.
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NewsGut fungi may hold the key to treating asthma worldwide
Two new studies reveal that certain species of fungi in the gut play a key role in the development of immune dysregulation and some pediatric allergic diseases — and may be promising targets for new therapies.
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NewsNatural symbiosis: How plants and microbes share vital nutrients in fragile ecosystems
Researchers using stable isotope labelling to investigate how different forms of nitrogen are used by plants and microbes in alpine heath environments found that plants and microbes use distinct strategies to access this critical nutrient.
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NewsResearch team awarded NIH grant to study congenital CMV transmission during pregnancy
A research team has received a new 5-year, $3.87 million R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to investigate how the immune system protects against congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection.
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NewsGlobal port microbiomes reveal hidden biosecurity signals
By analyzing more than 16 million 16S rRNA gene sequences from 1,045 port water samples collected in 23 cities across five continents, a study has found clear biogeographic patterns, a core set of dominant bacterial genera, and widespread potential pathogens.
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NewsOrdinary enzyme evolves into a ‘control switch’ revealing a new weak spot in tuberculosis
A protein that acts as a ‘control switch,’ preventing Mycobacterium tuberculosis from accessing the energy sources it needs to survive, has been identified by researchers. The discovery points to a specific vulnerability in the bacterium that could be targeted by new TB treatments.
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NewsResearchers aim to autonomously eliminate plant-killing bacteria from hydroponic farming systems
Three researchers have received a nearly $600,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to develop a system that can autonomously detect and remove crop-killing microbes from hydroponic farms before they cause damage to plants.
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NewsTea’s molecular shield against anthracnose
Researchers investigating inducible immune mechanisms activated by tea plants after pathogen infection said the findings show that tea anthracnose resistance is not simply a matter of possessing a resistance-related gene, but of how strongly and rapidly the plant activates its defense network.
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NewsResearcher wins $5.6M NIH Avant Garde Award to prevent HIV, Hepatitis C and overdose
An innovative project will use AI-powered “digital twins” to help public health agencies better prevent HIV, hepatitis C and overdose among people who use drugs.
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NewsProtective human antibodies target West Nile and related viruses
New research defines vulnerable sites on West Nile virus that could inform vaccine development, and highlight antibody candidates with prophylactic and therapeutic potential. They may also guide interventions for a wider group of encephalitic orthoflavivirus infections.
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NewsSoil bacteria reveal hidden arsenic stress in brick kilns
Researchers collected soils from a shut-down brick kiln area. As arsenic levels increased, bacterial richness and diversity declined, while arsenic-tolerant groups became more abundant. The study also found that bacteria strengthened stress-response pathways and upregulated arsenic-resistance genes.
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NewsA two-pronged vaccine approach to prevent genital herpes
Researchers have taken a significant step toward a genital herpes vaccine that in preclinical models prevented infection. This study extends the original “prime and pull” approach by developing a new nanoparticle that effectively induces local immunity.
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NewsTracking melanoidins to improve food-waste biogas recovery
Higher pretreatment temperatures in food-waste biogas recovery can promote Maillard reactions, generating melanoidins. A study shows that melanoidins increase with hydrothermal temperature and inhibit methane production by disrupting methanogenic microbial communities.
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NewsAntibiotic use for uncomplicated diverticulitis remains widespread despite guideline shifts
A retrospective cohort study found that antibiotic prescribing rates for outpatient cases of uncomplicated diverticulitis remain above 95%, despite guidelines from 2015 recommending more selective use.
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NewsAlgae microbots take aim at bladder cancer
Tiny algae-based robots guided by magnets could improve bladder cancer treatment by boosting delivery of chemotherapy drugs into tumours. Tracked using real-time imaging, the miniature robots help drugs penetrate deep into tumour tissue while limiting damage to healthy cells.
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NewsCaught in the act: A gene jumps into the void
Self-splicing introns are a special group of jumping genes. It is more difficult for a gene to jump into another cell or another species. Until now, it had been assumed that, for this to happen, the jumping genes travelled as ‘hitchhiker’ in the genomes of plasmids or viruses, but researchers have made a surprising observation.
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NewsUrgent hot tub health warning as Britain prepares to sizzle
As Britain prepares to sizzle with temperatures expected to reach 37°C in some areas over the next four days, water experts are warning that a potentially deadly disease can thrive in hot tubs, pools and other domestic water devices.
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NewsLow risk of global spread of Ebola disease, analysis suggests
Researchers identified and analysed all known Ebola disease cases outside Africa to assess the risk of undetected Orthoebolavirus transmission outside Africa and to put it into context with possible border and travel policies.
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NewsOropouche virus has already infected more than 5 million people in Brazil, study suggests
The recent Oropouche virus outbreak in 2023 has drawn attention in Brazil and other Latin American countries because of its scale and rapid spread. Researchers estimate that since 1960, the virus has infected approximately 9.4 million people in Latin America and the Caribbean.
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NewsNew study shows near-complete reduction of cervical cancer deaths among HPV-vaccinated adolescents in England
A new study suggests the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine may be responsible for a near-complete protective effect against death from cervical cancer among women under 30 in England who received the vaccine between 12-18 years old.