All articles by Linda Stewart – Page 3
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NewsUnderground methane leaks may cultivate microbes that help consume them
Researchers have identified where naturally occurring soil microbes consume methane released from underground natural gas leaks. Methane-consuming microbes were most active in a narrow zone near the surface where methane rising from below meets oxygen entering from the atmosphere.
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NewsAn enzyme with potential: New type of plastic-degrading enzyme discovered in bacteria
Researchers have identified a new enzyme that can not only degrade certain polyesters and bioplastics, but also might provide bacteria with resistance to antibiotics. The discovery raises hopes that microorganisms can adapt to plastic degradation more rapidly than previously thought.
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NewsWhere do dissimilatory iodate-reducing microorganisms live in the ocean?
Scientists have discovered that dissimilatory iodate-producing microorganisms do not live above marine oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) as long predicted - instead thriving within the OMZs, converting iodate into iodide and promoting the release of marine iodine into the atmosphere.
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NewsAnti-fouling materials protect against slimy incursions
Researchershave received a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to develop materials that incorporate soft robotics and nontoxic polymers to fight biofouling, or the buildup of aquatic organisms in wet environments.
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NewsWild tomatillos coat fruits with sticky chemical arsenal, study finds
For decades, research on plant chemical defenses has focused on glandular trichomes—the tiny hair‑like structures on leaves and stems that produce and secrete protective compounds. Acyl sugars, a class of specialized metabolites widespread in the nightshade family (Solanaceae), are known to deter insects and fungal pathogens when produced in leaf ...
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NewsImmune drug anifrolumab linked to lower risk of infection and hospitalization for skin lupus
Preliminary results from an investigator-initiated single-site clinical study show that some people with chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus are less likely to acquire life-threatening infections when taking the drug anifrolumab.
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NewsWhy does severe illness during pregnancy sometimes harm neurodevelopment?
Scientists find maternal immune activation alters gene activity in developing mouse brains, increasing risk of neurodevelopmental disorders like autism spectrum
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NewsAMI to lead workshop at the World One Health Congress this weekend
Applied Microbiology International (AMI) will be taking part in the 9th World One Health Congress, which will be held in Lisbon from 4-7 September, bringing together more than 1.200 participants, featuring almost 600 scientific posters and hosting over 80 sessions.
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NewsProtecting the peanut: Sensors help fend off fungus
Early detection could be the difference between a healthy peanut crop and a devastating outbreak of Sclerotinia blight — a fungal disease capable of causing significant yield loss.
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NewsAntifungal therapy shows potential for IBD patients with candida overgrowth
A commonly used systemic antifungal medication may help reduce symptoms in a subset of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) by restoring a healthier gut microbiome, according to a preliminary study.
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NewsAnti-influenza therapies that target the host
Researchers suggest that nucleolin-binding drugs are a promising avenue of research in the quest to overcome drug resistance and improve influenza management worldwide.
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NewsGoniothalamin as a dual-target medicinal chemistry candidate against antibiotic-resistant bacteria
A new computational study has found that goniothalamin — a natural plant compound — binds tightly to two critical bacterial proteins in drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, suggesting it could form the basis of a new class of antibacterial agents.
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NewsPediatric investigation review emphasizes the evolving landscape of pediatric enterovirus infections
A review article highlights how rapid viral evolution of enteroviruses combined with shifting dominant strains and antigenic variation present a major obstacle to EV prevention and control in children.
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NewsSmoky off-flavors in cocoa aren’t caused solely by smoke - overfermentation can be the cause
Researchers have shown that overfermentation of cocoa beans can cause smoky, leathery, and cheesy off-flavors. Smoky flavors, therefore, are not necessarily attributable to smoke contamination.
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NewsLoss of kelp forests reverberates down to microbial level
As one moves north, Maine’s kelp forests are being overtaken by dense mats of carpet-like turf algae. The steady decline of kelp, and transition into this new state, is altering the ecosystem all the way down to the microbial level, according to a new study.
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NewsSemen facilitates infection with mpox virus
Researchers have found that seminal fluid can facilitate infection of skin cells with the mpox virus. An analysis of the seminal fluid showed that certain naturally occurring protein fragments are responsible for this effect.
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NewsMould toxins in food are not destroyed during cooking or baking
A survey shows that only a small proportion of the population (29 per cent) is concerned about potential health risks posed by mould, whilst the majority (51 per cent) do not give it any thought at all.
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NewsAntarctica is home to microbes found nowhere else on Earth
Researchers have found evidence that specific microbes in Antarctica’s soils are endemic — located on the continent and nowhere else on Earth.
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NewsPlant diversity: Does it really matter for gut health? (BTW, dark chocolate counts)
New research shows that eating a more diverse range of plants - including fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, herbs and spices - on a weekly basis may be associated with better gut and metabolic health.
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NewsHeat-tolerant corals may be more vulnerable to disease, study finds
Corals that partner with heat-tolerant algae may be better equipped to survive warming oceans but that resilience comes with an unexpected trade-off. Such corals keep their stress response system in a heightened state - and that can backfire.