All articles by Linda Stewart – Page 37
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NewsNew study in Ukraine indicates significant lifetime exposure and ongoing transmission of hepatitis B and C viruses among the general population
A nationwide study in Ukraine has found evidence of significant exposure to hepatitis B and C viruses and substantial ongoing circulation among the population, highlighting need for immunisation and regular screening.
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NewsImmunity to seasonal flu protects against severe illness from bird flu in ferrets
A study in ferrets — which have remarkably similar respiratory systems to humans — suggests that widespread immunity to H1N1 seasonal influenza virus may explain why exposure to H5N1 bird flu causes only mild symptoms in humans.
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NewsNewly discovered ‘sixth sense’ links gut microbes to the brain in real time
Researchers have uncovered what they call a “neurobiotic sense,” a newly identified system that lets the brain respond in real time to signals from microbes in our gut. Tiny sensor cells lining the colon’s epithelium detect a microbial protein and send rapid messages to the brain.
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NewsUnderground Atlas: First global map of fungal biodiversity reveals 90% conservation gap
The Underground Atlas is the first digital map predicting Earth’s underground mycorrhizal fungal biodiversity. The work analyzed 2.8 billion DNA sequences from 130 countries revealing that over 90% of mycorrhizal biodiversity hotspots lie outside protected areas.
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NewsStealth genetic switch in mosquitoes halts malaria spread
Biologists have created a CRISPR-based gene-editing system that changes a single molecule within mosquitoes, stopping the malaria-parasite transmission process. Genetically altered mosquitoes are still able to bite those with malaria, but the parasites can no longer be spread to other people.
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NewsNew study brings vaccine hopes for deadly Nipah virus
Researchers have tested experimental Nipah vaccines in pigs, aiming to cut off the virus at one of its key transmission routes. The study describes the development of three vaccine candidates using different viral surface proteins.
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NewsMicrobially synthesized bioplastic may solve marine plastic pollution problem
Researchers have demonstrated a new eco-friendly plastic that decomposes in deep ocean conditions. In a deep-sea experiment, the microbially synthesized poly(d-lactate-co-3-hydroxybutyrate) (LAHB) biodegraded, while conventional plastics persisted.
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NewsBeetroot juice lowers blood pressure in older people by changing oral microbiome
The blood pressure lowering effect of nitrate-rich beetroot juice in older people may be due to specific changes in their oral microbiome, according to the largest study of its kind.
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NewsThe Holobiont Revolution: How wheat is becoming more climate-resilient
A new breeding concept, specifically for wheat, could help reduce nitrogen fertilization. This holobiont principle places the complex interactions between plants and soil microbiomes at the center of plant breeding.
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NewsResearch reveals STIs during pregnancy linked to adverse birth complications
Common sexually transmitted infections during pregnancy have been linked to a higher risk of significant birth complications including preterm birth, stillbirth and babies born smaller than expected.
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NewsScientists uncover how ticks defend themselves against a deadly virus
Researchers studying ticks’ cellular responses to Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia syndrome virus pinpointed how two RNA helicases, essential proteins found in all forms of life, were critical in reducing SFTSV’s replication within the ticks.
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NewsCandida’s hidden toolbox: Scientists discover a previously unknown infection strategy
A new study shows that the common blood protein albumin can turn otherwise harmless fungal strains of Candida albicans into dangerous pathogens.
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NewsRestricted diet triggers individualized microbiome shifts without community convergence
Scientists who carried out a tightly controlled dietary intervention known as the “Oatmeal Study” found that while participants’ diets became nearly identical, their microbiomes did not follow suit.
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NewsInappropriate prescriptions for antibiotics, glucocorticoids and opioids common at urgent cares
Urgent care visits commonly result in inappropriate prescriptions of antibiotics, glucocorticoids or opioids, researchers have warned.
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NewsCertain fungi can boost the micronutrient content of bread wheat
New research indicates that bread wheat’s micronutrient content can be increased by cultivating it with a specific type of fungus. Crops grown with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis developed larger grains with greater amounts of phosphorus and zinc.
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NewsCan a compound produced by deep-sea bacteria treat cancer?
Investigators purified a long-chain sugar molecule, or exopolysaccharide, from deep-sea bacteria and demonstrated that it triggers pyroptosis—an inflammatory form of programmed cell death—to inhibit tumor growth.
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NewsHow does infection with respiratory syncytial virus affect the health of older adults?
Adults aged 65 and older hospitalized for RSV in Ontario experienced significantly higher rates of adverse outcomes such as longer length of hospital stay, transfer to intensive care, and 30-day mortality, compared with patients hospitalized with influenza, urinary tract infection, or fracture.
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NewsTiny soil microbes turn detective to uncover the timeline of oil spill contamination
Scientists in Belfast and Nigeria have developed a diagnostic tool that deploys microbes to uncover the timeline of crude oil contamination in soils.
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NewsStudy discovers that soft drinks affect the communication of gut bacteria and the immune system
Gut bacteria can adapt to environmental changes through DNA inversions. Researchers investigating how these DNA inversions occur found that consuming soft drinks, which contain white sugar, can alter the DNA of gut bacteria and, in turn, impact the host’s immune system.
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NewsProbiotics can help or hinder gut recovery after antibiotic treatment
All probiotics are not created equal, according to new research. In a mouse model, researchers found that different probiotic strains can either accelerate or delay the gut microbiome’s recovery after antibiotic treatment.