All articles by Linda Stewart – Page 51
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NewsGifts from the sea: Molecules derived from coral may help fight harmful bacteria
Pus, strep throat, and even tuberculosis—most infectious diseases are characterized by a cluster of pathogenic bacteria that can be stubborn and resistant to antibiotics. Researchers have found another method to combat these bacteria using naturally sourced molecules found in corals.
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NewsNew research reveals a deadly fungal pathogen’s vulnerabilities
Scientists have disovered how the lethal pathogenic fungus, Cryptococcus neoformans, thrives, allowing them to identify potential novel therapeutic targets for treatment.
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NewsA promising therapeutic agent for treating excessive inflammation due to COVID-19
Researchers show that iguratimod, a rheumatoid arthritis drug, reduces COVID-19-induced inflammation in mice without suppressing antiviral immunity.
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NewsA repurposed FDA-approved drug shows promise in killing antibiotic resistant bacteria
A study of Acinetobacter baumannii employed an entirely new strategy to identify weaknesses specific to resistant bacteria and then target these weaknesses with an alternate drug. They found that fendiline kills the bacterium by targeting the essential lipoprotein trafficking pathway, which is weakened in antibiotic resistant bacteria.
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NewsSHEA affirms trust in ACIP and supports science-based vaccine policy
Public health experts have commented on the removal by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) of all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the use of vaccines in the US.
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NewsSARS-CoV-2 protein found to spread between cells, triggering immune attack on healthy cells
A new study reveals that the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein can spread from infected to uninfected cells, triggering an immune response that mistakenly targets healthy cells.
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NewsScientists reveal gene pairs conferring resistance to wheat diseases
A research team led by Prof. Liu Zhiyong at the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has identified two novel genetic mechanisms for disease resistance in wheat, offering promising strategies to enhance resilience against powdery mildew and stripe rust. The discoveries were published in ...
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NewsInstant AI-assisted test for viral infection
A non-DNA based test could identify viral infections in patients in minutes. Scientists designed a test that confirms the presence of live virus by pushing particles through a nanopore, one at a time, and measuring their electrical conductivity, which varies with size and surface charge as well as the unique molecular structure of the virus.
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NewsUrgent need to quantify role of fungal toxins in rising liver cancer rates in Ghana
There’s an urgent need to quantify the role of aflatoxins, found on agricultural crops, such as maize and peanuts, in the escalating rates of liver cancer in Ghana, as well as elsewhere in Africa and Asia, concludes a commentary.
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NewsPeople with COVID-like symptoms took up to nine months post-infection to regain mental well-being
New research finds that people with COVID-like symptoms returned to optimal physical well-being an average of three months after infection, but took up to nine months to return to top mental well-being.
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NewsWHO announces that mpox remains a public health emergency of international concern
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has announced that the mpox upsurge continues to meet the criteria of a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) set forth in the International Health Regulations (IHR).
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NewsResearchers pinpoint fungal hotspots of ‘dark taxa’ across Earth’s underground ecosystems
A new study finds that 83% of ectomycorrhizal fungi are known only by their DNA sequences that can’t be linked to named or described species, posing problems for conservation.
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NewsGene pyramiding protects peppers from devastating viral diseases
Researchers demonstrates how combining two different resistance genes can make pepper plants remarkably more resilient against even the most virulent begomovirus combinations.
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NewsDrone-based tech deployed to detect subtle signs of rice blast disease
Scientists have developed a novel vegetation index—the Rice Blast Index (RBI)—using drone-based hyperspectral remote sensing technology, to rapidly and non-invasively detect subtle signs of rice blast disease and achieve precise field management.
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NewsInfectious diseases experts raise alarm about antifungal resistance, call for global effort
Infectious disease experts are raising the alarm about the role new pesticides can play in building resistance to antifungal medical treatments, calling for a coordinated, global ”One Health” approach to developing, testing and using agents to fight pathogens.
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NewsEndangered mountain caribou possess unique gut microbiome that may be important for recovery efforts
Endangered mountain caribou in British Columbia possess a unique gut microbiome in late winter when they feed on tree lichens, a finding that could guide caribou recovery efforts, according to a new study.
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NewsNew study reveals global warming accelerates antibiotic resistance in soils
A new international study has revealed that climate change is accelerating the rate of development and global abundances of antibiotic resistance bacteria in soils.
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NewsFish ‘beauty salons’ offer insight into how microbes move within reefs
A new study highlights the potential impact of cleaner fish in coral reefs and the need to demystify their role in shaping reef microbial diversity and transmission.
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NewsUltra-selective aptamers give viruses a taste of their own medicine
Inspired by the way viruses attach to cells, scientists have developed a method for engineering ultra-selective aptamers. The synthetic molecules bind to targets like viral spike proteins, making them useful for biomedical diagnostics and treatments.
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NewsTwin study detects gut bacteria that play a role in development of multiple sclerosis
Researchers examined stool samples from 81 pairs of twins, and compared their composition between siblings. They identified 51 taxa—groups of microorganisms—that differed in abundance between twins with and without MS symptoms.