All articles by Linda Stewart – Page 56
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NewsEngineered yeast converts methanol into valuable compound α-farnesene at scale
Farnesene, a high-value chemical intermediate, has applications in fragrance and pharmaceutical synthesis as well as aviation fuel formulations.To reduce reliance on food-based feedstocks, researchers have engineered microbial cell factories capable of utilizing methanol.
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NewsNew chlorophyll fluorescence imaging technique enables early detection of rice fungal diseases
A research team leverages chlorophyll fluorescence (ChlF) imaging, a cutting-edge technique, to identify reliable pre-symptomatic diagnostic indicators for rice blast and brown spot.
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NewsBreakthrough engineered enzyme for recycling of PET bottle and blended fibers at moderate temperatures
Researchers engineered a novel PET hydrolase PET2-21M and established large-scale production in yeast. This enzyme dramatically boosted PET bottle-grade PET breakdown, offering a promising, energy-efficient path for a circular plastics economy.
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NewsHow plants are learning to spot sneaky bacterial invaders
Scientists used artificial intelligence to help plants recognize a wider range of bacterial threats — which may lead to new ways to protect crops like tomatoes and potatoes from devastating diseases.
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NewsNew AI tool accelerates mRNA-based treatments for viruses, cancers, genetic disorders
A new artificial intelligence model can improve the process of drug and vaccine discovery by predicting how efficiently specific mRNA sequences will produce proteins, both generally and in various cell types.
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NewsSmart bacteria could transform global agricultural food production
An interdisciplinary team are to receive almost half a million pounds to fund the development of a ‘smart bacterium’ that can dynamically reprogramme how crops respond to environmental stresses in real-time.
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NewsScientists uncover critical role of membrane protein topology in beta-coronaviruses assembly
Beta-coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, have caused global health problems. How the virus infects host cells and triggers immunological responses has been investigated extensively. However, how the virus replicates and assembles in the cell is largely unknown. Researchers at the Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, have uncovered a conserved mechanism ...
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NewsTherapeutic vaccine for chronic hepatitis B enters first clinical trial in patients
TherVacB, a novel therapeutic vaccine for chronic hepatitis B, has entered its first clinical trial in patients. A successful phase 1a trial in healthy volunteers saw the vaccine demonstrate a favorable safety profile and trigger the desired immune responses.
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NewsHigh-efficacy adjuvanted subunit vaccine against variant infectious bursal disease virus in chicks
Infectious bursal disease (IBD) is an acute, highly contagious disease caused by the infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), primarily affecting chicks. Notably, the emergence of new mutant strains that exacerbate the disease can cause serious economic losses to the global poultry industry. To date, there is no commercial vaccine against ...
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NewsStudy of water bodies frequented by wild birds reveals presence of antimicrobial resistance genes in nine in 10 samples
The first UK study to monitor antimicrobial resistance and influenza viruses in water bodies has revealed that 92% of samples contained genes for resistance to colistin, an antibiotic of last resort.
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NewsScientists call for urgent policy reform to accelerate cross-border coral restoration efforts
An international team of coral scientists is calling for urgent regulatory reform to support assisted gene flow (AGF)—a powerful tool to boost coral resilience—before climate change causes further reef decline and irreversible damage to coral ecosystems.
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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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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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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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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.