All articles by Linda Stewart – Page 57
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NewsFrom prey to predator: How carnivores spread beneficial fungi
New research reveals that carnivores play an important role in ecosystem function by providing a largely overlooked mechanism for long-distance dispersal of beneficial mycorrhizal fungi.
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NewsCandida auris: genetic process revealed which could be treatment target for deadly fungal disease
Scientists have discovered a genetic process which could unlock new ways to treat a mysterious and deadly fungal infection which has shut down multiple hospital intensive care units.
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NewsBacteria resisting viral infection can still sink carbon to ocean floor
Researchers exploring the mechanisms of phage resistance and its effects on the ecological jobs done by ocean bacteria found that some of the mutations studied don’t interfere with the bacteria’s ability to carry out their job of capturing and sinking carbon to the ocean floor.
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NewsHigh-dose antibiotic does not reduce mortality in tuberculous meningitis
The first trial examining the effects of higher rifampicin doses on tuberculosis survival has been completed. The study found no evidence of a beneficial effect from high-dose rifampicin.
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NewsSoil microbes in Colombia’s páramo and tropical forests respond to seasonal shifts
A new study has demonstrated that microbial communities in the soil of Colombia’s tropical forests and high-altitude páramos are significantly influenced by seasonal changes, particularly during the dry season.
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NewsGut bacteria have evolved rapidly to digest starches in ultra-processed foods
Researchers have found that gene variants that help microbes digest starches found in ultra-processed foods have “swept” the genomes of some species of gut bacteria in industrialized parts of the world.
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NewsFifteen-year cattle manure application reshapes phoD- and gcd-harboring microbiomes, enhancing vegetable yields
A new study demonstrates that combined manure and chemical fertilizer (M+CF) in an open-field lettuce cropping system enhanced both diversity (+45.3%) and abundance (+290%) of gcd-harboring bacteria.
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NewsResearchers develop novel composite copper oxides with strong and stable antiviral activity
Composite copper–lanthanum and copper–yttrium oxides developed by researchers from Japan demonstrate exceptionally high antiviral activity against non-enveloped virus. These oxides are highly stable and achieve over 99.999% viral inactivation in laboratory tests.
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NewsA practical guide for characterization of novel CRISPR-Cas systems with Pro-CRISPR factors
In this protocol, the authors provide a method encompassing protein purification, biochemical characterization, validation of protein-protein interactions, and preliminary in vivo functional assays in bacteria for Cas nuclease and its associated Pro-CRISPR factor.
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NewsOral bacterium tied to disability severity in multiple sclerosis
A research team has conducted a study with findings that suggest a potential association between the relative abundance of Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum), a bacterium found in the mouth, and disease severity in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.
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NewsFiltering the invisible: New evidence points to more efficient indoor air microbe sampling
Using fluorescence-based detection, a new study provides clear, quantitative evidence that sampling principle, collection medium, and airflow rate strongly shape how well indoor microbial aerosols can be measured.
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NewsResearch reveals how ancient viral DNA shapes early embryonic development
New research focuses on a viral transposable element called MERVL. This element becomes highly active for a short window of time when a mouse embryo reaches the 2-cell stage – the point at which a fertilised egg has divided into two cells and switches on its own genome for the first time.
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CareersA day in the life of a soil microbial ecologist
Dr. Taniya RoyChowdhury, a soil microbial ecologist and biogeochemist at the Woodwell Climate Research Center, describes a typical day.
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NewsResearch links tumor bacteria to immunotherapy resistance in head and neck cancer
Two new studies reveal that elevated levels of bacteria in the tumor microenvironment suppress immune response, driving resistance to immunotherapy in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
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NewsTurning crop waste into precision weapons against waterborne pathogens
Researchers have developed a novel class of biomass-derived carbon dots that selectively eradicate Staphylococcus aureus in water, using corn straw to synthesize amine-modified nanomaterials that act as oxidase mimics, enabling targeted bacterial inactivation without harming beneficial microorganisms.
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NewsResearchers use robotics to find potential new antibiotic among hundreds of metal complexes
Researchers have used a cutting-edge robotic system capable of synthesising hundreds of metal complexes to develop a possible antibiotic candidate - offering fresh hope in the global fight against drug-resistant infections.
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NewsNew findings on Candida auris open up potential targets for future therapies
A study shows for the first time that Candida auris uses a CO₂-based metabolic strategy to survive in the nutrient-poor conditions of the skin and to better tolerate antifungal therapies – especially amphotericin B.
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NewsLivestock-induced changes in soil properties and microbial dominance determine soil microbial diversity in a conifer forest
In the critical habitat of the giant panda, livestock grazing is reshaping the invisible yet vital world of soil microbes in an unexpected way. A new study reveals that while grazing alters soil properties, it paradoxically leads to an increase in soil bacterial diversity.
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NewsStage-specific microbial dynamics underpin ecosystem restoration on tropical coral islands
Facilitating the establishment of self-sustaining plant communities has become a crucial scientific and technological issue that urgently needs to be addressed in advancing marine ecological civilization and maintaining ecological safety on tropical coral islands.
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NewsBeing infected or vaccinated first influences COVID-19 immunity
A new study analysing the immune response to COVID-19 sheds light on an important question: does it matter whether a person was first infected or first vaccinated? According to the results, the order of the events does alter the outcome.