All articles by Linda Stewart – Page 7
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NewsNew research rewrites origins of world’s first recorded pandemic - the Plague of Justinian
For the first time, researchers have uncovered direct genomic evidence of the bacterium behind the Plague of Justinian — the world’s first recorded pandemic — in the Eastern Mediterranean, where the outbreak was first described nearly 1,500 years ago.
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NewsNext-generation ‘molecular scissors’ may offer hope for chronic hepatitis B sufferers
Researchers have developed engineered precision ’molecular scissors’ that can permanently disable the genetic blueprint of the hepatitis B virus (HBV). The approach directly targets covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), the stubborn viral reservoir.
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NewsMyocardial infarction may be an infectious disease
A pioneering study has demonstrated for the first time that myocardial infarction may be an infectious disease. This discovery challenges the conventional understanding of the pathogenesis of myocardial infarction and opens new avenues for treatment.
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NewsAncient viruses in human genomes offer new avenue for stopping cancers, autoimmune diseases, and more
Researchers have revealed the first three-dimensional structure of a protein from an ancient human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) found within the human genome.
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NewsResearchers uncover sensory abilities of bacteria in the gut
An international team has shown that commensal bacteria can perceive and respond to diverse chemical stimuli in their environment. They focused on Clostridia, motile bacteria that play an important role in gut health.
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NewsSeroprevalence 36 months after a single-dose bivalent HPV vaccination among nine to fifteen-year-old girls
A single-dose bivalent HPV vaccine induces sustained immunity in Bangladeshi adolescent girls, with lower HPV16 seropositivity among older girls and those in higher grades, with higher HPV18 seropositivity linked to lower household income.
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NewsScientists reveal the first structure of the complete botulinum neurotoxin complex
Researchers have succeeded in creating a molecular blueprint of how one of the world’s most dangerous toxins, botulinum toxin, is structured, stabilised, delivered and released. The research paves the way for more effective drugs.
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NewsNew research makes first broad-spectrum antiviral
A new study offers a promising path toward the development of the world’s first broad-spectrum antiviral (BSA), which could be deployed against a wide range of deadly viruses, including future pandemic threats.
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NewsGlobal Virus Network announces 2025 Rising Star Mentorship Program Awardees
The Global Virus Network (GVN) has announced the five distinguished recipients of its 2025 Rising Star Mentorship Program. The program is designed to support early-career virologists poised to become the next generation of global leaders in pandemic preparedness and infectious disease research.
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NewsAlcohol opens the floodgates for bad bacteria
Scientists have found that chronic alcohol use impairs the production of a key cellular signaling protein that helps keep gut bacteria within the gut. Without this guardrail in place, bacteria from the gut can more easily migrate to the liver, exacerbating liver damage caused by alcohol.
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NewsStudy exposes sewage contamination locations threatening West Hawai’i coral reefs
New research reveals the extent to which sewage pollution threatens the fragile coral reef ecosystems of West Hawaiʻi Island. Researchers pinpointed locations where high levels of fecal bacteria associated with populated coastal areas are driving worsening contamination.
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NewsKiss goodbye to deadly disease – new research finds ‘Pac-Man’ antibodies for killer parasite
Researchers have successfully produced antibodies that kill the parasite carried by the ‘kissing bug’ that causes the potentially deadly Chagas disease. The research is a vital step towards the development of the first effective vaccine.
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NewsResearchers create faster way to trace how diseases spread indoors
Researchers have developed a new method of monitoring and tracking how disease-causing particles, or pathogens, spread from one place to another. The tool could help contain future outbreaks of diseases like COVID-19.
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NewsGlobal analysis reveals overlooked hotspots at risk for long COVID due to early disability burdens
An international team of researchers has conducted the most comprehensive global-to-local analysis to date on long COVID risk, using disability data from the height of the pandemic to identify vulnerable populations.
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NewsScientists identify three potent human antibodies against mpox, paving the way for new protective therapies
Researchers have discovered three powerful monoclonal antibodies from a person who had previously been infected with mpox (formerly known as monkeypox).
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NewsScientists discover how cells use a secret weapon to fight off some pathogens
New research shows that mitochondria detect invading pathogen Toxoplasma gondii and ramp up competition for vitamin B9, depriving it of the nourishment it needs to grow. A researcher noticed that the amount of mitochondrial DNA in a mitochondrion increased during infection.
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NewsCommon cold may protect against COVID-19 according to researchers
A new study has found that recent infection with the common cold — often caused by rhinoviruses — may offer temporary protection against infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
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NewsMouth to gut bacteria migration explains why smoking is good for inflamed bowels
Researchers have discovered why smoking tobacco helps people suffering from ulcerative colitis. The study shows that smoking produces metabolites that encourage bacteria from the mouth to grow in the large intestines where they trigger an immune response.
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NewsCommon painkillers linked to antibiotic resistance
Ibuprofen and paracetamol are common over-the-counter medications that many of us reach for when we’re sick. But new research shows that these trusted staples are quietly fuelling one of the world’s biggest health threats: antibiotic resistance.
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NewsYogurt and hot spring bathing show a promising combination for gut health
Researchers have demonstrated that yogurt intake increases the diversity of gut microbiota and alters its composition. Furthermore, bathing in chloride hot springs after yogurt intake was found to improve defecation status more than yogurt alone.