All articles by Linda Stewart – Page 8
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NewsPhage therapy at a turning point: Valencia 2026 to define the next era of antibacterial medicine
The Targeting Phage Therapy 2026 Congress will bring together leading scientists, clinicians, microbiologists, engineers, biotech leaders, regulators, hospital teams, start-ups, and innovators to ask: How can phage therapy move from promising science to accessible, validated, and deployable medicine?
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NewsA universal toolkit for editing bacterial DNA
A major collaboration involving nine labs has transferred a particularly useful DNA editing system from E. coli into 14 new species of bacteria, spanning three major branches of the bacterial family tree.
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NewsCrab shell by-products could help regulate the marine lifetime of biodegradable plastics
Researchers show that crab shell by-products can reduce the breakdown rate of biodegradable plastics in seawater by altering the microbial communities that colonize their surfaces, known as the plastisphere.
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NewsHow AI can help us count the ‘good’ viruses used in biopharmaceuticals
Researchers have developed a new methodology that uses artificial intelligence (AI) tools to identify and count target viruses more efficiently than previous techniques. The new approach can be used in applications such as pharmaceutical biomanufacturing.
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NewsFrom precision intervention to a “virtual gut”: how close are we to predicting and steering the human microbiome?
A new review maps how multi-omics and machine learning could turn host-microbiome research from correlation hunting into actionable prediction and personalized therapy.
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NewsAutomation platform enables high-resolution spatial mapping of microbial communities
Researchers have developed a sequential error-robust FISH spatial mapping platform (SEER-Map) which enables fully automated, high-multiplexity spatial profiling of complex microbial communities at single-cell resolution.
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NewsResearchers deploy phage therapy in new frontier against antimicrobial resistant infectious diseases
A revelatory treatment for patients with life-threatening infectious diseases is being pioneered in Melbourne. VICPhage, a clinical partnership between The Alfred and Monash, is one of the first in Australia to offer end-to-end capacity in phage therapy to treat some of the most challenging infections.
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NewsGut microbiota impacts resistance to bacterial pneumonia: Study
A gut-lung connection influences susceptibility to infection by Acinetobacter baumannii, according to a new study. Investigators found that antibiotics disrupt the gut microbiota, suppress protective immune system pathways in the lungs; and increase the severity of pneumonia.
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NewsStudy of influenza D in human cells and tissue hints at spillover potential
The influenza D virus that researchers say has been flying under the radar since its detection in animals in 2011 can vigorously make copies of itself in human cells and lung tissue samples, a new study shows.
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NewsGene-sharing myth challenged as bacteria shown to police DNA exchange
A new study reveals that bacteria can actively limit the spread of antibiotic resistance genes, using a newly characterized mechanism that blocks DNA transfer between cells. It focuses on how bacteria exchange genetic material through tiny intercellular bridges known as nanotubes.
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NewsResearchers develop promising new vaccine against H5N1 bird flu
Researchers have developed a vaccine approach that shows promise in protecting against highly pathogenic bird flu, demonstrating strong efficacy in both mice and cattle. In 2024, the virus spread to dairy cattle and subsequently caused illness in about 70 farm workers with close contact to infected animals.
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NewsAmbient air pollution is associated with respiratory infection burden in the first year of life
Ambient air pollution is associated with respiratory infection burden in the first year of life, according to preliminary findings from the Immune Development in Early Life (IDEaL) Rome Cohort.
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NewsDetailed map of life-threatening Vibrio bacteria reveals new target for treatment
Scientists have mapped in unprecedented detail the structure of Vibrio bacteria, which can cause life-threatening infections linked to antibiotic resistance. The team behind the study say the finding could provide new targets for life-saving treatment.
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NewsDrip-irrigated halotolerant PGPB boost jujube yield and quality in saline soils by reshaping soil bacterial communities
A new study demonstrates that applying halotolerant plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) via drip irrigation during the crop growth period can effectively alleviate soil salinity stress, enhance jujube productivity and fruit quality, and restructure rhizosphere bacterial communities in saline agricultural soils.
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NewsComputational approach takes the guesswork out of drug development for Chagas disease
Researchers have established a computational protocol that could accelerate the development of more effective treatments for life-threatening parasitic infections such as Chagas disease, by enabling scientists to accurately identify reactions that can result in successful drug candidates without the need for trial and error.
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NewsRare orchid Paphiopedilum purpuratum mediates adaptation via a dual-fungal strategy
Paphiopedilum purpuratum, an endangered orchid species with critical conservation value, faces severe challenges in ex situ adaptation despite successful reproductive output. A novel study reveals the integrated physiological and symbiotic adaptation mechanism underlying its ex situ conservation.
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NewsCOVID-19 and severe heart attack increase mortality by 25% after one year, more than double pre-pandemic rates
Findings from the North American COVID-19 Myocardial Infarction (NACMI) registry demonstrate significantly higher one-year mortality rates in patients with COVID-19 and ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) compared to patients with STEMI alone.
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NewsCinnamic acid blocks plasmid conjugation to slow antibiotic resistance spread
A new study reveals that cinnamic acid, a widely used food additive found in cinnamon, can effectively inhibit plasmid‑mediated conjugation, a major route for the global spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs).
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NewsNew study examines measles vaccination coverage after a postelimination outbreak
In 2022–2023, a large postelimination measles outbreak occurred in central Ohio. A study found that 20 months after the outbreak, MMR coverage across the entire primary care network (PCN) population remained well below herd immunity levels, with minimal gains.
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NewsIntestinal Candida albicans is associated with subclinical coronary atherosclerosis in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease with cirrhosis
Researchers have published the first report of gut fungal dysbiosis associated with the severity of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and subclinical coronary atherosclerosis. An increased abundance of fecal C. albicans was observed in patients with cirrhosis and high SCA burden.