All McMaster University articles
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NewsViral infections can accelerate the progression of ALS, researchers find
A new study suggests that common viral infections — like influenza or COVID-19 — may accelerate the onset and progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. The findings suggest that it is the immune response triggered by these infections that accelerates the onset and progression of ALS.
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NewsResearchers uncover what could make some bacteria-killing viruses more effective than others
Bacteriophages — or phages, for short — are viruses that kill bacteria, and scientists have been studying them for decades as a possible solution to antibiotic-resistant infections. But phages are notoriously picky eaters — a phage that can eradicate one bacterial strain is often powerless against others, even if the ...
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NewsResearchers use friendly viruses to tackle inflammatory bowel disease
A research team has developed a targeted approach to treating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) using bacteriophages, viruses that infect specific bacteria, to disarm harmful microbes without disrupting the broader gut ecosystem.
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NewsCase study: Fatal rabies in a child
Ontario’s first case of fatal rabies since 1967 provides critical guidance to help prevent death from rabies in future instances. The parents agreed to share their son’s case to help raise awareness of rabies.
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NewsNew antibiotic attacks bacteria in never-before-seen way
Scientists have discovered a new antibiotic that works in a never-before-seen way and may be the next frontliner in the fight against drug-resistant superbugs.
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NewsResearchers discover a new antibiotic — and a new way to kill drug-resistant bacteria
Researchers have discovered a new antibiotic that kills some of the world’s most dangerous and drug-resistant bacteria by targeting a previously unknown vulnerability. Manikomycin has shown early effectiveness against priority pathogens including Salmonella, E. coli, and Klebsiella.
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NewsResearchers identify natural compound that disarms drug-resistant bacteria
Scientists studying MRSA discovered that geranylgeranoic acid (GGA) – a naturally occurring fatty acid found in plants like ginger and turmeric – interferes with the bacteria’s virulence, its ability to infect, spread, defend itself, and cause disease.
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NewsAncient, insect-targeting bacterial toxin may have implications for human health, agriculture, and drug discovery
Scientists have identified and characterized a new class of Streptomyces-produced toxins that are very distantly related to the deadly toxin that causes diphtheria, a serious and contagious infection, in humans.
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NewsMissing gut bacteria may prevent some people with celiac disease from fully benefiting from high-fiber supplements or diets
Many people with celiac disease are advised to eat more fibre to support digestion and manage symptoms, either through diet or prescribed fibre supplements. New research shows that the benefits of that fibre may depend on whether the right bacteria are present in the gut to break it down.
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NewsBacteria found in mouth and gut may help protect against severe peanut allergic reactions
One of the big mysteries in food allergy is why two people with similar levels of peanut specific antibodies can react so differently. A new study shows for the first time how gut bacteria break down parts of an allergenic food and influence how a person reacts to peanuts.
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NewsResearchers solve mystery behind rare clotting after adenoviral vaccines or natural adenovirus infection
Scientists have uncovered why a small number of people developed dangerous blood clots after either receiving certain COVID‑19 vaccines or experiencing a natural adenovirus infection - the answer lies in an unexpected case of misdirected targeting by the immune system.
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NewsWhat drives food allergies? New study pinpoints early-life factors that raise risk - including microbiome
A new study involving 2.8 million children around the world has revealed the most important early-life factors that influence whether a child becomes allergic to food. Genetics alone cannot fully explain food allergy trends, pointing to interactions between genes, skin health, the microbiome, and environmental exposures.
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NewsWhy don’t antibiotic-making bacteria self-destruct?
Scientists discovered a promising new antibiotic in a soil sample. The molecule, lariocidin, is produced by the microbe Paenibacillus and shows broad activity against pathogenic bacteria. Now, the researchers report how Paenibacillus avoids harm by its own antibiotic.
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NewsDiscovery could lead to new treatments for drug-resistant fungal infections
Researchers have identified a molecule that may help turn the tide on fungal infections — butyrolactol A, a chemical compound that targets a deadly, disease-causing fungi called Cryptococcus neoformans.
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NewsNew antibiotic targets IBD — and AI predicted how it would work before scientists could prove it
The new antibiotic, enterololin, attacks and kills only a specific group of disease-causing bugs, which includes the type of E. coli that drives Crohn’s disease. It is a promising new treatment option for people affected by Crohn’s and other IBD-related conditions.
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NewsResearchers discover all-new antifungal drug candidate in university greenhouse
A research team at McMaster University has discovered a new drug class that could someday lead to breakthrough treatments for dangerous fungal infections. The new molecules, dubbed coniotins, were isolated from a plant-dwelling fungus called Coniochaeta hoffmannii — the samples of which were collected from the McMaster ...
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NewsTrapping gut bacteria’s hidden fuel improves blood sugar and liver health, study shows
Scientists have discovered a surprising new way to improve blood sugar levels and reduce liver damage: by trapping a little-known fuel made by gut bacteria before they wreak havoc on the body. It could open the door to new therapies to treat metabolic diseases.
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NewsNature’s toolkit: Scientists breed mushrooms to build versatile natural substitutes for commonly used materials
Scientists have shown that natural genetic variations in a common species of mushroom can be used to create new strains capable of making customized, biodegradable replacements for fabric, plastic, packaging and other environmentally harmful materials.
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NewsHow the plague bacillus became less virulent, prolonging the duration of two major pandemics
Scientists have discovered that the evolution of a gene in the bacterium that causes bubonic plague, Yersinia pestis, may have prolonged the duration of two major pandemics. Modifying the copy number of a specific virulence gene increases the length of infection.
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NewsFungi dwelling on human skin may provide new antibiotics
Researchers have uncovered a molecule produced by yeast living on human skin that showed potent antimicrobial properties against a pathogen responsible for a half-million hospitalizations annually in the United States.