All Middle East & Africa articles
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NewsHow sea-ice microbes survive the Southern Ocean’s harsh winter, and the implications for climate change
New study reinforces the importance of the Southern Ocean marginal ice zone as a critical hotspot for global sulfur cycling where biogeochemical processes for climate regulation are enhanced.
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NewsScientists uncover hidden phosphorus reservoir vital for future food production
Researchers have developed a simpler and more cost-effective method to measure a biologically important form of phosphorus in soils, providing new insights into nutrient cycling that could help improve sustainable agricultural management.
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NewsTropical ocean temperatures drive changes in malaria cases in Malawi
New research shows that temperatures in the tropical Atlantic and Indian Oceans drive year-to-year changes in malaria cases in Malawi.
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NewsSugar-free diets may disrupt gut microbiome
Eliminating sugar from your diet may be more detrimental than previously thought, according to an animal study. Mice fed a sucrose-free diet developed impaired glucose control, insulin resistance, gut microbial imbalance, intestinal inflammation and fatty liver changes, despite having no significant differences in body weight compared with control mice.
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NewsMicrobial research captured among winning science images
Microbial research features among some of the winning images in Nature’s 2026 Scientist at Work photography competition. Microbiome sampling of whale sharks, algal blooms, and a coral probiotics village feature among five spectacular images showcasing the diversity and challenges of scientific research.
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NewsAll-new lab in Kenya fills critical gap in wildlife health
Conservation stakeholders gathered to celebrate the official opening of the Laboratory in Northern Kenya (LiNK), an all-new veterinary diagnostic lab designed to fill a critical need for accessible diagnostic infrastructure in the remote region.
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NewsAccelerating chikungunya vaccine development in Africa: Launch of the ACT-CHIK Project
Funded by the Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking, a new €15.3 million project coordinated by Institut Pasteur brings together seven partners across four continents to advance clinical trials and prepare for the manufacturing of a chikungunya vaccine in Africa.
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NewsIndigenous mushroom transforms agricultural waste into food
An edible, seasonal mushroom in Eastern Nigeria has nutritional and therapeutic potential but is poorly researched. New research suggests that domestication of Lentinus squarrosulus using waste materials, specifically sawdust, could boost food production and provide employment opportunities for farmers and small businesses.
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News CEPI fast-tracks three Bundibugyo ebolavirus vaccine candidates
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) will urgently accelerate development of three investigational vaccines targeting the Bundibugyo ebolavirus that has caused a rapidly spreading epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and neighbouring Uganda.
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NewsPhase 1 clinical trial set to begin on first leishmaniasis vaccine
A phase 1 clinical trial testing the safety of a leishmaniasis vaccine is set to begin in the coming months. The live vaccine, found to be safe in animals, is expected to be tested in humans later this year.
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NewsSoil scientist awarded $1.6 million NSF grant to study ‘living skin’ of arid ecosystems
A soil scientist has received a $1.6 million, five-year grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) to fund her team’s study of how increasing temperature fluctuations impact the biocrust microbiome — the complex, thin-layer microbe community that stabilizes soil, fixes nitrogen and drives nutrient cycling in drylands.
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NewsScientists turn microalgae waste into high-performance membranes for cleaner municipal wastewater
A new study reports a sustainable membrane technology that converts microalgae-derived biochar into an advanced material for municipal wastewater treatment, offering a promising route to cleaner water and waste valorization.
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NewsGlobal Virus Network experts urge rapid regional action as Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak raises cross-border concerns
The Global Virus Network (GVN) calls for greater global financial, logistical and research support for the local response to the rare Bundibugjo Ebola virus outbreak in Africa. The spread of this virus, largely undetected, was declared a global public health emergency by the World Health Organization.
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NewsWhy babies are dying and how we can stop it
A study has identified that the vast majority of neonatal deaths caused by infections in South Africa and other low-and-middle-income countries could be prevented through improved clinical care and targeted medical interventions.
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NewsFungus-powered farming: Bigger harvests, better taste
Researchers have identified a natural, eco-friendly way to significantly increase agricultural yields while also improving the quality and taste of produce. The study focuses on an extract derived from the yeast-like fungus Pseudozyma aphidis.
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NewsIntestinal stem cells can fight back against salmonella scientists discover
Researchers have shown that intestinal stem cells can directly sense intracellular Salmonella enterica bacteria and activate an inflammasome-dependent response. Following infection, the stem cells differentiate into antimicrobial Paneth cells, which secrete molecules that help limit bacterial persistence in the intestinal crypt.
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NewsGut microbes actively support immunity in people living with HIV
A new study shows that gut microbes help bolster immunity in people living with HIV – and that, one day, these microbes may be harnessed to protect this population from infections driven by immune deficiency.
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NewsResearchers uncover three families of ‘sponge’ proteins deployed by phages
Using an innovative research approach that combines artificial intelligence with experimental biology, researchers have uncovered new families of sponge proteins in phage genomes that disrupt immune communication in bacteria.
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NewsMalaria’s mRNA: Messages that mess with the immune system
A new study uncovers the malaria parasite’s RNA strategies – mechanisms that could inspire unexpected applications for RNA-based tools in multiple areas of medicine.
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NewsMass mating event reveals how yeast find the perfect match
When choosing mates, yeast organisms tend to pick partners that may increase the chances of their offspring’s success, according to a new study which revealed a link between the success of the parents and the genetic distance between them, and the success of their offspring.