All Middle East & Africa articles
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NewsStudy reveals how coral-associated bacteria help corals survive extreme heat
A new study has revealed how coral-associated bacteria help corals withstand extreme heat by producing steroid hormones that strengthen their immune response. Endozoicomonas, a group of bacteria commonly associated with corals worldwide, produce steroid hormones including testosterone and progesterone when temperatures rise.
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NewsNew AI tool helps scientists identify bacteria hidden in soil
A handful of soil holds a crowded world of bacteria, fungi and other organisms. Scientists can collect their DNA, but much of it remains difficult to identify. Now, researchers have developed an artificial intelligence tool that recognizes bacterial DNA in tiny genetic fragments, making it faster and easier to study the complex communities living in soil.
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NewsNew report calls for stronger One Health systems as climate risks grow
Climate change and shrinking global health budgets are increasing the pressure on systems designed to prevent diseases that spread between animals and people. A new report calls for stronger One Health surveillance, more investment in frontline veterinary and environmental services, and greater emphasis on preventing spillover before outbreaks begin.
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NewsDistant climate patterns may offer early warning of Ebola outbreaks
Ebola outbreaks may leave a climatic trail months before they emerge. By analysing nearly five decades of outbreak data alongside large-scale climate oscillations, researchers identified distant weather patterns that could help flag periods and regions where Ebola risk may be increasing.
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NewsDrug-resistant bacteria in clinic air raise infection-control concerns
Air sampled inside a South African clinic contained multiple ESKAPE bacteria resistant to commonly used antibiotics, with some surviving even last-resort treatments. The findings raise concerns about airborne exposure in healthcare settings, particularly for patients with weakened immune systems.
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NewsNew dosing data expands HIV treatment options for newborns
Newborns with HIV can now be treated with dolutegravir from the first days of life. An international clinical study identified a safe dosing regimen that produced drug levels comparable to those seen in older children and adults, helping support the FDA’s expanded approval.
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NewsScientific triumph, equity failure: Faster, fairer COVID-19 vaccine roll-out could have saved millions of lives
Beginning the global COVID-19 vaccine roll-out 100 days after the virus was sequenced could have saved more than 8 million lives by the end of 2021, most of them in lower-middle-income countries. The authors of a new Policy Brief argue that fair vaccine-sharing rules should be established before the next pandemic, rather than negotiated during the crisis itself.
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NewsCould plywood provide a better home for oil-degrading microbes?
The material used to support microbial biofilms could influence their potential role in treating water generated during oil production. Researchers examined whether different supporting materials affect the formation, abundance, and composition of biofilms inside a 14-hectare constructed wetland treating oil-produced water.
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NewsWinners of Applied Microbiology International Horizon Awards 2026 announced
The winners of the Applied Microbiology International Horizon Awards 2026 have been announced. These awards celebrate the brightest minds in the field and promote the research, group, projects, products and individuals who continue to help shape the future of applied microbiology.
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NewsEbola vaccine induces T cell cross-reactivity against Bundibugyo virus in humans
A vaccine developed against Ebola virus may offer some immune protection against the related Bundibugyo ebolavirus, for which no licensed vaccine currently exists. Researchers found that a single dose triggered T cells capable of recognising BDBV, raising the possibility that existing vaccines could provide a degree of cross-protection during outbreaks.
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NewsCholera cases surge as conflict in Yemen displaces over 200 000 people
Escalating conflict and mass displacement in Yemen are increasing the risk of infectious disease outbreaks as overcrowding, inadequate access to safe water and disrupted health services expose growing numbers of people to cholera, measles and other preventable diseases.
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NewsElephants continue to shape the savanna even after death
Researchers who studied the sites of elephant carcasses in South Africa’s Kruger National Park discovered that decomposition creates nutrient hotspots that can persist on the landscape for years, possibly decades. This flush of nutrients fuels microbial activity and plant vigor, which attracts herbivores to the site long after the visual signs of the elephant have disappeared.
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NewsMalaria remains the leading cause of hospital admission and in-hospital death in children under two in Sierra Leone
Malaria remains the biggest threat to young children in Sierra Leone, accounting for more than half of hospital admissions in a large two-year study. Researchers also found that children who received all routine vaccinations and preventive malaria treatment had a substantially lower risk of dying.
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NewsPooling samples could expand TB testing worldwide
Testing sputum samples in small groups could nearly double access to rapid tuberculosis diagnosis without doubling costs. The largest study of pooled TB testing found that the approach cut molecular test cartridge use by 51%, helping inform new WHO guidance for resource-constrained settings.
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NewsDistinct malaria parasites “hidden in plain sight” may contribute to human disease protection
A new study that investigates the genetics of people and malaria parasites has found that people with the sickle cell variant are almost exclusively infected by a distinct variety of malaria parasites, which might contribute to their lower rates of disease.
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NewsWine-like terroir: Influence of wild plants results in distinctive microbial and flavour signatures in Munkoyo
Wild plants traditionally used as natural starter cultures for fermentation of Munkoyo, a traditional non/very low-alcoholic fermented cereal beverage consumed in parts of Africa, can influence not only the initiation of fermentation but also the microbial communities and flavour characteristics of the final beverage.
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NewsScientists identify gene signatures in children with severe COVID-19 infection
Researchers have identified patterns of gene activity associated with severe COVID-19 in children that are shared with other serious respiratory infections. They discovered ten groups of genes which were expressed in a similar pattern across the different lower respiratory tract infections.
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NewsUganda launches Phase I clinical study of Bundibugyo virus disease vaccine
A Phase I clinical study has been launched evaluating the safety and immunogenicity of a candidate vaccine against Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD), a severe form of Ebola virus disease caused by Bundibugyo virus (BDBV). The study is part of an international effort to develop vaccines against Ebola virus species for which no licensed vaccines are currently available.
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NewsKenya confirms first imported Bundibugyo virus disease case; WHO supports control efforts
Following the confirmation by Kenyan authorities of the country’s first imported case of Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD), the World Health Organization (WHO) is working closely with the Government of Kenya to intensify key control measures to prevent further spread of the virus.
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NewsReading the ocean’s snowflakes: How AI decodes marine snow
A constant snowfall of tiny particles drifts through the ocean, carrying carbon, nutrients and plastic toward the deep sea. Scientists are now developing AI tools that could reveal what this “marine snow” is made of simply by analyzing underwater images.