All Middle East & Africa articles
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NewsMalaria: Newly identified ‘crown’ stage controls parasite reproduction
Researchers studying Plasmodium falciparum have found that the parasite relies on a brief but essential stage, nicknamed the “Crown” stage, to make sure a crucial internal structure is passed on correctly when it divides.
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NewsHow bacteria learned to target numerous cell types, revealed
A new study shows how bacteria adapted a virus-derived injection system to recognize and attach to many different types of cells. By identifying thousands of rapidly evolving receptor-binding proteins, the researchers explain how these systems can be retargeted in nature by swapping the part that binds to cells.
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NewsSepsis study IDs simple ways to save lives in Africa
Tuberculosis (TB) is a major unrecognized cause of deadly sepsis among people with HIV in Africa, a new study reveals. It found that more than half of the hundreds of patients enrolled in the study had TB and that immediate treatment increased their chances of survival significantly.
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News£2.8 million research project to combat one of the world’s most urgent health threats
An ambitious new £2.8 million international programme will aim to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR) across East Africa. It will examine how environmental, social and economic factors influence the spread of drug-resistant infections in East African communities.
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NewsEmbedding critical thinking from a young age will help solve world problems, microbiologists say
Scientists from around the world have called for a radical refocus of school curricula from early years to high school to include more critical thinking and learning skills to empower students to ‘think outside the box’.
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NewsResearchers demonstrate SARS-CoV-2 virus inactivation/destruction using focused sound waves
A team of researchers has successfully demonstrated the destruction of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles through exposure to high-frequency sound waves, marking a promising advance in non-pharmacological antiviral strategies.
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NewsScientists advance commercial production of nutrient-rich spirulina
Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) has achieved a significant milestone in the commercial production of spirulina, a highly nutritious microalgae increasingly recognized worldwide for its role in food security, health supplements, and sustainable production systems.
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NewsStudy sheds new light on what drives evolution of gut microbiomes
A study of wild African herbivores offers new insight into how environmental conditions – not just diet and anatomy – can influence the evolution of gut microbes that play a critical role in animal health and well-being.
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NewsEarly warning for wine spoilage glows in the dark
Researchers have built a living biosensor made of bacteria that lights up when it detects acetic acid, the main chemical signal that wine is starting to spoil. It works in real time, even in high-alcohol conditions, so wineries can catch problems early, before flavor and quality are damaged.
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NewsScientists solve 66 million-year-old mystery of how Earth’s greenhouse age ended
Experts studying foraminifera fossils have discovered that concentrations of calcium in the sea dropped by more than half across the last 66 million years, which likely caused Earth’s massive drop in temperature.
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NewsResearch team identifies species of brucellosis-causing bacteria in Cameroon
Researchers have identified the specific species of the Brucella bacterium that causes illness in animals in Cameroon. A study of more than 4,600 livestock animals found that the only Brucella species present was Brucella abortus, a species primarily associated with cattle that causes pregnancy loss and infertility.
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NewsHidden mpox exposure detected in healthy Nigerian adults, revealing under-recognized transmission
The mpox virus appears to be circulating silently in parts of Nigeria, in many cases without the symptoms typically associated with the disease, according to new research.
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NewsProject to combat childhood diarrhea receives over 5 million euros
A new project will use probiotics, improved education in hygiene and advanced mathematical models to prevent children from dying of diarrhea in low and middle-income countries.
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NewsNew test could help pinpoint IBD diagnosis, study finds
A test that rapidly detects signs of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in stool samples could improve future diagnosis and monitoring of the condition, a study suggests. The luminescent reporter lights up when it detects a molecule linked to gut inflammation.
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NewsClinical trial in Ethiopia targets the trachoma scourge
A new study documents the outcomes of an evaluation of fluorometholone as adjunctive medical therapy for trachomatous trichiasis surgery, part of an initiative to better prevent blindness and improve quality of life for those affected.
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NewsTB harnesses part of immune defense system to cause infection
Scientists have made a discovery that helps explain why humans and animals are so susceptible to contracting tuberculosis – and it involves the bacteria harnessing part of the immune system meant to protect against infection. They team discovered that MTB survives within the cells of its host by targeting Dectin-1.
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NewsReal-world data gives Africa a smarter path to fighting HIV and TB
African biostatisticians have offered a powerful, data-driven alternative that can accurately inform HIV policy, reduce healthcare costs, and save more lives.
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NewsA coral reef’s daily pulse reshapes microbes in surrounding waters
A new study shows that coral reefs don’t just provide a home for ocean life, they also help set the daily “schedule” for tiny microbes living in the water nearby. Over the course of a single day, the quantity and types of microbes present can shift dramatically.
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NewsBreakthrough AI speeds up discovery of life-supporting microbes
Scientists have developed a powerful new artificial intelligence tool called LA⁴SR that can rapidly identify previously overlooked proteins in microalgae - tiny organisms that produce much of the Earth’s oxygen and support entire aquatic ecosystems.
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NewsStudy showcases resilience and rapid growth of ‘living rocks’
South Africa is home to some of the oldest evidence of life on Earth, contained in rocky, often layered outcroppings called microbialites. Like coral reefs, these complex “living rocks” are built up by microbes absorbing and precipitating dissolved minerals into solid formations. Source: Rachel Sipler, Bigelow Laboratory for ...