All Middle East & Africa articles – Page 5
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NewsTough microbes found in NASA cleanrooms hold clues to space survival and biotech
A new study involving AMI member Professor Alexandre Rosado has reported 26 novel bacterial species growing inside cleanrooms associated with NASA space missions. They carry genetic traits associated with resilience to extreme environments.
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NewsBreakthrough discovery uses gut bacteria and AI to diagnose a chronic pain syndrome
Scientists have developed AI technology that can detect patterns in gut bacteria to identify complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) with remarkable accuracy, potentially transforming how CRPS is diagnosed and treated.
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NewsThe solution for microbial communities to survive environmental stress is self-sufficiency
Researchers have shown, based on an experimental system that reproduces a mutualistic microbial community, that the most common evolutionary solution for two co-dependent organisms to survive extreme environmental change could be to become self-sufficient.
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NewsCutting off parasite’s energy supply could help fight malaria
Once inside the body of an infected person, the malaria parasite relies on a process called glycolysis to produce energy and stay alive. Blocking the enzymes involved in this process could cut off the parasite’s primary energy source and kill it.
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NewsA hidden control center: How bacteria regulate their attack strategies
Researchers have discovered that a key bacterial protein, CsrA, gathers in a droplet-like structure inside cells to control when and how bacteria activate their disease-causing genes.
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NewsNew treatment for cryptococcal meningitis enters Phase II trial
Cryptococcal meningitis, the second-leading cause of HIV-related deaths, is expected to rise as access to care weakens and advanced HIV disease (previously called AIDS) increases.
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NewsEliminating worm infections as a key strategy for HIV/AIDS prevention
Scientists who found that infection with the worm Wuchereria bancrofti increases the risk of contracting HIV have now confirmed, as part of a national program in Tanzania, that containment of this worm infection leads to a reduction in new HIV infections.
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NewsSpinning into resistance: the flagella’s hidden role
New research uncovers a direct connection between the rotation of bacterial flagella—structures used for movement—and the activation of genes that enable bacteria to transfer DNA to one another.
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NewsScientists blame climate change for spread of infectious diseases and unleashing of ice-locked microbes in Arctic
Climate change is creating new pathways for the spread of infectious diseases like brucellosis, tularemia, or E. coli in the Arctic, according to a broad international consortium of scientists.
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NewsDietary shift after migration increases cardiovascular risk by altering the gut microbiome
An Amsterdam UMC-led study has found that migrants, this case from West Africa to Europe, experience a ‘clear change’ in their microbiome composition as compared to their non-migrant peers in West Africa, which expose them to an increase of cardiovascular disease. These peer-reviewed findings are published in ...
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NewsMolecular stool test could improve detection of tuberculosis in adults with HIV
A prospective multicentre study highlights the potential of the Xpert MTB/Ultra stool test for diagnosing tuberculosis in people living with HIV.
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NewsHantavirus in Madagascar linked to black rats in agricultural areas
A new study reveals that the black rat is likely responsible for transmitting deadly hantaviruses in rural Madagascar, where forested landscapes have been converted to agriculture and settlements.
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NewsWestern diet causes inflammation, traditional African food protects
A study showed that traditional African diets, rich in fiber, fermented food and vegetables, have higher health benefits that boost immunity and reduce the risk of developing lifestyle diseases, compared to the high calorie and high saturated fats in the Western diet.
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NewsHidden signals in water reveal disease early in tomato plants
Researchers have developed an innovative method for the early detection of Fusarium wilt in tomato plants by monitoring subtle changes in the plants’ water use.
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NewsA new model is validated to predict the growth of listeria in artisanal fresh cheeses
Researchers have developed a new mathematical model capable of predicting the growth of listeriosis within food, making it possible to estimate the shelf lives of food products under different foreseeable storage conditions.
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NewsNew discovery boosts wheat’s fight against devastating disease
A new study reports a previously unknown molecular event that initiates the immune response to a major wheat disease. The findings provide strategies to engineer wheat that has stronger immunity against infection.
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NewsSimulation model shows potential affordability of preventative HIV therapy for infants
A type of cost-effective HIV neutralizing antibodies was evaluated to prevent the viral infection in infants during breastfeeding in high HIV prevalance countries. This treatment option is comparatively cheaper and has high clinical impacts in high HIV burden settings to achieve global elimination.
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NewsWHO calls for urgent action to address worldwide disruptions in tuberculosis services
Since World Tuberculosis Day is only days away, World Health Organization addresses the current challenges faced by countries in TB responses. They urgently call for an united global effort to combat the deadly disease and safeguard the public health from the devastating consequences.
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NewsDigging into the world of plant-growth-promoting microbes
A team including members of AMI has provided a model illustrating how Pseudomonas bacteria can influence root development to promote growth and enhance the adaptation of plants under salinity stress.
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NewsProfessor Sabiha Essack wins Christiana Figueres Policy to Practice Award
Professor Sabiha Essack, the South African Research Chair in Antibiotic Resistance and One Health, Professor in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, has been awarded the Christiana Figueres Policy to Practice Award.