All MIT articles
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NewsOcean bacteria team up to break down biodegradable plastic
Researchers uncovered the role of individual ocean bacteria in the breakdown of a widely used biodegradable plastic. They also showed the complementary processes microbes use to fully consume the plastic, with one microbe cleaving the plastic into its component chemicals and others consuming each chemical.
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NewsHitchhiking bacteria can alter marine snow's role as a carbon sink
Researchers have found that when bacteria hitch a ride on marine snow particles, the microbes can eat away at calcium carbonate, which is an essential ballast that helps particles sink.
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NewsNitrous oxide, a product of fertilizer use, may harm some soil bacteria
While some nitrous oxide is produced naturally at the plant root, agricultural practices can increase its levels. While it has long been believed that nitrous oxide doesn’t meaningfully interact with living organisms, a new paper shows that it may in fact shape microbial communities.
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New vaccine platform promotes rare protective B cells
Based on a virus-like particle built with a DNA scaffold, the approach could generate broadly neutralizing antibody responses against HIV or influenza.
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NewsA protein found in the GI tract can neutralize many bacteria
The mucosal surfaces that line the body are embedded with defensive molecules that help keep microbes from causing inflammation and infections. One of these molecules, intelectin-2, has broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against bacteria found in the GI tract.
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NewsChemists synthesize a fungal compound that holds promise for treating brain cancer
For the first time, chemists have synthesized a fungal compound known as verticillin A, which was discovered more than 50 years ago and has shown potential as an anticancer agent.
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NewsResearchers discover novel phage DNA modifications that offer new hope against antibiotic-resistant superbugs
A groundbreaking discovery reveals a unique way phages modify their DNA with arabinose sugars to protect themselves from bacterial defence systems. Natural DNA phage modifications occur at a higher rate than previously predicted, the study revealed.
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NewsNew study finds targets for a new tuberculosis vaccine
A large-scale screen of tuberculosis proteins has revealed several possible antigens that could be developed as a new vaccine for TB, the world’s deadliest infectious disease.
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NewsEngineers solve the sticky-cell problem in bioreactors and other industries
Their system uses electrochemically generated bubbles to detach cells from surfaces, which could accelerate the growth of carbon-absorbing algae and lifesaving cell therapies.
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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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NewsStudy shows mucus contains molecules that block Salmonella infection
Researchers have identified mucins that defend against Salmonella and other bacteria that cause diarrhea. They now hope to mimic this defense system to create synthetic mucins that could help prevent or treat illness in soldiers or other people at risk of exposure to Salmonella.
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NewsResearchers find a more precise way to edit the genome
A genome-editing technique known as prime editing holds potential for treating many diseases. However, the process carries a small chance of inserting errors that could be harmful - but researchers have now found a way to dramatically lower the error rate.
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NewsResearchers develop first-of-its-kind RNA tool to advance cancer and infectious disease research and treatment
Scientists have developed a powerful tool capable of scanning thousands of biological samples to detect transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNA) modifications — tiny chemical changes to RNA molecules that help control how cells grow, adapt to stress and respond to diseases such as cancer and antibiotic‑resistant infections.
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NewsResearchers use generative AI to design compounds that can kill drug-resistant bacteria
With help from artificial intelligence, researchers have designed novel antibiotics that can combat two hard-to-treat infections: drug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae and multi-drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
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NewsScientists discover compounds that help cells fight a wide range of viruses
Researchers have identified compounds that can fight off viral infection by activating a defense pathway inside host cells. These compounds, they believe, could be used as antiviral drugs that work against not just one but any kind of virus.
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NewsChemists boost the efficiency of a key enzyme in bacterial photosynthesis
Chemists have shown that they can greatly enhance a version of the photosynthesis enzyme rubisco found in bacteria from a low-oxygen environment. Using directed evolution, they identified mutations that could boost rubisco’s catalytic efficiency by up to 25 per cent.
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NewsEngineers develop electrochemical sensors for cheap, disposable diagnostics
Electrodes coated with DNA could enable inexpensive tests with a long shelf-life, which could detect many diseases and be deployed in the doctor’s office or at home.
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NewsSupercharged HIV vaccine could offer strong protection with just one dose
Researchers have shown that they can generate a strong immune response to HIV with just one vaccine dose, by adding two powerful adjuvants — materials that help stimulate the immune system.
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NewsRock record reveals oxygenation of ocean may have happened earlier than we thought
Researchers uncover evidence that oxygenation in the ocean—crucial for life as we know it—may have occurred earlier than previously thought, offering new insights into the evolution of our planet.
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NewsCombining laboratory techniques yields wealth of information about deadly brain tumors
In a new study, researchers injected into the tumor a virus aimed at killing glioblastoma cells. Surgeons took tumor tissue samples and ran them through multiple advanced laboratory techniques to demonstrate that even small tissue samples can yield additional insights.