More Healthy Land
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NewsScientists probe influence of soil microbes on spiciness of mustard
Scientists ran one of the first experiments to figure out if soil microorganisms like bacteria and fungi influence the flavor of a crop.
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FeaturesUnder the microscope: microplastics
Examining the issue of plastic pollution with a round-up of microbial advances from the last few years.
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NewsWarming and exogenous organic matter input affects temperature sensitivity and microbial carbon use efficiency of agricultural soil respiration on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
A study highlights the complexity of the interaction between climate change and exogenous organic matter inputs and their importance in soil carbon dynamics.
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NewsArboviruses, mosquitoes and potential hosts tracked in real time
The technology used to sequence the first infections by SARS-CoV-2 at record speed has been successfully tested as a technique to monitor viruses transmitted by mosquitoes, such as dengue, zika, chikungunya and yellow fever.
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NewsProbiotic feed additive boosts growth and health in poultry in place of antibiotics
Researchers found that supplementing the diet of young chicks with a probiotic over 21 days significantly boosted the abundance of beneficial intestinal microorganisms.
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NewsScientists reveal how soil microbes survive in harsh desert environments
A new study reveals how desert soil bacteria are highly adapted to survive the rapid environmental changes experienced with prolonged droughts followed by sudden bursts of rainfall.
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NewsDiscovery of bacterial proteins that induce asexual reproduction in insects
From microbes in the human gut to symbiotic algae in coral reefs, research in recent decades has increasingly revealed the pivotal roles that microorganisms (or microbial species) play in shaping the biology of host organisms and of broader ecosystems. For example, some endosymbionts—microbes that live within the cells of a ...
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NewsNew study uncovers the role of soil microbes in forest ecosystems
Assessing the function of forest ecosystems requires a deep understanding of the mechanisms of soil nitrogen mineralization. A recent study conducted by a team of researchers has shed light on how soil N-cycling genes drive soil nitrogen mineralization during afforestation. Source: 黄河山曲 Loess Plateau The findings, published ...
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NewsThe nitroplast revealed: a nitrogen-fixing organelle in a marine alga
A nitrogen-fixing bacterial endosymbiont of marine algae is evolving into a nitrogen-fixing organelle, or nitroplast, thereby expanding a function that was thought to be exclusively carried out by prokaryotic cells to eukaryotes.
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CareersThe Future is Fungi Award: showcasing the fascinating problem-solving scope of fungi
The huge potential of fungi for solving some of the world’s most pressing environmental problems came under the spotlight at The Future Is Fungi Award.
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NewsA microbial plastic factory for high-quality green plastic
Engineered bacteria can produce a plastic modifier that makes renewably sourced plastic more processable, more fracture resistant and highly biodegradable even in sea water.
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NewsInside look at how plants and mycorrhizal fungi cooperate
A new view into a symbiosis could offer benefits to address climate change: pulling atmospheric carbon into soil and boosting biofuel feedstocks with less fertilizer.
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NewsImpact of synbiotic supplements on the gut microbiome and overall health of penguins
A new study shows that parasynbiotics have health benefits for Magellanic penguins, particularly for young birds, and offer potential new strategies for maintaining animal health.
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NewsPlastic-free vegan leather that dyes itself grown from bacteria
Researchers at Imperial College London have genetically engineered bacteria to grow animal- and plastic-free leather that dyes itself. In recent years, scientists and companies have started using microbes to grow sustainable textiles or to make dyes for industry – but this is the first time bacteria have been engineered to ...
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NewsResearchers track the virus behind India’s lumpy skin cattle crisis
A study provides critical insights into the evolution and origins of the virus strains fueling a devastating outbreak of lumpy skin disease, which has severely affected India’s agricultural sector, leading to staggering economic losses.
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NewsWild plants face viral surprise spreading from crops
A new study reveals a previously unknown threat: non-native crop viruses are infecting and jeopardizing the health of wild desert plants.
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NewsFungus shows promise to battle plant pathogens in wheat crops
An endophytic fungus shows promise in fighting plant pathogens in wheat crops, boosting productivity and improving sustainability by providing an alternative to reducing reliance on synthetic pesticides, a new study has found.
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NewsThar desert rhizobacterium offers potential as green biofertilizer that protects plants against drought stress.
A rhizobacterium found in the Thar desert in India has the potential to become an environmentally friendly biofertilizer while also protecting plants against drought stress.
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NewsResearchers identify microbes that help plants thwart parasite
Researchers have shown that soil microbes induce changes in sorghum roots that make the plant more resistant to infection by witchweed. They identified specific strains of bacteria that trigger these resistance traits and could be applied as a soil ’probiotic’.
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NewsNew vaccine against a highly fatal tropical disease – and potential bioterror weapon – demonstrates efficacy in animal studies
In a mouse study, researchers tested a vaccine against the bacterium that causes melioidosis and found it was highly protective against the disease, which is endemic in many tropical areas.
