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Scientists find hidden diversity inside common brain parasite
Scientists have found that Toxoplasma gondii is far more complex than previously believed. Until now, cysts were believed to contain a single, uniform type of parasite lying dormant until reactivated, but have now been found to contain multiple distinct subtypes of parasites, each with different biological roles.
Fungus unlocks hidden phosphorus from massive industrial waste
Researchers have shown that Aspergillus niger can extract large amounts of residual phosphorus from phosphogypsum, a byproduct of phosphoric acid production that is generated in enormous quantities worldwide. More than 40 per cent of the phosphorus locked inside this waste material can be recovered.
Researchers 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.
In polar regions, microbes are influencing climate change as frozen ecosystems thaw, review finds
Microbes across Earth’s coldest regions are becoming more active as glaciers, permafrost and sea ice thaw, accelerating carbon release and potentially amplifying climate change, according to a new international review.
COVID-19 viral fragments shown to target and kill specific immune cells
New research shows that after the body’s defenses kill the virus behind COVID-19, leftover digested chunks of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein can target specific immune cells based on their shape. It could explain why certain populations of cells that detect and fight infection are depleted in patients with severe COVID-19.
Native fungi from almond orchards show promise as sustainable defenders against a devastating crop disease
Researchers report that naturally occurring fungi found on and within almond trees can strongly suppress Colletotrichum godetiae, the primary cause of almond anthracnose in the Mediterranean Basin.
Scientists find hidden diversity inside common brain parasite
Scientists have found that Toxoplasma gondii is far more complex than previously believed. Until now, cysts were believed to contain a single, uniform type of parasite lying dormant until reactivated, but have now been found to contain multiple distinct subtypes of parasites, each with different biological roles.
Fungus unlocks hidden phosphorus from massive industrial waste
Researchers have shown that Aspergillus niger can extract large amounts of residual phosphorus from phosphogypsum, a byproduct of phosphoric acid production that is generated in enormous quantities worldwide. More than 40 per cent of the phosphorus locked inside this waste material can be recovered.
Researchers 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.
PIXL Max: Automated colony picker breaks records for speed and accuracy
With the latest innovation from the team at Singer Instruments, a new standard for speed and repeatability in microbial colony pickers has been achieved through the integration of cutting edge AI technologies.
NexaBiome accelerates development of novel diabetic foot treatment with Scottish Enterprise funding
UK biotechnology company NexaBiome Life Sciences Ltd has received continued funding from Scotland’s national economic development agency, Scottish Enterprise, to accelerate its breakthrough bacteriophage technology for the treatment of diabetic foot infections (DFIs).
UK Centre for Mould Safety launches national training academy
The UK Centre for Mould Safety (UKCMS) National Training Academy has today opened its doors to upskill and improve competence, consistency and safety across all industries that serve homes and buildings, in a drive to support public health outcomes.
Scientists develop novel live-attenuated vaccine that blocks coronavirus transmission with a single intranasal dose
A research team at the LKS Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed), has developed a novel live-attenuated vaccine candidate, cb1, capable of generating broad immunity against a wide range of beta-coronaviruses with a single intranasal dose.
Scientists engineer quantum-enabled proteins, opening a new frontier in biotechnology
A new study reports the creation of a new class of biomolecules, magneto-sensitive fluorescent proteins, that can interact with magnetic fields and radio waves. This is enabled by quantum mechanical interactions within the protein, and occur when it is exposed to light of an appropriate wavelength.
Golden Gate method enables rapid, fully-synthetic engineering of therapeutically relevant bacteriophages
Researchers have described the first fully synthetic bacteriophage engineering system for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In this method, researchers engineer bacteriophages synthetically using sequence data rather than bacteriophage isolates.
Student focused on pathogens says new award has opened a door to span aquaculture and ecology
A University of Stirling student who is the latest recipient of the Nikos Steiropoulos Aquaculture Scholarship from MSD Animal Health UK says the award has helped to “open a door she could only have dreamed of”.
‘Antimicrobial resistance pandemic will kill more people than cancer by 2050 and no one at Davos is talking about it’
Scientists speaking at Frontiers Science House at Davos warned that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) will be the next “pandemic” like COVID-19, killing more people than cancer by 2050. They urged immediate global action against AMR.
Global Virus Network warns of measles resurgence
The Global Virus Network (GVN) has expressed deep concern regarding the ongoing resurgence of measles in the United States and around the globe. Measles is one of the most contagious viral diseases known and can be lethal, particularly in unvaccinated children.