All Penn State articles
-
News
Honey bees may play key role in spreading viruses to wild bumble bees
Honey bees may play a role in increasing virus levels in wild bumble bees each spring, according to researchers who analyzed seasonal trends of parasite and virus transmission in bees.
-
News
Early life exposure to common chemical permanently disrupts gut microbiome
A study in mice finds that by significantly disrupting the gut microbiome, early life exposure to persistent organic pollutants influenced the development of metabolic disorder in adult mice.
-
News
New drug target identified for diseases associated with leukemia-causing virus
Researchers have found a new target for treating diseases associated with human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1). Blocking kinases, which regulate cellular functions, leads to cell death caused by the degradation of the protein Tax.
-
News
H5N1 virus from 2022 mink outbreak capable of inefficient airborne transmission
New research reveals that a member of the H5N1 family of influenza viruses evolved very limited ability to transmit via respiratory droplets.
-
News
Probiotic 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.
-
News
Synthetic material could improve ease and cut cost of gut microbiome research
A team of researchers has developed a new synthetic material that could enable scientists to more easily study how microorganisms interact with the gastrointestinal (GI) system.
-
News
New nasal vaccine platform helps clear COVID-19 infections in an animal model
Researchers demonstrate proof-of-principle of a protein-based platform, called SpyCage, that could eventually help to prevent infection and transmission of respiratory viruses, like SARS-CoV-2.
-
News
Study reveas how virus hijacks insect sperm to control disease vectors and pests
A new study reveals how viral proteins from symbiotic bacteria cause sterility in insects.
-
News
Drought may drive deadly amphibian disease by disrupting skin microbiome
Progressively severe droughts are disrupting the microbiomes of the thumbnail-sized orange frogs, potentially leaving them vulnerable to a deadly fungal disease, according to a new study by an international research team.
-
News
New inexpensive method can visualize the smallest protein clusters
Engineers have pioneered a new way to visualize the smallest protein clusters, skirting the physical limitations of light-powered microscopes and opening new avenues for detecting proteins and testing new treatments.
-
News
Researchers to probe how Zika virus replicates and transmits from mother to fetus
Nearly $6 million in new NIH grants will enable researchers to investigate how Zika virus replicates and crosses the placenta to infect unborn children.
-
News
Foodborne-pathogen Listeria may hide from sanitizers in multi-species biofilms
The finding could result in more effective sanitation procedures, leading to safer food supply, researchers said.
-
News
Study reveals how bacteria use snot to swarm and spread infection
New research shows how thicker mucus supercharges bacteria’s ability to self-organize into swarms to spread infection.
-
News
Study of sourdough starter microbiomes to boost bread quality and safety
Researchers are studying whether bacteria in the yeast starter needed to make sourdough bread might help reduce gluten in other bread products.
-
News
Researchers predict climate change-driven reduction in beneficial plant microbes
Bacteria that benefit plants are thought to be a critical contributor to crops and other ecosystems, but climate change may reduce their numbers, according to a new study by an international team of researchers.
-
News
Dangerous bee virus growing less deadly in at least one US forest, researchers find
The findings suggest the virus can evolve to be less severe and could help inform solutions to mitigate the virus in managed honey bee colonies.
-
News
Bioluminescent bacteria coordinate signalling to colonize squid’s light organ
Researchers reveal how bioluminescent bacteria coordinate their behaviour to colonize the Hawaiian bobtail squid through cellular signaling and cues from the environment.
-
News
Digital test directly measures HIV viral load
Researchers have developed a time and cost-efficient digital assay that can directly measure the presence of HIV in a single drop of blood.
-
News
Researchers can use ultrasound to control orientation of small particles, including bacteria
Using ultrasound technology and a nozzle, scientists have separated, controlled and ejected different particles based on their shape and various properties, with implications for drug delivery and bioprinting.
-
News
Vaccine primes frog microbiome for future exposure to deadly fungal outbreak
A new study has found that a new vaccine against the deadly chytrid fungus in frogs can shift the composition of the microbiome, making frogs more resilient to future exposure to the fungus.