Africa & Middle East
Africa & Middle East News
Researchers call for increased screening for parasitic disease linked to HIV and cervical cancer risk
New research has highlighted the need to test millions of women and girls for female genital schistosomiasis (FGS), a neglected disease that can increase the risk of chronic illness, HIV and cervical cancer.
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Antibiotics reverse damage caused to blood stem cells by chronic Salmonella
A new study has revealed that long-term Salmonella infections severely damage blood stem cells - but this damage is completely reversible. Giving an effective course of antibiotics fully restores the stem cells, allowing them to recover their health and rebuilding power.
Mount Sinai scientists develop first fully human monoclonal antibody cocktail that protects against Nipah and Hendra viruses
New preclinical study demonstrates that a novel monoclonal antibody cocktail provides complete protection against lethal Nipah and Hendra virus infection.
Global assessment of ocean warming impacts on marine ecosystems
New study reveals that year‑round ocean heating by 1.5°C drives over 200 documented marine ecosystem disruptions.
Clear but not clean: the hidden life of drinking water in Nigeria
In many communities across Nigeria, clear water is assumed to be safe. Transparency, both literal and visual, has become shorthand for purity. My recent research in Ede, southwestern Nigeria, began with a simple but uncomfortable question: what are people actually drinking?
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Enhancing Nigerian fermented foods for nutrition, health and sustainability
Fermented foods are integral to Nigerian cuisine and culture, providing sustenance, health benefits, and cultural heritage. These foods owe their unique flavours, textures, and health benefits to fermentation, a process driven by a diverse community of microorganisms, including bacteria, yeasts, and moulds.
What is eating my rocks? A possible novel biological niche inside limestone
“It seems something biological has once lived inside rocks in Namibia.” Read the story of this unusual discovery…
The threat of porcine circovirus in Nigerian pig farms
AMI New Lecturer Research Grant recipient explores the need for surveillance and mitigation of PCV2 in agricultural settings.
Cholera: vaccination or better infrastructure?
Vibrio cholerae continues to challenge public health systems worldwide. Should we prioritize vaccination or infrastructure improvements?
Is climate change driving an increase in cases of anthrax?
The anthrax outbreak in Africa could be a harbinger of more to come, with climate change creating opportunities for the emergence of more cross-over strains capable of causing anthrax-like infections.
Q&A: Meet Letters in Applied Microbiology Junior Editor Daniel Jesuwenu Ajose
We caught up with Daniel Jesuwenu Ajose, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the School of Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Mpumalanga in South Africa, who is one of the newest Junior Editors with Letters in Applied Microbiology.
Summer studentship: Taiwo uncovers native strains for mycotoxin control in stored nuts
Taiwo Boluwatife Omowunmi reports back on her AMI-sponsored summer studentship which assessed native microbial strains for mycotoxin biocontrol in stored nuts.
AMI prizewinner Raquel Peixoto reveals how coral symbionts are key to tolerating rising temperatures
Marking World Coral Reef Day on June 1, AMI’s Rachel Carson Prize winner Professor Raquel Peixoto reveals how the ability of corals to tolerate rising temperatures is determined by the type of microorganisms that live inside them.
Summer studentship: Ojewale finds novel Actinomycetes offer rare antimicrobial metabolites
Ojewale Ifeoluwa Florence reports back on her AMI-sponsored summer studentship which focused on the investigation of Actinobacteria found in local freshwater environments in Ogun State, Nigeria, under supervisor Dr. Amina Badmos.
Connecting with microbiologists and presenting research: Oluwole Owoyemi reports back from ASM 2024
Medical microbiologist Oluwole Owoyemi of Achievers University Owo and Federal University of Technology, Akure, reports back from ASM MICROBE 2024 after being awarded a Scientific Event Travel Grant by Applied Microbiology International.
Endophytic fungi yield vivid colours and vital bioactive compounds
Endophytic fungi from the forests of Poland are yielding up a treasure trove of compounds that could revolutionize the pharmaceutical and biotechnological industries, according to Applied Microbiology International member Dr El-Sayed R El-Sayed.