All Research News articles
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NewsSingle amino acid change may help viruses jump from bat to human
New research reports that a single amino-acid change alters how a coronavirus protein interacts with the human and bat immune systems, shifting the body’s response to infection.
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NewsMaternal weight may influence microbiota signalling in amniotic fluid
New research investigates how maternal factors during pregnancy affect small particles produced by the body’s microbiota, giving insights into a new way to monitor maternal and fetal health during pregnancy.
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NewsEffects of polystyrene nanoplastics and organophosphorus flame retardants on salamander gut-liver axis
New research reveals the effects of polystyrene nanoplastic and the organophosphorus flame retardant exposure on the gut-liver axis of salamanders.
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NewsHow specific humidity affects flu outbreaks - and what it means under climate change
In temperate regions, flu season is in the winter, while in the tropics, constant low-intensity activity is typically punctuated by two annual peaks—or a surge during the rainy season. Researchers investigated whether specific humidity—the mass of water vapor per unit mass of air—could explain these differing patterns.
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NewsJust 10 viral particles can cause H5N1 avian flu infection in cows
Just 10 viral particles of the H5N1 bird flu that caused hundreds of influenza outbreaks in U.S. dairy cattle can cause infection in cows, a new study shows. The research also hints at why the outbreaks have confounded scientists, farmers and livestock handlers hoping to contain and prevent the disease.
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NewsPlant viruses open new routes for gene editing
A new study has developed potyvirus-derived vectors for delivering CRISPR RNA (crRNA) guides in Lachnospiraceae bacterium ND2006 Cas12a (LbCas12a)-expressing plants, expanding virus-induced gene editing from tobacco rattle virus (TRV) to tobacco etch virus (TEV), turnip mosaic virus (TuMV), and lettuce mosaic virus (LMV).
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NewsResearchers produce biodegradable bioplastic from potato starch using a modified bacterium
A new study has produced a biodegradable bioplastic from unprocessed potato starch in a single 24-hour step, establishing that the bacterium Bacillus subtilis is a robust platform of great industrial interest for producing polyhydroxybutyrate from a low-cost agricultural by-product.
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NewsPathogens survive conditions on extraterrestrial locations
Microorganisms from our planet could survive on celestial bodies where water is present, such as Mars, reveals a study focusing on simulated space conditions. Our immune system reacts less effectively to pathogens that have undergone such a simulated space journey.
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NewsCohabitating people share about a quarter of their gut and oral microbiota
People who live together share more oral and gut microbes with each other than with other people in their communities, according to a study. Researchers also found a link between more transmissible microbes and health, particularly type 2 diabetes.
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NewsWastewater analysis offers a new way to monitor HIV in communities
Human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) detection in wastewater offers a novel approach to monitor the virus in communities. Hybrid-capture genetic sequencing allows researchers to analyze viral genomes in detail and specifically identify viral signals coming from community wastewater.
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NewsYour gut talks to your liver: Study reveals how microbes influence liver function through DNA ‘switches’
Researchers have uncovered how the gut microbiome can influence gene activity in the liver by acting on short stretches of regulatory DNA that function like molecular “switches”.
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NewsShingles vaccine linked to lower dementia risk in older adults, study suggests
A target trial emulation of older adults entering skilled-nursing facilities found that those who received the recombinant shingles vaccine (RZV) had a lower risk of developing dementia over the following four years compared with those who were not vaccinated.
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NewsGlobal map of mycorrhizal fungi reveals true scale of underground networks
Researchers have produced the first global maps visualising the distribution and mass of the Earth’s arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal networks, revealing the true scale of this underground fungal infrastructure.
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NewsResearch forecasts global antimicrobial resistance threats for the next two decades
New research has analysed antimicrobial resistance (AMR) on a global scale to predict how resistance patterns could evolve by the year 2050, identifying around 210 resistance traits that could pose the greatest future risk.
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NewsFungi help biochar and compost lock more carbon in nutrient-poor urban soils
A new field study shows that soil fungi can determine whether urban greenspace amendments build long-term soil carbon or accelerate carbon consumption.
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NewsmRNA flu vaccine offers immune protection against wide array of influenza virus strains
A new study has found that an investigational mRNA influenza vaccine helps the immune system recognize a wider range of influenza viruses than today’s standard flu shot, offering stronger and potentially longer-lasting protection. The vaccine, developed by Moderna, is currently under review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
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NewsStudy reveals 45 new toxins produced by bacteria associated with foodborne infections
Researchers have discovered 45 new toxins produced by Salmonella bacteria, some of which are associated with foodborne infections. The study shows that these substances primarily act in the competition among microorganisms for space and resources.
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NewsA gut bacteria molecule may calm intestinal inflammation by turning down cellular energy
A new study suggests enterobactin, a molecule produced by gut bacteria, could offer a new pathway for treating inflammatory bowel disease.
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NewsMetformin given during acute COVID-19 infection reduced risk of clinician-diagnosed long Covid by 50%
New findings from the ACTIV-6 randomized clinical trial provide important confirmation of prior clinical trial results that metformin, a widely available and inexpensive medication with an established safety record, reduced the risk of clinician-diagnosed long COVID when started during acute COVID-19 infection.
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NewsHow exercise fights implant infections: Muscle hormone “musclin” unveiled as a key defender
A new study reveals how the exercise-induced myokine musclin reprograms macrophage metabolism to clear dead cells and treat periprosthetic joint infections.