All Rice University articles
-
NewsCommon food bacterium could help make vitamins cheaper and greener
A new study reveals how Lactococcus lactis, a common food bacterium, regulates the production of a key precursor in vitamin K₂ (menaquinone) biosynthesis. The bacteria produce enough of this precursor to support their growth while preventing toxic buildup.
-
NewsBioscientist wins NSF CAREER Award to investigate bacterial toxins, expand inclusion in STEM
Marcos de Moraes has received support to study the molecular mechanisms and evolutionary roles of bacterial toxins known as deaminases, as well as an educational outreach effort aimed at making biosciences open to all, including differently abled persons.
-
NewsResearchers develop superstrong, eco-friendly materials from bacteria
Scientists have developed a scalable approach to engineer bacterial cellulose into high-strength, multifunctional materials. Their biosynthesis technique aligns bacterial cellulose fibers in real-time, resulting in robust biopolymer sheets with exceptional mechanical properties.
-
NewsMeasles virus detected in Houston wastewater before cases were reported
An innovative outbreak detection program that tracks disease-causing viruses in wastewater identified the measles virus in Houston samples collected in early January 2025, before cases were reported.
-
NewsElectricity-generating bacteria may power future innovations
Scientists have discovered how certain bacteria breathe by generating electricity, using a natural process that pushes electrons into their surroundings instead of breathing on oxygen.
-
NewsMeasles may be making a comeback in the US, research finds
If immunization rates drop further over a prolonged period of time, measles and even other wiped-out diseases — such as rubella and polio — could one day make a comeback in the United States, according to a new study.
-
NewsRice research team creates universal RNA barcoding system for tracking gene transfer in bacteria
An interdisciplinary group of researchers at Rice University has developed an innovative RNA “barcoding” method to track gene transfer in microbial communities, providing new insights into how genes move across species.
-
NewsNew method developed to dramatically enhance bioelectronic sensors
In a breakthrough that could transform bioelectronic sensing, researchers have developed a new method to dramatically enhance the sensitivity of enzymatic and microbial fuel cells using organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs).
-
NewsNewly designed nanomaterial shows promise as antimicrobial agent
Newly developed nanocrystals show potential as antimicrobial agents that are stable, effective and easy to produce.
-
NewsInvasive plants drive homogenization of soil microbial communities across U.S.
A new study found that invasive plants are doing more than just taking over landscapes, they are also changing the soil beneath them.
-
NewsBioengineered mussel-inspired sticky microorganisms to help break down plastic waste
Scientists have tapped into nature’s adhesive genius, the sticky power of mussels, to create bioengineered microorganisms with powerful cling that could help transform environmental cleanup.
-
NewsScientists team up to track gut-brain connection in athletes with concussion
120 athletes are to take part in a concussion study with researchers to identify reliable and novel concussion biomarkers in their gut microbiomes in ways that standard brain imaging cannot.
-
NewsResearchers unveil secrets behind phages’ flawless timing
New research is shedding light on how viruses ensure their survival by precisely timing the release of new viruses. The discovery offers a new theoretical framework for understanding these dynamic biological phenomena.
-
NewsEngineers develop innovative microbiome analysis software tools
Since the first microbial genome was sequenced in 1995, scientists have reconstructed the genomic makeup of hundreds of thousands of microorganisms and have even devised methods to take a census of bacterial communities on the skin, in the gut, or in soil, water and elsewhere based on bulk samples, leading ...
-
NewsStudy identifies protein responsible for gas vesicle clustering in bacteria
Scientists have presented the first identification of a protein that can regulate the honeycomb patterning of gas vesicles packed within microbes.
-
NewsFaster and simpler point-of-care malaria test developed
Researchers have developed a rapid, accurate test for diagnosing malaria that is significantly faster and easier to use than traditional tests. The advancement has the potential to improve patient outcomes, especially in rural regions with limited health care resources.
-
NewsSelf-decontaminating fabric burns out viruses but is safe for skin
A new material that packs deadly heat for viruses on its outer surface while staying cool on the reverse side could transform the way we make and use personal protective equipment (PPE).
-
NewsProtective particles allow engineered probiotics to report gut disease
Bioengineers have developed a platform that allows engineered biosensor bacteria safe passage through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract in an animal model.
-
NewsViruses hidden in coral symbiont’s genetic material pose threat to reefs
Microscopic algae that corals need for survival harbour a common and possibly disease-causing virus in their genetic material, an international study has found.
-
NewsHigh-efficiency gene-editing tool coaxes fungi into yielding their secrets
Using an approach that simultaneously modifies multiple sites in fungal genomes, Rice University chemical and biomolecular engineer Xue Sherry Gao and collaborators coax fungi into revealing their best-kept secrets, ramping up the pace of new drug discovery.