All Streptococcus pneumoniae articles
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NewsCan AI find drugs to fight infection?
Researchers have used artificial intelligence (AI) to identify approved drugs that may be effective against Streptococcus pneumoniae. Using a dataset of molecules shown to be active against S. pneumoniae and a larger dataset of molecules inactive against another drug-resistant bacterium, the scientists trained three different learning algorithms.
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NewsBacteria in airway shape air pollution health risk
A study suggests that the subtype of the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae, together with air pollution exposure impacts the rate and timing of invasive disease — with some strains linked to immediate infection after air pollution exposure, and some taking several weeks.
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NewsAntibiotic-tolerant bacteria rely on a hidden survival strategy
Scientists have uncovered how S. pneumoniae adapts to antibiotic exposure and immune pressures. Their findings reveal that changes in RNA regulation enable bacteria to enter a state of antibiotic tolerance.
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NewsResearchers find a new way to tackle drug-resistant infections - starvation
A drug designed to block ECF transporters would attack the bacteria while leaving human cells largely unaffected, substantially reducing the risk of side effects. A research team has succeeded in developing exactly such a drug candidate.
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NewsAntibiotic proves ineffective in treating wheezing in young children in the emergency room
A study has shown that giving the antibiotic azithromycin did not help preschool children seen in the hospital emergency room with bouts of severe wheezing. It provides more definitive answers to longstanding questions and inconclusive studies about the role of some types of bacteria in wheezing and asthma.
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NewsCharacteristics of CD4+T-cell reduction and pulmonary infections in critically ill immunocompromised patients
A new study investigates the relationship between reduced CD4+T-cell counts and lung infections in immunosuppressed patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs).
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NewsOver 250,000 deaths from meningitis globally in 2023; over one third in children under five
In 2023, globally 259,000 people died from meningitis and 2.5 million people were infected with the disease, suggests a study. Although death and infection rates have declined significantly since 1990, progress is insufficient to meet the WHO targets.
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NewsMicrobial warfare helps bacteria evolve, study shows
A study of commensal bacgteria shows that Streptococcus mitis can kill the pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae during a physiological state known as competence, when bacteria become able to take up DNA from their surroundings.
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NewsStudy shows breath test can confirm bacterial infection
A study shows how molecules that are only broken down by infecting bacteria, and not by gut bacteria, can be used to confirm infection. By enriching these molecules with a naturally occurring carbon isotope, the researchers found that carbon dioxide produced when they break down is easily detected in a breath test.
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NewsResearchers identify bacterial enzyme that can cause fatal heart conditions with pneumonia infections
Researchers have identified a bacterial enzyme that may be the reason some people get heart complications with pneumonia, while others do not. Since enzymes create chemical reactions to help bacteria survive, grow, and sometimes attack tissues, zmpB could become a target for future therapies.
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NewsMiniature noses to help prevent infections and promote nasal health
To better understand how different bacteria interact with the lining of the human nose, researchers used a miniature model of the human nose to study how bacteria can live in nasal passages.
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NewsWHO warns of widespread resistance to common antibiotics worldwide
One in six laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections causing common infections in people worldwide in 2023 were resistant to antibiotic treatments, according to a new World Health Organization (WHO) report.
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NewsMap of bacterial gene interactions reveals potential drug targets
Researchers have developed a new technique called Dual transposon sequencing (Dual Tn-seq), which allows for rapid identification of genetic interactions. It maps how bacterial genes work together, revealing vulnerabilities that could be targeted by future antibiotics.
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NewsVaccination support program reduces pneumonia-related mortality by 25 per cent among the elderly
Findings based on efforts in Sera Town, Japan showed the pneumococcal vaccination support program reversed the previously increasing trend in pneumonia mortality rate in the community.
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NewsAntibiotic resistance among key bacterial species plateaus over time
Scientists studying eight key bacterial species found that while antibiotic resistance initially rises in response to antibiotic use, it does not rise indefinitely. Instead, resistance rates reached an equilibrium over the 20-year period in most species.
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NewsBreaking antibiotic-resistant bacteria’s protective shields opens door for immune system response
Researchers have made progress in uncovering how Streptococcus pneumoniae constructs its capsule, which serves as a protective shield. This capsule is a primary target for vaccine development.
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NewsWhy some kids get sicker: The hidden power of nose bacteria
A scoping review unravels how bacterial colonization in the respiratory tract impacts both the severity of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections and long-term respiratory health in children.
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News$1.9M NIH grant will allow researchers to explore how copper kills bacteria
A researcher has received a $1.9 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to continue his research into uncovering how copper can be harnessed to kill harmful bacteria and other microorganisms.
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NewsMeningitis has a much greater impact on child mortality than previously thought
New study reveals high rates of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in hospital-associated cases of meningitis in children under five years of age.
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NewsScientists discover new defense mechanism in bacteria
Researchers investigated a bacterial defence mechanism that uses cell-to-cell communication to ‘warn’ unaffected bacteria, which can then anticipate, shield themselves and spread the warning signal.