All The Americas articles
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OpinionHow Puerto Rico’s first microbiome research center can reshape global science collaboration
AMI’s Global Ambassador for the Americas, Dr. Filipa Godoy-Vitorino, Chair of the Department of Microbiology at the University of Puerto Rico, reveals why she is spearheading the planned Puerto Rico Center for Microbiome Sciences (PR-CMS)—the first of its kind in the region.
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NewsThe body doesn’t just absorb a plant-based diet—it adapts to one, new review finds
A new review of plant-based diets concludes that the body actively adapts to sustained dietary change, absorbing iron more efficiently, synthesizing more of its own creatine and carnosine, using protein more economically, and remodeling gut bacteria to better ferment fiber.
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NewsHow the Chagas disease parasite ‘activates’ its form capable of infecting mammals
A new study helps determine how Trypanosoma cruzi manipulates its own RNA to alter protein production and invade the host, which could lead to new therapeutic approaches against Chagas disease.
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NewsSoil bacteria protect wheat from pathogenic fungus
New research shows that, when inoculated into the soil, bacterial species can alter the soil microbiome and protected plants from a fungus that causes root rot.
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NewsTolkien-inspired coral among the stars: New species discovered on Costa Rica’s deep-sea seamounts
Scientists exploring seamounts off the coast of Costa Rica have discovered a new coral so genetically and morphologically distinct that it required the creation of an entirely new family for its classification.
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OpinionWhose culture is it? Rethinking the study of traditional fermented food microbiomes
When microbiologists study traditional fermented foods, are we simply documenting natural biodiversity, or are we also accessing a form of cultural heritage, asks Tara Spencer-Drakes, PhD.
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NewsNew vaccine strategy protects against chikungunya and could become a platform for combating other diseases
Researchers created a genetically modified version of the Chikungunya virus that replicates only once, yet still trains the immune system to defend itself without causing disease.
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NewsAmazonian ‘zombie’ fungus harbors a hidden stage inside forest mosses, new study reveals
Researchers have found evidence that the “zombie-ant” fungus, globally known for controlling ant behavior and forcing infected ants to bite onto plants before dying, also lives hidden inside mosses in the Amazon rainforest.
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NewsStudy detects, for the first time in Brazil, bacteria that cause a serious disease in farmed fish
Columnaris disease pathogens, which were previously only found in Asia and the United States, were identified in samples from São Paulo, Minas Gerais, and Paraná. This finding underscores the need for epidemiological surveillance and new vaccines.
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NewsCaterpillar that attacks soybeans and cotton harbors fungi that can degrade polystyrene
A moth caterpillar identified by the agribusiness sector as one of the most destructive pests of soybean, cotton, and corn crops may harbor fungi and bacteria in its gut that can degrade expanded polystyrene, also known as Styrofoam.
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NewsWhen it comes to brain health, is microbiome science missing much of the world?
For more than two decades, scientists have uncovered remarkable links between the trillions of microbes living in our gut and the health of our brains. What if much of this science is based on studying only a narrow slice of global diversity?
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NewsData may reveal the hidden communication of pathogenic fungi
Researchers creating the first comprehensive fungal EV atlas will investigate vesicles produced by fungi belonging to the Candida, Aspergillus and Cryptococcus genera, while also working to standardise the methods used for their isolation and analysis.
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NewsConnection between forests and rivers strengthens amphibians’ microbiome and protects them against a lethal fungus
A study indicates that a frog’s resistance to a fungus that has decimated hundreds of amphibian species worldwide is due not only to its genes, but also to the beneficial bacteria living on its skin and to the organization of its surrounding landscape.
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NewsNew antiseptic capable of eliminating 99.9% of Candida parapsilosis cells
A 0.5% alcohol-based chlorhexidine antiseptic, combined with the natural organic compounds eugenol and menthol, can eliminate 99.9% of Candida parapsilosis cells. This fungus is one of the leading causes of infections in hospital settings.
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OpinionFederal research rule changes could reshape applied microbiology in America
On June 5, 2026, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) proposed sweeping changes to federal grant administration that would fundamentally alter how applied microbiology research and development is funded and conducted in America.
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NewsQuiet emergence of superbug threat revealed in new study
Decades-old hospital samples have helped researchers uncover how a deadly antibiotic-resistant “superbug” quietly tightened its grip across the globe.
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NewsCommon COVID-19 drugs may pose hidden risks to marine life, study finds
A new study suggests that several drugs widely used during the COVID-19 pandemic can be toxic to marine organisms, even at relatively low concentrations. Five pharmaceuticals were tested on nauplii of the brine shrimp Artemia salina.
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NewsDiabetes worsens long COVID complications
In a study involving 870 participants, people with diabetes took longer to recover from the virus and experienced more severe cardiac complications, as well as greater physical and cognitive difficulties.
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NewsOropouche virus has already infected more than 5 million people in Brazil, study suggests
The recent Oropouche virus outbreak in 2023 has drawn attention in Brazil and other Latin American countries because of its scale and rapid spread. Researchers estimate that since 1960, the virus has infected approximately 9.4 million people in Latin America and the Caribbean.
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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.