Young Innovators & Early Career Research
Early career research is crucial for science, and in delivering applied microbiology to the world. This page is focused on showcasing innovations and research from early career researchers across the globe and provides a hub for the latest news, opinions, careers advice and research for early career scientists. Discover how interdisciplinary colleagues from around the world are making advancements in, and through, applied microbiology.
News
Avian malaria widespread across Hawaiʻi bird communities, new study finds
A new study shows that avian malaria can be transmitted by nearly all forest bird species in Hawaiʻi, helping explain why the disease is present almost everywhere mosquitoes are found across the islands.
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NewsBacterial hitchhikers can give their hosts super strength
Molecular hitchhikers living within bacteria can make their hosts extra resistant to medical treatment by corralling them into tightly packed groups. The study introduces a previously unknown avenue through which bacterial infections can become more difficult to treat.
NewsTexas-grown cabbage meets global tradition in kimchi research
Researchers are turning Texan produce into kimchi as part of a study that links fermentation science, food safety and new market opportunities for U.S. farmers. The research examines how Texas-grown cabbage and other leafy greens perform during kimchi fermentation.
NewsBee bandits: ecologists study mutualistic plant-pollinator-microbe interactions
Researchers studying nectar-robbing behavior in bumble bees suspect other organisms beyond plants and pollinators may be aiding and abetting pollinators in nectar-robbing behavior.
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News
Researchers discover that vaginal bacteria don’t always behave the same way
By analyzing vaginal microbiome data at unprecedented resolution, researchers have identified 25 distinct vaginal microbiome types and demonstrated that bacteria of the same species can differ substantially in their functional potential, thereby affecting how these microbes interact with the body.
NewsLarge-scale study analyses the impact of climate on Legionnaires’ disease in Catalonia
A study has analysed the relationship between climatic conditions, the presence of Legionella in water systems and cases of Legionnaires’ disease in Catalonia. The link between these different factors highlights the need to adapt prevention and surveillance strategies in the context of climate change.
NewsFrom ambassadorship to action: Leading a national scientific writing and publishing workshop in the UK
Medical Microbiologist and Antimicrobial Resistance Researcher Dr. Oluwole Owoyemi, ASM Young Ambassador to the UK, reveals why he designed a scientific writing and publishing workshop for early career scientists - and how it went.
NewsOysters play unexpected role in protecting blue crabs from disease
Oysters famously filter their surrounding water, but it turns out they are removing more than algae and excess nutrients. New research shows they can also reduce the spread of disease in nearby marine species, including Chesapeake Bay’s prized blue crabs.
NewsNew study reveals a minimalist bacterial defense that disrupts viral assembly
Researchers describe how a single protein named Rip1 recognizes bacteriophages, the viruses that infect bacteria, and cause infected bacteria to die prematurely, thereby ending the chain of transmission.
NewsA mint idea becomes a game changer for medical devices
Researchers have developed a high‑performance coating made from peppermint essential oil that can be applied to the surfaces of many commonly used medical devices, offering a safer way to protect patients from infection and inflammation.
News A fungus living in our body can make melanoma more aggressive
A study has for the first time established the mechanism by means of which the Candida albicans fungus makes melanoma more aggressive. It activates several signalling pathways in the melanoma cells, creating an environment that helps to reprogram angiogenesis and metabolism.
NewsRisk for Lyme disease in Ohio is equal to Connecticut, study shows
The risk for being bitten by a tick infected with bacteria that cause Lyme disease is as high in Ohio as it is for those living in Northeast states that have dealt with Lyme disease for over 50 years, according to a new study.
NewsHow brick-building bacteria react to toxic chemical in Martian soil
Researchers investigated how bacteria that can mould Martian soil into brick-like structures fare in the presence of perchlorate, a toxic chlorine-containing chemical discovered in Martian soil. It slows down bacterial growth - but surprisingly leads to the formation of stronger bricks.
NewsResearchers uncover the invisible worlds beneath our feet
An analysis of a natural aquifer revealed that despite their close spatial contact and possible interactions, the microorganisms in the water and on the rock form two strongly contrasting ecological communities.
NewsHow bacteria learned to target numerous cell types, revealed
A new study shows how bacteria adapted a virus-derived injection system to recognize and attach to many different types of cells. By identifying thousands of rapidly evolving receptor-binding proteins, the researchers explain how these systems can be retargeted in nature by swapping the part that binds to cells.
NewsVaping zebrafish suggest E-cigarette exposure disrupts gut microbial networks and neurobehavior
Researchers hope to spark broader public discussion on the health risks of e-cigarettes and provide scientific evidence to support a reassessment of existing regulations.
NewsGenetic system makes worker cells more resilient producers of nanostructures
Researchers report the development of a new genetic regulatory system to improve cell viability during the production of gas vesicles.
NewsResearchers enable microorganisms to build molecules with light
Researchers are continually looking for new ways to hack the cellular machinery of microbes to make useful products. A new study shows they can expand the biosynthetic capabilities of these microbes by using light to help access new types of chemical transformations.
NewsOne of Earth’s most abundant organisms is surprisingly fragile
A group of ocean bacteria long considered perfectly adapted to life in nutrient-poor waters may be more vulnerable to environmental change than scientists realized. The bacteria, known as SAR11, dominate surface seawater worldwide and can make up as much as 40% of marine bacterial cells.
NewsA rapid test using a mobile phone will be able to identify the most severe cases of imported malaria within minutes
A new malaria tool uses a mobile phone to combine rapid diagnostic tests with video analysis and is capable not only of detecting the infection in under six minutes but also of predicting which patients may develop severe forms of malaria.
NewsGlowing bacterial sensors detect gut illness in mice before symptoms emerge
Researchers have engineered gut bacteria that dim their fluorescent glow in the presence of illness. Their findings could improve how we diagnose problems in the gut by using bacteria that already live there.
NewsHow genes influence the microbes in our mouths
A new study has found human genetic factors that influence the oral microbiome and may increase risk of cavities and tooth loss in some people. Analysis of the now largest collection of oral microbiome profiles reveals interactions between human and bacterial DNA.
NewsScientists use AI to uncover the secret lives of fungi
Scientists have developed an automated workflow that assesses scientific abstracts and accurately identifies whether a fungus has a single lifestyle or a dual, flexible one. Understanding this flexibility is vital for predicting how forests and farms will react to climate change.