Economic Equality
Across the globe there are huge disparities in access to basic services such as healthcare, education, and economic resources, with the UN estimating over 98 million people live on less than $1.90 a day. It is vital for microbial research to identify those areas which actively maintain cycles of poverty and disparity. In recognising the interconnected nature of human financial systems and environmental health, microbial research can be a leader in working toward Economic Equality.
News
Applied Microbiology International unveils 11 new Global Ambassadors
AMI has announced that it has recruited 11 new Global Ambassadors from around the world. Global ambassadors have a range of expertise and knowledge across regions and sectors, and support and promote applied microbiology and our organisation.
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NewsNew FAIRY rapid method determines virus infectivity
A new method that can rapidly determine whether a virus is infectious or non-infectious could revolutionise the response to future pandemics.
NewsIt’s not just humans — bacteria have memory too
Beneficial bacteria — used in probiotics and biological pest control to fight harmful bacteria — possess memory, and even pass information on to future generations.
NewsUse of synthetic microbial communities has stalled - but we can get moving again
Use of synthetic microbial communities outside the lab is rare - but a more systematic approach could improve confidence in their long-term behaviour and address ethical considerations.
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News
Rhizobacteria identified to combat striga and boost sorghum yields in Ethiopia
Researchers have identified potential Striga-suppressing rhizobacteria associated with sorghum, which have been shown to significantly reduce Striga seed germination rates.
FedEx opens first European Life Science Center in Veldhoven
Federal Express Corporation, the world’s largest express transportation company, has opened its first European Life Science Center in Veldhoven, the Netherlands. The specialised cooling facility opens global access for the healthcare industry.
Synthetic biology reveals the secrets of life without oxygen
Long before photosynthesis brought free oxygen into the world, the earth was already populated by numerous organisms. Oxygen was life-threatening for them and therefore they developed completely different metabolic pathways to those we know from plants, animals and humans.
Densely packed E.coli bacteria form immobile material similar to colloidal glass
Dense E.coli bacteria have several similar qualities to colloidal glass. When they become higher in density and more packed together, they form a ’glassy state’ but also show some other unique properties not typically found in glass-state materials.
Scientists ID bacterial genes that yield iridescent colors
Scientists sequenced the DNA of 87 structurally colored bacteria and 30 colorless strains and identified genes that are responsible for iridescent bacterial colonies.
Magnets can nudge swimming bacteria into line
Researchers have found a way to use magnets to line up bacteria as they swim, offering a useful tool for a wide range of research, such as work on complex materials, phase transitions and condensed matter physics.
Study reveals a way to protect microbes from extreme conditions
By helping microbes withstand industrial processing, the method could make it easier to harness the benefits of microorganisms used as medicines and in agriculture.
Giant clams - and their algae - may hold the answers to making solar energy more efficient
Researchers present an analytical model for determining the maximum efficiency of photosynthetic systems based on the geometry, movement, and light-scattering characteristics of giant clams.
COVID-19 pandemic tied to low birth weight for infants in India
The incidence of low birth weight rose sharply in India amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new research.
Functional predictability of universal gene circuits in diverse microbial hosts
By developing a quantitative framework to explore the universality and reliability of biological parts in non-model organisms, the team characterized universal genetic parts in four microbial hosts that can be used to build biological circuits in living cells.
UN publishes negotiation proposals for sharing benefits from plant, animal, microbial DNA sequences
New UN documents provide proposals and options to meet a global pledge to share fairly some of the multi-trillion-dollar revenues and other benefits derived from products related to the use of “digital sequence information on genetic resources (DSI)”.
Fluctuating cellular energy drives microbial bioproduction
Scientists studying ATP dynamics in various fermentation conditions have developed a cost-effective approach to enhance bioproduction through supplementation of ATP-promoting carbon sources.
3D-printed chip sensor detects foodborne pathogens for safer products
Researchers have developed a new method for detecting foodborne pathogens that is faster, cheaper, and more effective than existing methods.
Simple test for flu could improve diagnosis and surveillance
A low-cost CRISPR-based paper strip test distinguishes between influenza types and can be reprogrammed to recognize different viruses including the H5N1 bird flu virus.
Buckling point reveals secrets of cyanobacteria locomotion
Scientists investigating cyanobacteria locomotion have found that the filamentous threads start to kink and buckle at a length of around 150 micrometres.
Compound produced by citrus pest's symbiotic bacteria promotes in vitro protein synthesis
The compound diaphorin produced by an insect symbiotic bacterium promotes the activity of an in vitro protein synthesis system using Escherichia coli-derived components, researchers have found.
Researchers turn to AI to help combat malaria in Africa
The project is an international effort that will establish a new research center in Africa to advance malaria research and deploy advanced smart traps for real-time identification of mosquitoes carrying the malaria parasite.
Insight into key enzyme paves way towards hydrogen from algae
Researchers investigating algae that can produce hydrogen have identified how a vital cofactor, the so-called hydrogen cluster, is assembled.
Knowledge is a factor in closing black-white COVID-19 vaccination gap
Early in the Covid-19 pandemic, Black Americans were more hesitant to take the Covid-19 vaccine than were White Americans. As the pandemic went on, however, the disparity in vaccination rates between Black and White adults declined.
