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
Geographic bias in virus naming: Lessons from coronavirus show it’s better to act early
A new study highlights the need to avoid geographically-based naming right from the outset of a pandemic. It analyzes the impact of the WHO’s introduction of the Covid nomenclature based on Greek letters - Alpha, Beta, Delta, etc.
Read story
NewsScholars take a new look at controversial Stateville prison malaria research 75 years ago
Medical ethicists are shining a light on a buried part of the malaria research conducted on inmates at Illinois’ Stateville Penitentiary 75 years ago.
NewsNature’s toolkit: Scientists breed mushrooms to build versatile natural substitutes for commonly used materials
Scientists have shown that natural genetic variations in a common species of mushroom can be used to create new strains capable of making customized, biodegradable replacements for fabric, plastic, packaging and other environmentally harmful materials.
NewsNew platform can diagnose infectious disease immune protection using one drop of fingertip blood
Researchers have developed a compact diagnostic platform that can evaluate antibody protection against COVID-19 using only a single microliter of fingertip blood. It delivers a comprehensive immune profile in just 40 minutes.
More Economic Equality
News
Airborne disease detection made easier with new, low-cost device
A new, small, low-cost device, nicknamed ABLE, could make the collection and detection of airborne hazards much more efficient. ABLE has immediate applications in hospitals, where viruses, bacteria and nanoplastics can be detected directly from the air.
Antibiotics taken during pregnancy may reduce preterm births
A study of almost 1000 pregnant women in Zimbabwe found that a daily dose of a commonly used, safe and inexpensive antibiotic may have led to fewer babies being born early.
Researchers develop paper-based diagnostic tool for rapid, affordable infectious disease detection
A team of scientists has developed a breakthrough paper-based diagnostic device that can detect COVID-19 and other infectious diseases in under 10 minutes, without the need for sophisticated lab equipment or trained personnel.
DNA floating in the air tracks wildlife, viruses — even drugs
A new study reveals the power of DNA, vacuumed up from the air, which can track everything from elusive bobcats to illicit drugs. A simple air filter running for hours, days or weeks can pick up signs of nearly every species that grows or wanders nearby.
Multiple testing for infectious diseases among migrants key to cutting onward transmission
Routine testing for multiple infectious diseases among migrants will benefit healthcare systems by identifying key infections earlier, a new study finds.
Portable HIV monitoring device shows promise for remote settings
A newly developed microfluidic biosensor promises to reshape how CD4+ T cells — key indicators of immune function in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) patients — are detected.
AMI makes The Sunday Times Best Places to Work in the UK list - twice!
Applied Microbiology International is celebrating after making The Sunday Times Best Places to Work in the UK list for the second year in a row.
Segregation fuels faster spread of infectious diseases, study finds
Structural inequalities, including wealth inequality and social segregation, not only make certain groups more vulnerable during public health crises but also accelerate the spread of infectious diseases through society, according to a team of international researchers.
World Health Assembly adopts historic Pandemic Agreement to make the world more equitable and safer from future pandemics
Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) today formally adopted by consensus the world’s first Pandemic Agreement, following more than three years of intensive negotiations launched by governments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Biosynthetic pathway discoveries mean we can halve the price of costly cancer drug
Researchers have identified the enzymes responsible for the two critical final steps in the biosynthetic pathway that makes the chemotherapy drug Taxol active as a drug, potentially opening it up to biotech based production.
Genomic data shows widespread mpox transmission in West Africa prior to 2022 global outbreak
Mpox was transmitted among humans in Nigeria for eight years before sparking the international outbreak in 2022. Using genomic tracing, the researchers estimate that the virus’s ancestor first emerged in southern Nigeria in August 2014.
Synthetic lichen points a pathway to self-healing concrete
Addressing one of the most persistent and expensive problems in construction, scientists have taken inspiration from nature to develop a synthetic lichen system to enable concrete to self-repair.
Electricity-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.
Consumption of ultra-processed foods by children up to one year old favors harmful bacteria in the gut
Analysis of the gut microbiota of more than 700 babies also showed that breastfeeding was a protective factor, mitigating the problem in those who consumed industrialized products. The study underscores the importance of breastfeeding.
European Immunization Week 2025: Inequalities in immunisation against measles could contribute to outbreaks
Research reveals inequalities in MMR vaccination that may contribute to measles outbreaks and epidemics, emphasising the importance of socioeconomic and demographic data in driving public health efforts.
Living fungus-based building material repairs itself for over a month
Engineers have developed a building material that uses the root-like mycelium of a fungus and bacteria cells. They show that it is capable of self-repairing and could eventually offer a sustainable alternative for high-emission building materials like concrete.
Investing in COVID-19 vaccination more than paid off for U.S., study finds
The US national Covid-19 vaccine strategy more than paid for itself after just one year, according to a new study. Because the vaccines reduced how many people developed serious illness or died, the nation saved more money than it spent.
AFYREN strengthens its Executive Committee with appointment of Laurent Pou as Industrial Director
AFYREN, a greentech company offering manufacturers biobased, low-carbon ingredients through a unique fermentation technology based on a circular model, has announced the appointment of Laurent Pou as Industrial Director.
Dietary shift after migration increases cardiovascular risk by altering the gut microbiome
An Amsterdam UMC-led study has found that migrants, this case from West Africa to Europe, experience a ‘clear change’ in their microbiome composition as compared to their non-migrant peers in West Africa, which expose them to an increase of cardiovascular disease.