Food security
Millions of people are undernourished globally and with the population growing, food security is a major concern. Food security is multifaceted, requiring advancements in food safety, ensuring products have a good shelf life, reducing spoilage and providing dietary additions to improve the nutrient intake of the population. The application of microbiology is far reaching, and new approaches are required to maintain food security. Through an improved understanding of plant-microbe interactions, it is possible to forecast and mitigate food shortages.
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Simultaneous knockout of multiple eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E genes confers durable and broad-spectrum resistance to potyviruses in tobacco
Resistant tobacco varieties carrying the va locus significantly reduced Potato virus Y (PVY) incidence and yield loss, according to a new study. However, prolonged cultivation of va-resistant varieties has led to the emergence of resistance-breaking (RB) PVY isolates.
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NewsScientists reveal gene pairs conferring resistance to wheat diseases
A research team led by Prof. Liu Zhiyong at the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has identified two novel genetic mechanisms for disease resistance in wheat, offering promising strategies to enhance resilience against powdery mildew and stripe rust. The discoveries were published in ...
NewsUrgent need to quantify role of fungal toxins in rising liver cancer rates in Ghana
There’s an urgent need to quantify the role of aflatoxins, found on agricultural crops, such as maize and peanuts, in the escalating rates of liver cancer in Ghana, as well as elsewhere in Africa and Asia, concludes a commentary.
NewsGene pyramiding protects peppers from devastating viral diseases
Researchers demonstrates how combining two different resistance genes can make pepper plants remarkably more resilient against even the most virulent begomovirus combinations.
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Drone-based tech deployed to detect subtle signs of rice blast disease
Scientists have developed a novel vegetation index—the Rice Blast Index (RBI)—using drone-based hyperspectral remote sensing technology, to rapidly and non-invasively detect subtle signs of rice blast disease and achieve precise field management.
NewsInfectious diseases experts raise alarm about antifungal resistance, call for global effort
Infectious disease experts are raising the alarm about the role new pesticides can play in building resistance to antifungal medical treatments, calling for a coordinated, global ”One Health” approach to developing, testing and using agents to fight pathogens.
CareersMeet the Global Ambassadors: our Q&A with Arsalan Zaidi
The Microbiologist gets to know our new Global Ambassador for Pakistan, Dr Arsalan Zaidi, who is Principal Scientist at the National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering.
NewsNanoparticle smart spray helps crops block infection before it starts
As climate change fuels the spread of plant diseases worldwide, a new nanoparticle smart spray could help crops defend themselves by blocking harmful bacteria from entering through tiny pores in their leaves.
NewsFungal resistance in wheat: preserving biodiversity for food security
Researchers have found traditional wheat varieties from Asia that harbor several genes that confer resistance against yellow rust. They may serve as a durable source of yellow rust resistance in commercial varieties in the future.
NewsMicrobes revealed as missing link in potato cyst nematode cycle
Potatoes produce a molecule that is converted by microbes and causes potato parasites to hatch. The discovery of this three-way relationship not only adds a new perspective to how plants interact with their environment, it also opens a path to countermeasures.
NewsBacterial species join forces to boost production in soybean - without disrupting soil microbiome
Combining a bacterial isolate with rhizobia can boost soybean production without disrupting the natural soil microbiome, a new study reveals.
NewsNatural algal communities can inhibit aquaculture pathogens
A new study has demonstrated that it is possible to develop a consortium of bacteria that can inhibit bacterial pathogens in aquaculture. This could potentially reduce the use of antibiotics in aquaculture and possibly other applications.
NewsCould nanoplastics in the environment turn E. coli into a bigger villain?
New research suggests certain nanoplastics may make foodborne pathogens more virulent. Nanoplastics with positively charged surfaces were more likely to cause physiological stress in E. coli O157:H7, making them pump out more Shiga-like toxin.
NewsAI predicts bacterial resistance to cleaning agents
With the help of artificial intelligence and DNA decoding, a new method can predict how well disease-causing bacteria such as Listeria tolerate disinfectants. This research may become a valuable weapon in the fight against harmful bacteria.
NewsResearchers develop living material from fungi
Researchers have developed a bio-based material that is completely biodegradable, but also tear-resistant and has versatile functional properties. All this with minimal processing steps and without chemicals – you can even eat it. Its secret: It’s alive.
NewsConsumption 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.
NewsDesigner microbe shows promise for reducing mercury absorption from seafood
Scientists who inserted DNA-encoding methylmercury detoxification enzymes into the genome of an abundant human gut bacterium found it detoxified methylmercury in the gut of mice and dramatically reduced the amount that reached other tissues.
NewsChiral phytovirucide targets viral Nia protein to inhibit proliferation
A new study focuses on the search for small molecules to target the Nia protein of Potato virus Y (PVY), one of the most economically destructive viruses affecting Solanaceous crops such as potatoes, peppers, and tomatoes.
NewsNo more copy-pasting: DNA base editing for better Lactobacillus strains
Scientists were able to edit the DNA of Lactobacillus strains directly without a template from other organisms. This technique is indistinguishable from natural variation and enabled them to create a strain that doesn’t produce diabetes-aggravating chemicals.
NewsAntibiotic-resistant Escherichia albertii on the rise in Bangladeshi chicken shops
Researchers have detected alarming rates of Escherichia albertii in retail chicken meat in Bangladesh. Their findings show extensive contamination and significant antimicrobial resistance, underscoring the potential risks to public health.
NewsGlycan-coated magnets: A game-changer for safer food supply chains
A new method using glycan-coated magnetic nanoparticles (gMNPs) is poised to change the way we detect foodborne pathogens like Escherichia coli and Salmonella in complex food matrices such as melons, lettuce, and raw chicken.
NewsNew platform leverages AI and quantum computing to predict salmonella antimicrobial resistance
A recent study presents a novel approach to predict Salmonella antimicrobial resistance, a growing concern for public health. The research combines large language models (LLMs) and quantum computing to develop a predictive platform.
NewsScientists develop special agar for isolation of Escherichia albertii and its evaluation with food samples
Scientists have developed a novel E. albertii selective differential medium, XRM-MacConkey medium containing cefixime, tellurite, phosphate, and soy peptone, which differentiates E. albertii (colorless) from E. coli (red) by colony color.