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.
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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NewsScientists pinpoint how a red seaweed reduces methane emissions from cows
New research into the microbiome of cattle rumen has implications for addressing a leading contributor to climate warming.
NewsAMAST Network launches to battle AMR in the agrifood system
AMAST – the AMR in Agrifood Systems Transdisciplinary Network, has been created to harness perspectives from across agrifood stakeholders and prepare new ways to tackle these challenges.
NewsRising antimicrobial resistance in some Salmonella serovars isolated from retail chicken meat
Salmonella infections are a major public health issue in the United States, causing over 1.3 million illnesses annually. These infections are a leading cause of foodborne illness, often traced back to raw or undercooked poultry meat and eggs.
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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.
NewsKenyan crop contamination outbreak inspires grad student to improve rice storage
A new study shows that proper rice storage conditions to reduce aflatoxin risk after harvest include a temperature below 20 degrees Celsius, or 68 degrees Fahrenheit, and relative humidity below 75 per cent.
NewsMost Salmonella illnesses from chicken caused by few products with high levels of virulent strains
A new study shows that few products with high levels of very virulent Salmonella strains are responsible for most of the illnesses from raw chicken parts, suggesting regulation efforts should focus on detecting and preventing high-risk contamination.
NewsReceptors make dairy cows a prime target for influenza
Researchers who examined mammary gland samples from two cows infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza found a rich supply of sialic acid, which could shed light on how the virus attaches to hosts and help develop measures to slow the spread.
NewsResearchers map the world’s fungi from air samples
DNA sequencing was used to identify fungi from air samples collected around the world, resulting in insights into the climatic and evolutionary factors influencing the occurrence and seasonal variation of both previously known and unknown fungi.
NewsMassive harmful algal bloom in the Arctic prompts real-time advisories to western Alaskan communities
A summer 2022 research cruise that detected a massive and highly toxic harmful algal bloom (HAB) in the Bering Strait has provided an example of science that utilized new technology to track a neurotoxic HAB and protect remote communities in Alaska.
NewsPumpkin disease not evolving - which could make a difference for management
The bacterium, Xanthomonas cucurbitae, is so successful that it has had no reason to evolve through time or space, according to new research characterizing the pathogen’s genetic diversity across the Midwest.
NewsResearchers develop new way for beneficial microbes to survive extreme conditions and space exploration
The team’s formulations allow microbial therapeutics to maintain their potency and function over time despite extreme temperatures, harsh manufacturing processes, and radiation exposure.
NewsCertain bacteria or fungi can combat a plant pathogen that attacks common vetch
A new study reveals that treating common vetch with certain bacteria or fungi that promote plant growth may be effective for combating anthracnose, a severe disease caused by the Colletotrichum spinaciae plant pathogen.
OpinionOnce-subtropical Vibrio infections on the move along coastlines
As new stretches of coastline become vulnerable to potential Vibrio outbreaks in a warming aquatic environment, Applied Microbiology International member Elizabeth Archer examines how human health is inextricably linked with ocean health.
NewsStudy reveals environmental impact of artificial sweeteners on water microbes
A new study demonstrates how sucralose affects the behavior of cyanobacteria — an aquatic photosynthetic bacteria — and diatoms, microscopic algae that account for more than 30% of the primary food production in the marine food chain.
NewsResearchers use microbes to create biodegradable bioplastics from food waste
Researchers are developing biodegradable bioplastics from food waste to give those materials a new – and useful – life.
NewsDecoding disease defenses: miRNAs and the battle against apple pathogens
A new study illuminates the genetic dynamics in tissue-specific interactions between apple trees and Valsa mali, a fungus causing severe disease.
NewsScientists isolate amylase enzyme produced by indigenous bacteria from sugar factory waste
Experts in wastewater processing and treatment have isolated amylase-producing bacteria from the liquid waste of sugar local factories and optimized the production of the amylase enzyme.
NewsCurrent strategies ineffective in controlling Salmonella Dublin in Danish cattle
Researchers have shown that, despite stringent movement restrictions among Danish cattle farms, Salmonella Dublin continues to propagate, indicating that current strategies are insufficient to curb the spread of the disease.
NewsPasteurization inactivates highly infectious avian flu in milk
Researchers tested nearly 300 milk products from 132 processors in the US and found no infectious H5N1 virus in the samples.
NewsPublic fails to appreciate risk of consuming raw milk, survey finds
Fewer than half of U.S. adults know that drinking raw milk is less safe than drinking pasteurized milk and many Americans do not understand the risks of consuming raw milk, according to a new health survey.
NewsUN 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)”.
NewsResearchers examine how fungal toxins impact hormones in pregnancy
A fungal toxin that hinders animal fertility and fetal development may also disrupt human sex hormones in pregnancy, according to a study.
