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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Researchers engineer a microbial platform for efficient lutein production
The application of systems metabolic engineering strategies, and construction of an electron channeling system, has enabled the first gram-per-liter scale production of lutein from Corynebacterium glutamicum, providing a viable alternative to plant-derived lutein production.
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NewsScientists investigate how Rho GTPases Cdc42 and RacA regulate aflatoxin synthesis and pathogenicity in Aspergillus flavus
Scientists investigating the mechanisms by which the Rho GTPases Cdc42 and RacA regulate aflatoxin synthesis and pathogenicity in the fungus Aspergillus flavus found that these processes are controlled through the regulation of morphogenesis, oxidative balance, and energy metabolism.
NewsBeetles under climate stress lay larger male eggs: Wolbachia infection drives adaptive reproduction strategy
Researchers find that azuki bean beetles, a common pest, produce larger eggs yielding male offspring when infected with Wolbachia bacteria under elevated temperature and carbon dioxide conditions.
NewsResearchers find genetic clues to infant formula pathogen’s global persistence
Researchers are shedding new light on how a dangerous foodborne pathogen—Cronobacter sakazakii—may have adapted to thrive in dried and powdered foods across the global supply chain.
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Tokyo to host global summit showcasing leadership in microbiome medicine & fermentation science
Japan is reinforcing its position as a global powerhouse in microbiota research and fermentation science, as the country prepares to host the First Conjoint Meeting - International Society of Microbiota (ISM) - RIKEN, on Targeting Microbiota this October in Tokyo.
NewsFecal samples from bowhead whales link ocean warming to rising algal toxins in Arctic waters
Rising toxins found in bowhead whales, harvested for subsistence purposes by Alaska Native communities, reveal that ocean warming is causing higher concentrations of algal toxins in Arctic food webs.
NewsAMI welcomes two new members to its Board of Trustees
Applied Microbiology International has welcomed two new trustees to the AMI Board of Trustees - Dr Helen Onyeaka and Otto Balsiger. Professor Catherine Rees has been re-elected for a second term as a Trustee.
NewsScientists reimagine citrus greening treatment delivery
Texas A&M AgriLife Research is launching a multi-institutional study to develop and evaluate systems that deliver treatments to trees affected by citrus greening disease, also known as Huanglongbing.
FeaturesFrom barnyard to bench: what sequencing reveals about microbial life across the farm-scape
We understand the water cycle and the flow of nutrients in ecological systems, but might microbial life also follow a cyclical, interconnected pattern, and how does that look with regards to food production?
NewsStudy reveals beneficial microbes that can sustain yields in unfertilized fields
Naturally occurring bacteria in rice roots could help reduce the reliance on chemical fertilizers for rice cultivation, paving the way for sustainable agriculture.
NewsReview article highlights urgent need for aflatoxin control strategies in Pakistan’s feed supply chain
Scientists say there is an urgent need for aflatoxin control strategies in Pakistan’s feed supply chain to improve animal health, productivity, food safety and exports of animal-based products.
FeaturesHow artificial intelligence and machine learning are transforming agriculture’s future
Agriculture is at a pivotal moment in history, and the sector needs to adopt new ideas to survive and flourish. AI and Machine Learning are no longer futuristic concepts; they are transforming farming today and helping to solve problems that have persisted for a long time.
NewsHow a common brain parasite disrupts neural communication
Scientists reveal how the Toxoplasma parasite can significantly disrupt brain function, even when it infects only a small number of neurons. The team found the parasite interferes with essential communication between brain cells.
NewsGut microbiome composition and food insecurity linked to risk of cognitive impairment in adults
A new study has found a compelling link between the composition of the gut microbiome and the risk of cognitive impairment (RCI) in adults, underscoring the complex role that both biology and social determinants—such as food insecurity—play in brain health.
NewsWar, trade and agriculture spread rice disease across Africa
Since the mid-1800s, human activities have rapidly facilitated the spread of rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV), a pathogen that infects rice, far and wide across Africa, according to a new study.
NewsResearchers examine the impact of mycoestrogen exposure on birth outcomes
Exposure to mycotoxins – a broad group of harmful substances produced by mold – during pregnancy may impact placental function, which could result in lower birthweight in humans.
NewsScientists team up to identify infectious diseases using AI and hyperspectral imaging
A collaboration will expand patented technology to detect viral signatures in animals. ESS Protect – Animal will offer rapid, non-invasive, and contactless screening for bovine respiratory disease (BRD) using hyperspectral imaging and advanced machine learning.
NewsSimultaneous 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.
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.
NewsDrone-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.