One health
Communicable diseases remain one of the major causes of mortality worldwide. There are disparities in the numbers of individuals affected by disease between low-and-middle-income countries and those in developed nations. Microbes will play in important role in drug discovery: producing anticancer drugs and antimicrobials. Applying One Health principles, to understand the interaction of pathogens and the human host, development of diagnostics, treatments, and disease prevention, applied microbiologists can shape global health and wellbeing outcomes.
News
Vaccinated patients hospitalized with COVID-linked acute kidney injury less likely to need dialysis after discharge
Vaccinated patients hospitalized with COVID-19 who developed acute kidney injury had better outcomes than unvaccinated patients with the same condition, new research suggests. The study found vaccinated patients were less likely to stay on dialysis after discharge, and more likely to survive, than unvaccinated patients.
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NewsWhen bacteria get hungry, they kill – and eat – their neighbors
Scientists have discovered a gruesome microbial survival strategy: when food is scarce, some bacteria kill and consume their neighbors. The researchers show that under nutrient-limited conditions, bacteria use a specialized weapon — the Type VI Secretion System (T6SS) — to attack, kill, and slowly absorb nutrients from other bacterial cells.
News Ribosome profiling identifies thousands of new viral protein-coding sequences
With the help of a technique called Massively Parallel Ribosome Profiling (MPRP), scientists have identified more than 4000 open reading frames (ORFs) across 679 human-associated viral genomes.
NewsAn oral cholera vaccination campaign aims to reach more than 2.6 million people in Sudan’s Khartoum State
A 10-day reactive oral cholera vaccination campaign, launched on 10 June in 5 localities in Sudan’s Khartoum State, aims to protect more than 2.6 million people aged 1 year and above from cholera infection, interrupt transmission and help contain the cholera outbreak.
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News
2 million Americans with hepatitis C at risk if Supreme Court cancels free preventative care, study finds
A ruling overturning the Affordable Care Act (ACA) coverage mandate has the potential to dramatically change the landscape for early detection and treatment of hepatitis C virus in the U.S., according to a new paper.
NewsA combination of exercise and omega-3 reduces the severity of tooth root infections
Rats that exercised and took fatty acid supplements responded better to bacteria and the inflammatory process of apical periodontitis, which can occur when caries reach the root canal and cause an infection.
NewsIs your gut microbiome a calorie ‘super harvester’?
A little-known microbe makes methane in your gut — and may help you get more calories from food, according to a new study. Researchers found that people whose gut microbiomes produce a lot of methane are especially good at unlocking extra energy from a high-fiber diet.
NewsPeople with inflammatory RMD tolerate zoster vaccine well, study finds
New work presented at the 2025 annual EULAR congress in Barcelona focuses on the recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV), which contains recombinant glycoprotein E – the major target of CD4+T-cells. The abstract describes the tolerability and safety of RZV in patients with inflammatory rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (iRMD).
NewsGeographic 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.
NewsStudy indicates that severe forms of COVID-19 infection in children may increase cardiovascular disease risks
Scientists analysed blood samples from 147 children across different COVID-19 conditions and identified significant metabolic disruptions beyond the acute viral infection phase. These alterations affect how the body processes fats (triglycerides and cholesterol) critical to healthy heart structure.
NewsNew research reveals how bacteria export the building blocks of biofilms
Chemists examined how the polysaccharide “Pel” – a central component of many biofilms – is exported out of the cell by the pathogen P. aeruginosa and describe the structure of the so-called PelBC export complex, which represents the last station in the cell before “Pel” is released.
NewsCultured mini-organs reveal the weapons of aggressive Shigella bacteria
Thanks to lab-grown miniature intestines, researchers have successfully mapped how aggressive Shigella bacteria infect the human gut. The study opens the door to using cultured human mini-organs to investigate a wide range of other serious infections.
NewsHPV drives tumor development in rare nasal cancers
Human papillomavirus (HPV) can drive tumor development in some rare sinonasal squamous cell carcinomas (SNSCCs), according to a new comprehensive study of these tumors from investigators who also identified common mutations among these cancers and a potential combination treatment.
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.
NewsGreen light activates this antibiotic only where it’s needed
To make a more efficient antibiotic treatment, researchers have modified penicillin so that it’s activated only by green light. In early tests, the approach precisely controlled bacterial growth and improved survival outcomes for infected insects.
NewsGifts from the sea: Molecules derived from coral may help fight harmful bacteria
Pus, strep throat, and even tuberculosis—most infectious diseases are characterized by a cluster of pathogenic bacteria that can be stubborn and resistant to antibiotics. Researchers have found another method to combat these bacteria using naturally sourced molecules found in corals.
NewsNew research reveals a deadly fungal pathogen’s vulnerabilities
Scientists have disovered how the lethal pathogenic fungus, Cryptococcus neoformans, thrives, allowing them to identify potential novel therapeutic targets for treatment.
NewsA promising therapeutic agent for treating excessive inflammation due to COVID-19
Researchers show that iguratimod, a rheumatoid arthritis drug, reduces COVID-19-induced inflammation in mice without suppressing antiviral immunity.
NewsA repurposed FDA-approved drug shows promise in killing antibiotic resistant bacteria
A study of Acinetobacter baumannii employed an entirely new strategy to identify weaknesses specific to resistant bacteria and then target these weaknesses with an alternate drug. They found that fendiline kills the bacterium by targeting the essential lipoprotein trafficking pathway, which is weakened in antibiotic resistant bacteria.
NewsSHEA affirms trust in ACIP and supports science-based vaccine policy
Public health experts have commented on the removal by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) of all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the use of vaccines in the US.
NewsSARS-CoV-2 protein found to spread between cells, triggering immune attack on healthy cells
A new study reveals that the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein can spread from infected to uninfected cells, triggering an immune response that mistakenly targets healthy cells.
NewsInstant AI-assisted test for viral infection
A non-DNA based test could identify viral infections in patients in minutes. Scientists designed a test that confirms the presence of live virus by pushing particles through a nanopore, one at a time, and measuring their electrical conductivity, which varies with size and surface charge as well as the unique molecular structure of the virus.
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.