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
How a pandemic detour helped researchers uncover clues to a mysterious disease
Researchers examined the environmental and human factors that influence the distribution of Buruli ulcer, a neglected tropical disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium ulcerans.
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NewsGut microbiomes follow distinct trajectories during urbanization across South Asia
An international team of researchers studied communities across India and Sri Lanka to understand the impact of urbanization, local diets, and culture on the gut microbiome.
News A secret weapon against superbugs
A molecular library of potential adjuvants has been used to help restore the activity of vancomycin, a powerful antibiotic widely used to treat serious infections such as MRSA and Clostridium difficile (C. diff).
NewsHow the encephalomyocarditis virus hijacks host protein machinery
Researchers have used cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to decode how the encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) IRES hijacks the host’s protein synthesis machinery.
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News
Many countries overusing powerful antibiotics
Many countries are using too many powerful and inappropriate antibiotics, fuelling antibiotic resistance concerns, while millions lack access to the specific drugs they need. That is according to a major international study of antibiotic use.
NewsIs the licensed Zaire ebolavirus vaccine suitable to combat the current Bundibugyo ebolavirus outbreak?
Researchers provide evidence of possible cross-protection through an already licensed Zaire ebolavirus vaccine.
NewsResearchers find link between gut bacteria byproduct and irregular heart rhythm
A study shows a connection between elevated blood levels of TMAO (trimethylamine N-oxide) — a byproduct of gut bacteria digestion of nutrients found in red meat and other animal products — and a higher risk of atrial fibrillation.
NewsStudy uncovers new path toward fighting malaria
Researchers have discovered that the malaria parasite relies on a specific type of fat to survive and multiply within the human host, uncovering a previously unknown vulnerability that could help guide future treatments.
NewsNew open-access database maps pathogens and antibiotic resistance risks in coastal waters
A new global database brings together information on disease-causing microorganisms, antibiotic resistance genes, and virulence factors in coastal waters, offering a practical tool for assessing biological risks in estuaries and other nearshore environments.
NewsAntibiotic-tolerant bacteria rely on a hidden survival strategy
Scientists have uncovered how S. pneumoniae adapts to antibiotic exposure and immune pressures. Their findings reveal that changes in RNA regulation enable bacteria to enter a state of antibiotic tolerance.
NewsPrebiotic sodas typically contain as much sugar as fiber
Prebiotic sodas have become more popular in recent years. According to a new analysis, however, many of these beverages contain relatively little prebiotic fiber content and more sugar than marketing claims might imply.
NewsHow the most widespread parasite on earth reads its genome
Researchers have uncovered new details about how Toxoplasma controls the timing of protein production, ensuring the right molecular tools are available exactly when they are needed. Two protein complexes manage this process.
NewsResearchers find estrogen-like mycotoxin in every pregnant woman tested
Consuming common foods such as corn chips and popcorn may put pregnant women at risk of being exposed to mycotoxins. A study found hormone-mimicking mycotoxins in 100% of participants.
NewsCan fecal microbe transplantation improve sleep in people with chronic insomnia?
In a randomized clinical trial, ingesting capsules containing fecal microbes from healthy donors helped treat symptoms of insomnia. One month after treatment, participants receiving fecal microbiota capsules showed significantly higher sleep efficiency and reduced wake after sleep onset.
NewsImbalances in the oral microbiome linked to symptomatic hand osteoarthritis
Specific imbalances and disruptions to the oral microbiome have been linked to symptomatic hand arthritis. Study findings suggest that the microbial environment of the mouth may influence the disease process of hand arthritis.
NewsResearchers find a new way to tackle drug-resistant infections - starvation
A drug designed to block ECF transporters would attack the bacteria while leaving human cells largely unaffected, substantially reducing the risk of side effects. A research team has succeeded in developing exactly such a drug candidate.
NewsHigh-resolution map reveals where veterinary antibiotics enter China’s environment
A new study has developed a high-resolution, county-level inventory of veterinary antibiotic emissions across China, offering researchers and policymakers a clearer picture of where these pollutants originate and where they may accumulate.
NewsResearchers develop automated system to accelerate outbreak detection and disease surveillance
Biomedical engineers have developed a fully automated workflow that simplifies and accelerates the preparation of bacterial samples for genetic sequencing. The method streamlines a critical bottleneck in the genetic sequencing process.
NewsGut microbial interactions drive uric acid degradation via a novel mechanism
Scientists have systematically elucidated the complete mechanism through which the fructooligosaccharide-induced “Ligilactobacillus murinus-Anaerotruncus colihominis” axis reduces uric acid (UA) levels and protects the kidneys.
NewsRoasted and browned: how gut bacteria break down heated foods
Heating food generates new dietary compounds. A study shows that an enzyme in gut bacteria can expand its functional repertoire to process them.
NewsEven invertebrates can specifically distinguish between bacteria
Researchers have found that the immune system of a sea anemone is capable of selectively distinguishing between different microorganisms and thus protecting beneficial over harmful bacteria – an ability that has only been attributed to vertebrates to date.
NewsScientists map how the flu virus rewires the human cell from the inside
Researchers have gained new insights into how the influenza A virus reprograms cellular machinery by tracking molecular interactions directly inside infected cells.
NewsLast-line antibiotics at risk as children’s resistance rises
Antimicrobial resistance in children is rising globally and will worsen over the next decade, threatening the effectiveness of life‑saving antibiotics, according to a world-first monitoring platform.