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.
Careers
Making connections: the story behind the Centre for Microbial Interactions
This year saw the launch of the Centre for Microbial Interactions, representing one of the world’s largest concentrations of microbiologists on a single site at Norwich Research Park. Project manager Dr Sam Rowe reveals the journey to this point.
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NewsDiverse phage populations coexist on single strains of gut bacteria
A new study shows that a single bacterial species, the host of a phage, can maintain a diverse community of competing phage species. Several phage species coexist stably on a population of a genetically uniform strain of E. coli.
NewsResearchers call for global discussion about possible risks from ‘mirror bacteria’
A group of researchers has published new findings on potential risks from the development of mirror bacteria — synthetic organisms in which all molecules have reversed chirality (i.e. are ‘mirrored’).
NewsCould we engineer stability in the microbiome? New research opens the door
New work could revolutionize our understanding of how the composition of the gut microbiome is determined and open the door to microbiome engineering.
More One Health
News
New, simple, and natural method for producing vitamin B2
Researchers have succeeded in developing a natural and simple method for producing vitamin B2: by gently heating lactic acid bacteria. This could be a game-changer in developing countries, where many suffer from vitamin B2 deficiency
NewsResearchers uncover how bat-origin pathogenic viruses manipulate human cell death and inflammation
A new study offers insights into cell death regulation by viruses like SARS-CoV-2, and how bats and humans respond differently to tricks that such viruses use to manipulate the host’s defense.
NewsIdentifying amino acids that prevent sporulation in food poisoning
Scientists who examined how amino acids are involved in Clostridium perfringens spore formation have identified serine as an inhibitor. They found that serine inhibits the pathogen’s cell wall from remodeling, which is necessary in the process of becoming a spore.
NewsNew study highlights efficiency in detecting infectious diseases
In an effort to make large-scale disease testing faster and more affordable, researchers have developed an optimized approach to pooled testing, which could transform public health screening for infectious diseases.
NewsUrgent need for integrated detection strategies for AMR in water environments
A new review calls attention to the urgent need for integrated detection strategies that combine the precision of molecular tools with the cost-effectiveness of traditional methods which could enable more efficient, accessible, and scalable AMR monitoring.
NewsInitiative to start HPV vaccination at age 9 improved completion rates
A quality improvement program designed to increase earlier uptake of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine raised vaccination rates significantly, according to a study.
NewsA new class of antivirals could help prevent future pandemics
A new study introduces a proof-of-concept for a novel class of antivirals that would target a type of enzyme essential not just to SARS, but also many RNA viruses, including Ebola and dengue, as well as cytosolic-replicating DNA viruses, including Pox viruses.
NewsStudy finds widening inequalities in child vaccination rates across England
Vaccine uptake was found to be consistently lower among children in areas of higher deprivation, while the number of children susceptible to measles at age 5 increased 20-fold in the most deprived areas.
NewsScientists transform ubiquitous skin bacterium into a topical vaccine
Researchers have domesticated of a bacterial species that hangs out on the skin of close to everyone on Earth to create a vaccine that is a cream instead of needle.
NewsThe maternal microbiome during pregnancy impacts offspring’s stem cells in mice
Gut microbiome composition during pregnancy has long-term effects on offspring stem cell growth and development, new research reveals.
NewsWild bird's gut microbiome linked with its sexual ornamentation and body condition
A new study provides the first description of how a wild bird’s microbiome relates to its ornamentation and body condition. A Northern cardinal’s gut microbiome diversity can be predicted by its body condition, and the quality of its ornamentation – red plumage and beak.
NewsFirst full characterization of kidney microbiome unlocks potential to prevent kidney stones
Low levels of bacteria like E. coli and Lactobacillus in our urine come from communities in our kidneys, where they promote or prevent kidney stone formation.
NewsStudy shows how genetic defects in Toxoplasma are rescued by co-infection
Toxoplasma gondii parasites can use secreted factors to compensate for genetic defects in neighbouring parasites, highlighting a limitation of pooled CRISPR screens.
NewsUpdated Hep B vaccine more effective for people with HIV
A newer vaccine against hepatitis B virus was clearly superior to an older vaccine type in inducing a protective antibody response among people living with HIV who didn’t respond to prior vaccination, according to an international study.
NewsEl Niño increases infestations of mosquito that transmits dengue in São Paulo state, Brazil
A study by a group of scientists shows that larval infestations of Aedes aegypti in open-air disused containers increased in response to the effects of the weather phenomenon.
NewsNew study reveals how COVID-19 variants hijack human cells
A research team has successfully mapped what they call the “hijackome”, detailing how SARS-CoV-2 variants exploit specific cellular pathways.
NewsNew review highlights variant-specific differences in long COVID
Alpha and Delta variants have been linked to a higher prevalence of cardiopulmonary symptoms, such as breathlessness and chest pain, while Omicron infections show fewer severe cardiopulmonary effects but relatively higher incidences of fatigue and brain fog.
CareersVan Hung Vuong Le: my year as a Junior Editor with Letters in Applied Microbiology
One year into our Junior Editor training programme with Letters in Applied Microbiology, Van Hung Vuong Le from the University of Exeter reflects on the experience.
NewsAround 1 in 5 of the world’s under 50s living with genital herpes (HSV)
Around 1 in 5 of the world’s under 50s—846 million people—are living with genital herpes infection, and more than 200 million 15-49 year olds probably had at least one symptomatic outbreak of the infection in 2020, suggest the latest global estimates.
