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
Gut bacteria convert dietary nitrate and iron into protective molecules
Researchers have discovered that gut bacteria can convert dietary nitrate and iron into protective molecules that may reduce the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
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NewsBacteria found in lung tumors may boost immune response to cancer
New preclinical study shows bacteria in lung tumors may boost the activation of innate immune cells in the presence of a common vitamin metabolite.
NewsCommon virus rewires energy metabolism in human neurons
Advanced optical imaging techniques reveal viral infection reshapes neuron metabolism long before major cell damage appears.
NewsA viral ‘loose cannon’ enzyme helps phages shut down bacterial defenses
Scientists have found how phages, viruses that infect bacteria, orchestrate an explosion of protein modifications inside host cells that helps them evade the bacteria’s immune systems.
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News
Bladder infection after brain injury worsens cognitive problems
New research shows urinary tract infections following a moderate brain injury can worsen cognitive problems caused by the injury.
NewsFirst 24 hours after viral infection are critical
New research suggests that the first 24 hours after viral infection is critical in determining infection severity.
NewsNew discovery could help scientists fight deadly fungal infections
Researchers have discovered that the bacterial antibiotic ‘gladiolin’ can disarm Candida albicans, one of the leading causes of life-threatening fungal infections, opening new avenues for developing life-saving treatments.
NewsToo much RNA can starve cells of energy
Researchers uncover a link between excess RNA and mitochondrial damage — revealing new insights into viral infections, aging and RNA-based therapeutics.
NewsNext-gen mRNA therapeutics get a new delivery vehicle
Researchers have developed a novel way of delivering circular RNA into cells, paving way for long-lasting mRNA-based therapeutics including cancer vaccines and obesity treatments.
NewsSimple diet changes help microbes produce higher-quality biomaterials
Feeding bacteria a cheap agricultural by-product enables the production of high-value biomaterials with promising biomedical and industrial applications.
NewsModeling social inequality in epidemics
New study introduces a metric into disease-transmission models which quantifies the degree to which social determinants of health — like neighborhood, access to healthcare, or economic status — cause outbreaks.
NewsClimate change predicted to drive changes in diarrheal disease prevalence in several countries in Africa
Researchers have identified key social and environmental factors that influence how climate change affects childhood diarrheal diseases in sub-Saharan Africa.
NewsPreventing the accumulation of mRNA-loaded lipid nanoparticles in the liver
New research has developed a novel coating agent that prevents lipid nanoparticles from accumulating in the liver—a major practical challenge when using lipid nanoparticles in vaccines and immunotherapies.
NewsPre-existing antibodies linked to different immune responses after influenza vaccination
New study highlights how previous exposure to influenza viruses and vaccines can leave behind pre-existing antibodies, which may influence how the immune system responds to later vaccination.
NewsDevelopment of dual-action compounds to fight cancer and infections
Researchers have developed new hybrid compounds that simultaneously reduce the viability of aggressive cancer cells and inhibit the growth of certain bacteria and fungi.
NewsGut-pancreas immune crosstalk may offer new therapeutic strategies for pancreatic cancer
A new study reports that immune responses produced in lymph nodes shared by the liver, pancreas and intestine shape T-cell tolerance. This cross-organ immune rewiring increases T-cell infiltration into pancreatic tumors, pointing to potential new approaches for hard-to-treat pancreatic cancers.
NewsFrom local waterways to future therapies: Inspiring the next generation of scientists through phage discovery
Coventry University welcomed students from schools across the West Midlands for an immersive outreach experience focused on bacteria, viruses, AMR, and the potential of bacteriophages as a future tool in combating antibiotic-resistant infections.
NewsDoctoral student aims to detect insect-borne viruses sooner
A biomedical engineering doctoral student at the University of Nebraska is developing generative foundation models to forecast the emergence of arboviruses before they spill over into humans.
News‘Known’ TB gene springs to action under stress, with an unexpected biological role
New research has discovered that one of TB’s supposedly “known” genes has a completely unexpected biological role, with far-reaching implications.
NewsPreventive TB treatment for individuals with HIV shown to be effective in real-world settings
A new study has evaluated the real-world impact of TB preventive treatment in six countries with high TB and HIV rates and highlights the importance of preventive treatment in reducing deaths caused by a curable disease.
News35-year study reshapes our understanding of Lyme disease ecology
Researchers reveal surprising findings from one of the world’s longest-running ecological monitoring programs tracking ticks and their hosts.
NewsEngineered macrophages gain enhanced bacteria-targeting ability
A novel membrane interface engineering strategy enables immune cells to specifically recognize, capture and eliminate pathogenic bacteria without genetic modification.
NewsResearchers identify rapidly spreading genetic variants that make parasites resistant to malaria treatment
New genetics study helps explain declining malaria drug susceptibility and highlights the urgent need to track mutations and improve current therapies.