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
Call for evidence: Why has the promise of personalised medicine failed to materialise on the ground?
A new inquiry by the UK Parliament’s Science and Technology Committee investigates why the NHS adoption of the UK’s cutting-edge life sciences innovations often fails - and what could be done to fix it. Members of AMI could be just the people to provide answers.
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NewsResearchers move closer to preventing pandemics
Researchers have developed an AI tool that can help determine whether unfamiliar bacteria carry genetic features linked to disease. By enabling the detection of harmful bacteria before they infect humans, this could transform pandemic preparedness.
NewsVitamin D linked to immune response to gut microbiome in inflammatory bowel disease
Vitamin D supplementation may help shape how the immune system responds to gut bacteria in people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), according to a new study.
NewsStudy reveals how a live bacterial therapy reshapes the vaginal microbiome and identifies predictors of treatment success
A new study provides the most detailed picture yet of how a promising bacterial therapy works to prevent recurrent bacterial vaginosis (BV) and why it works better for some women than others.
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Specific patterns of CD39 expression on T-cells of HIV/HCV coinfected patients receiving antiretroviral therapy
Researchers demonstrated that CD4+ T-cells act as the main regulators of purinergic signals in HIV/HCV coinfected and healthy individuals. At the same time, the proportion of CD4+ T-cells involved in the control of purinergic signaling was increased in HIV/HCV coinfected patients compared with healthy subjects.
NewsScientists studying bird flu in the air to protect people and agricultural operations
New research will investigate how nonthermal plasmas can render aerosols containing the virus that causes bird flu incapable of infecting humans and livestock. The approach exposes air to strong electric fields, temporarily creating free electrical charges that damage viruses.
NewsAging lung cells could be why COVID and flu are so dangerous to the elderly
Older adults are much more likely to become seriously ill from flu or COVID because aging lung cells can drive excessive immune responses, according to a new study led by researchers.
NewsNew flu drug discovery could help fight future pandemics
Scientists say that new laboratory tests have revealed a new way to stop flu viruses, which could lead to better treatments and improved pandemic preparedness. The international team has developed experimental compounds that appear to block the virus more effectively than current medicines.
NewsOver 250,000 deaths from meningitis globally in 2023; over one third in children under five
In 2023, globally 259,000 people died from meningitis and 2.5 million people were infected with the disease, suggests a study. Although death and infection rates have declined significantly since 1990, progress is insufficient to meet the WHO targets.
NewsFiber in whole wheat foods protects against gut inflammation in mice, study finds
Enriching the diet with wheat fiber protects mice against intestinal inflammation, according to a study. The finding helps explain why incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has increased, and suggests eating whole wheat foods may reduce one’s risk of developing it.
NewsMedieval DNA reveals trans-Saharan connections, rapid genetic mixing, and leprosy in Islamic Ibiza
An international research team has revealed that the population of medieval Ibiza was remarkably diverse. One individual was found to be infected with Mycobacterium leprae, the bacterium responsible for leprosy, marking the first genetically confirmed case from medieval Islamic Iberia.
NewsRNA-guided CRISPR system activates gene expression
In back-to-back studies, researchers report a naturally evolved gene-editing system that can activate genes, offering an advantage over existing CRISPR gene-editing systems that merely find and cut DNA.
NewsFirst Chagas disease conference on US soil highlights a turning point in national awareness
For the first time, a conference dedicated to Chagas disease research will be held on U.S. soil, marking a significant and symbolic moment for researchers, clinicians and public health leaders working to boost awareness of the disease in this country.
NewsDramatic reduction in prescribing of hepatitis C antivirals may leave many curable patients untreated
A new study analyzed a large national prescription database to estimate hepatitis C treatment courses over time and trends by patient and prescriber characteristics from 2013–2025. Prescriptions rose rapidly after direct-acting antivirals first became available, peaking in 2015, but then declined sharply through 2025.
NewsDifferent plastics, different threats: Tracking antibiotic resistance on riverborne debris
While traditional plastics steadily accumulate antibiotic resistance genes over time, biodegradable plastics can trigger short-lived but intense spikes in pathogens and resistance during degradation.
NewsSimple antiseptic can reduce newborn infections
A new Cochrane review finds that chlorhexidine likely cuts umbilical cord infection rates by about 29% in low- and middle-income countries, and may reduce newborn deaths.
NewsWhy is vaccination for target populations plummeting in the UK? Share your insights!
As a group of leading UK health experts launches a new Commission on Access to Vaccines to understand why access levels are falling across the UK, Applied Microbiology International is calling on members to share their insights on childhood vaccinations.
NewsTracking bacteria’s protective armor could help find targeted vaccine targets
The first large-scale genetic study of E. coli’s protective armour has identified the five capsule types that are responsible for 70 per cent of all multidrug-resistant bloodstream infections in Europe.
NewsGenetic breakthrough uncovers evolutionary limits of the COVID-19 virus
A new paper indicates that while the COVID-19 virus has developed rapidly since 2019, it has done so within limited genetic channels. These genetic limits have remained unchanged.
NewsHPV vaccination uptake in adults shaped by knowledge and medical advice
A nationwide survey of HPV uptake in Switzerland found just over 27% of the approximately 3,850 adults aged 18 to 45 surveyed had received at least one dose of the vaccine. While nearly 59% of those aged 18 to 26 are vaccinated, the rate drops to around 16% among those aged 27 to 45.
NewsHealth experts from a new Commission call for a step change in vaccine access as coverage falls and potentially preventable outbreaks return
A group of leading UK health experts have today announced that they will be launching the Commission on Access to Vaccines to understand why access levels are falling across the UK and to recommend practical measures to reform vaccine delivery across the health system.
NewsSevere infections may raise dementia risk, study finds
A study finds that infections like cystitis and bacterial disease are linked to higher dementia risk independently of other coexisting conditions.
NewsScreening and preventive treatment program reduced tuberculosis incidence 83% among Tibetan children living in northern India
A study shows that significant reduction of tuberculosis (TB) transmission and burden (the total impact of health problems on a population) among schoolchildren in high-burden areas can be achieved using existing TB screening, treatment and follow-up protocols.