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
Proposed changes to Hepatitis B vaccination schedule could significantly increase infections, model suggests
A modeling study suggests that replacing universal hepatitis B vaccination at birth with delayed vaccination or a shared decision-making approach, as recommended by the U.S. federal government this year, could lead to substantially more chronic hepatitis B infections among U.S. children.
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NewsCharité opens new HIV cure research center
A new research centre in Berlin is aiming to move HIV care beyond lifelong treatment and towards cure or long-term remission. Building on two rare HIV cures achieved in the city, researchers will investigate antibody, immune, gene and cell therapies designed to eliminate the virus or keep it permanently under control without medication.
NewsPlague never disappeared, but modern medicine has changed the risk
Plague may sound like a disease from the history books, but Yersinia pestis still circulates in wildlife around the world. Despite recent concern over a possible laboratory-linked death in Russia, experts stress that human cases remain rare and the infection is usually treatable when diagnosed quickly.
NewsGut-inspired biobattery uses bacteria to generate electricity
The tiny finger-like structures lining our small intestine have inspired a new design for bacteria-powered batteries. By mimicking intestinal villi, researchers created a bioelectrode with more surface area and better nutrient flow, allowing bacteria to generate stable electricity for hours.
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News
Newly discovered viruses could bridge a missing link in evolution
Researchers have uncovered previously unknown viruses that appear to bridge the evolutionary gap between viruses and protein compartments found inside cells. The discovery suggests these systems may have evolved from one another repeatedly, offering new clues about the origins of cellular organisation and the early evolution of life.
NewsResearch finds vegan honey could be made with similar antimicrobial properties to mānuka honey
Vegan honey alternatives could be engineered to have similar antimicrobial properties to prized mānuka honey from New Zealand, according to research. Two components of mānuka honey proved to be particularly effective when added to vegan honey formulations - methylglyoxal (MGO) and hydrogen peroxide.
NewsResearchers discover Achilles’ heel of antibiotic-resistant bacteria
Even highly antibiotic-resistant bacteria become more vulnerable when their cell wall transport system is disrupted, according to a new study. The discovery reveals a previously overlooked weakness that could help researchers develop new strategies to combat antibiotic resistance.
NewsOne-step rapid syphilis test detects infection earlier, researchers report
A new rapid test detects lower levels of the two types of antibodies the body makes to fight syphilis bacteria and respond to disease-related cell damage, potentially leading to earlier interventions and fewer appointments for patients.
NewsAntibiotic use from childhood linked to higher odds of IBS in young adulthood
Antibiotic use from childhood through early adulthood was associated with higher odds of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) at age 24, with the odds increasing as the number of antibiotic prescriptions rose, according to a new study.
NewsHuman papillomavirus: Can we finally predict which infections will progress to cancer?
Infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) is extremely common and, in the vast majority of cases, clears up on its own. However, in some people, it persists and can develop into precancerous lesions or even cancer. How can these high-risk situations be identified at an early stage?
NewsGut microbes don’t just train the immune system—they keep it in shape
Immune maturation has long been viewed as a developmental milestone tied to weaning, when pups are first exposed to a flood of dietary antigens and colonizing microbes. A study now suggests that in mice, the immune competence established after weaning is not self-sustaining—it must be continuously maintained by signals from the commensal microbiota.
NewsRecord-high West Nile virus infections reported amid spread to new parts of Europe
With the EU experiencing its most intense West Nile virus season to date and detections of the virus in new areas further north in Europe, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control calls for sustained prevention, surveillance and mosquito control.
NewsResearcher to investigate challenges affecting drinking water infrastructure
Researchers investigating the critical challenges affecting drinking water infrastructure will explore the interactions of biofilms, pipe materials, disinfectants and corrosion-control additives to mitigate corrosion and improve public health outcomes in the future.
NewsFree webinar: How living conditions can shape microbiomes
A fascinating free webinar will reveal how microbiomes are not based only on biology - but how we live. ‘Microbiomes, Inequity, and Structural Conditions: Rethinking What Shapes Health’ underlines that microbiomes don’t exist in isolation — they reflect the systems we live in.
NewsWater stress emerges as a key driver of Xylella damage
The damage caused by Xylella fastidiosa in almond orchards may depend on far more than the bacterium itself. New research shows that drought, surrounding vegetation and pathogen-hosting shrubs can all intensify disease severity, suggesting that managing the wider landscape could be key to protecting vulnerable crops.
NewsHow E. coli eavesdrops and senses Bifidobacterium
Gut bacteria may be quietly listening in on one another’s metabolism. Researchers have discovered that E. coli can detect chemical signals released by Bifidobacterium, allowing it to sense what nearby bacteria are doing and adjust its own metabolism in response.
NewsMuseum specimens help solve a 50-year mystery of disappearing frogs
A 50-year-old mystery surrounding frog disappearances in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest may finally have an answer. By testing decades-old museum specimens, researchers found that the chytrid fungus arrived just as amphibian populations collapsed, offering some of the clearest evidence yet linking the pathogen to the historic die-off.
NewsScientists map a hidden world of viruses across 102 cities
Cities are home to far more viral diversity than scientists previously realised. A global survey of nearly 3,000 samples from 102 cities identified almost 55,000 RNA virus species, most of them previously unknown, creating a new atlas of the viruses circulating through urban and peri-urban environments.
NewsVaccinating mothers protects offspring from deadly superbug
Researchers found that a vaccine given to pregnant mice protected their newborn pups from a severe bloodstream infection caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae, a dangerous bacterium that kills thousands of infants in low- and middle-income countries each year and is the leading killer of children globally.
NewsEbola vaccine induces T cell cross-reactivity against Bundibugyo virus in humans
A vaccine developed against Ebola virus may offer some immune protection against the related Bundibugyo ebolavirus, for which no licensed vaccine currently exists. Researchers found that a single dose triggered T cells capable of recognising BDBV, raising the possibility that existing vaccines could provide a degree of cross-protection during outbreaks.
NewsNew sequencing tool tracks harmful algal blooms as they emerge
A portable DNA sequencer can detect harmful algae in coastal waters in near real time, including species present at very low levels before blooms become obvious. Researchers also found that several harmful species often appear together, suggesting shared environmental triggers may help drive their growth.
NewsA new generation of mRNA antibody therapies may tackle ever-evolving SARS-CoV-2 variants
Researchers have fashioned an advanced antibody therapy that can neutralize SARS-CoV-2 while constraining the virus’ ability to escape recognition. The therapy protected mice against infections with an immune-evasive Omicron variant, and provides a structural template for antiviral antibodies that can keep up with their constantly evolving viral targets.
NewsScientists explore the latest threats and promising technologies in the fight against antimicrobial resistance
Scientists dive into the latest challenges and opportunities in humanity’s fight against antimicrobial resistance. Highlighted topics include the grave danger posed by drug-resistant tuberculosis and the rollout of AI technologies to streamline the discovery of antibiotics.