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 food shortages reprogram the immune system’s response to infection
When food is scarce, stress hormones direct the immune system to operate in “low power” mode to preserve immune function while conserving energy. This reconfiguration is crucial to combating infections amid food insecurity.
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NewsBacterial hitchhikers can give their hosts super strength
Molecular hitchhikers living within bacteria can make their hosts extra resistant to medical treatment by corralling them into tightly packed groups. The study introduces a previously unknown avenue through which bacterial infections can become more difficult to treat.
NewsShorter treatment regimens are safe options for preventing active tuberculosis
A study comparing one- and three-month antibiotic treatments to prevent active tuberculosis (TB) finds that a high percentage of patients successfully completed both regimens and suffered few adverse side effects.
NewsUS study finds declining perception of safety of COVID-19, flu, and MMR vaccines
A sizable majority of Americans think the three vaccines that combat potentially deadly illnesses flu, Covid-19 and measles are safe to take, although perceptions of the safety of all three vaccines showed a statistically significant drop over the past three years.
More One Health
News
Genotype-specific response to 144-week entecavir therapy for HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B
HBV genotype B demonstrates superior histological responses to ETV therapy compared with genotype C, supporting the clinical value of HBV genotyping for personalized CHB management. These findings highlight the importance of considering viral genotype when evaluating treatment outcomes.
NewsResearchers identify strategies for preventing the most infectious strains of S. aureus in the NICU
A new study has identified which strains of Staphylococcus aureus – commonly known as staph – are commonly transmitted in neonatal intensive care units and which specific strains are most likely to cause invasive and serious infections.
NewsResearchers rebuild microscopic circadian clock that can control genes
Researchers have solved how the circadian clocks within microscopic bacteria are able to precisely control when different genes are turned on and off during the 24-hour cycle.
NewsStudy reveals how chills develop and support the body’s defense against infection
Researchers in Japan have identified the neural mechanism behind chills and the instinct to increase body temperature during infection.
NewsScientists create ‘smart underwear’ to measure human flatulence
Scientists have created Smart Underwear, the first wearable device designed to measure human flatulence. The device helps scientists revisit long-standing assumptions about how often people actually fart. It also opens a new window into measuring gut microbial metabolism in everyday life.
NewsNew AI model improves accuracy of food contamination detection
Researchers have significantly enhanced an artificial intelligence tool used to rapidly detect bacterial contamination in food by eliminating misclassifications of food debris that looks like bacteria. Current methods often require specialized expertise and are time consuming — taking several days to a week.
NewsNew algorithm enhances microbiome biomarker discovery by integrating biological relationships
Researchers have developed a novel algorithm, Microbiome Elastic Feature Extraction (MEFE), that significantly improves the identification of microbiome biomarkers by incorporating phylogenetic, taxonomic, and functional relationships among microbes.
NewsEMBL pays tribute to Peer Bork (1963—2026)
The European Molecular Biology Laboratory has paid tribute to its Interim Director General, Professor Peer Bork who passed away in January. The institution reflects on the extraordinary impact Peer had on the world of science.
NewsAccomplices in the spotlight: When the interaction between fungi and bacteria becomes a dangerous alliance
Researchers discover new co-infection strategies of Candida albicans and Enterococcus faecalis. Only some E. faecalis strains significantly increased cell damage when infected simultaneously with Candida albicans. These strains produced cytolysin, a toxin that perforates cell membranes and kills the cells.
NewsAntibiotic-resistant bacteria found in many healthy birthing mothers and their newborns
A recent study found gut bacteria resistant to common antibiotics in a sizable percentage of healthy birthing mothers and their newborns. In this study, 38% of bacterial strains resistant to ceftriaxone transmitted from mother to infant were E. coli.
NewsNew gut-brain discovery offers hope for treating ALS and dementia
Scientists have identified a link between gut bacteria and the deterioration of the brain in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD). The researchers discovered that certain bacterial sugars cause immune responses that kill cells—and how to prevent it.
News‘Hidden’ bugs in our gut appear key to good health, finds global study
A single group of bacteria has repeatedly shown up in high numbers in the gut microbiomes of healthy people. Scientists found the level of CAG-170 bacteria present was consistently higher in healthy people than those with diseases including inflammatory bowel disease, obesity and chronic fatigue syndrome.
NewsMicrobiomes interconnect on a planetary-scale, new study finds
Scientists reveal that microbes living in similar habitats are more alike than those simply inhabiting the same geographical region. By analysing tens of thousands of metagenomes, they found that while most microbes adapt to a specific ecosystem, generalists can thrive across very different habitats.
NewsNeonatal sepsis: using vaginal microbiota to improve predictions
Researchers have found that some identifiable microbial signatures in vaginal swab samples taken at delivery are associated with a risk of neonatal sepsis.
NewsTechnology transfer for Corallopyronin A successfully completed with Phyton Biotech
Phyton Biotech has successfully transferred the manufacturing process for the microbial production of Corallopyronin A (CorA). CorA is a novel anti-infective agent with the potential to address neglected tropical diseases.
NewsObesity linked to one in 10 infection deaths globally
Just over one in 10 deaths from a wide range of infectious diseases can be attributed to obesity worldwide, finds a major new study. People with obesity face a 70% higher risk of hospitalisation or death from an infection than those of a healthy weight.
News Engineered moths could replace mice in research into “one of the biggest threats to human health”
Scientists have created the world’s first genetically engineered wax moths – a development which could both accelerate the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and significantly reduce the need for mice and rats in infection research.
NewsWhat drives food allergies? New study pinpoints early-life factors that raise risk - including microbiome
A new study involving 2.8 million children around the world has revealed the most important early-life factors that influence whether a child becomes allergic to food. Genetics alone cannot fully explain food allergy trends, pointing to interactions between genes, skin health, the microbiome, and environmental exposures.
NewsCommunity spread drives ongoing measles transmission in Europe
Preliminary data for 2025 show a significant drop in the number of reported measles cases across EU/EEA countries compared with 2024. However, these figures are still twice as high than those reported in 2023.