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.
A new evolutionary theory suggests that some asexual parasites may temporarily be able to infect a wider range of hosts as harmful genetic mutations build up.
Read storyDecades-old hospital samples have helped researchers uncover how a deadly antibiotic-resistant “superbug” quietly tightened its grip across the globe.
A new study suggests that several drugs widely used during the COVID-19 pandemic can be toxic to marine organisms, even at relatively low concentrations. Five pharmaceuticals were tested on nauplii of the brine shrimp Artemia salina.
Researchers are proposing a new labelling scheme designed to give consumers a better opportunity to choose ready-to-eat foods, such as smoked salmon and spiced pork roll, without risking infection with Listeria bacteria.
Infections are a leading cause of joint replacement failures, however a new study suggests prescription of an extended courses of antibiotics after patients leave the hospital may not be needed.
Research shows that sugars in breast milk play an important role in the development of the gut microbiota, during weaning or transition from breast milk to solid food.
Scientists have shown that bacteria can learn from past experiences, store memories across generations and adapt their behavior to changing environments.
In a new review, researchers noted that artificial and other low-calorie sweeteners, compared to non-caloric controls such as water or placebo, raised fasting insulin and HbA1c, a marker of long-term blood sugar control, and showed a trend toward worsening insulin sensitivity.
A new study reveals the molecular mechanism behind one of the most powerful mechanical actions in all of biology, the reeling in of tiny surface fibers called type IV pili.
An international research team has revealed previously hidden genetic diversity in Toxoplasma gondii, a globally distributed zoonotic parasite, in China.
Researchers have caught the malaria parasite’s moving junction in the act, obtainingg the first high-resolution view of its three-dimensional structure. It turns out to be a molecular machine that actively remodels the host cell’s membrane to help the parasite force its way inside.
COVID-19 vaccine boosters not only protect against SARS‑CoV‑2 but may also help protect against some future coronaviruses that risk spreading from animals to humans, researchers have shown.
Rather than vaccinating people or pets against Lyme disease, researchers are targeting the “reservoir hosts” — small mammals like squirrels, chipmunks and white-footed mice — that naturally carry the bacterium and pass it to ticks.
Actinobacteria are a major source of bioactive natural products and exhibit an unusually high transcription factor (TF) abundance. A new study reports the development of Actinobacteria Transcription Factor Database integrating 629 TFs from 25 representative species.
A probiotic bacterium secretes mannose—that significantly suppresses melanoma growth in mice by activating the body’s own immune defenses. Mannose enters CD8⁺ T cells through glucose transporters and inhibits a key protein called YAP1, which normally restrains T-cell killing power.
A single-shot vaccine in development could protect against flu, COVID-19 and RSV simultaneously. In a study, researchers found that their three-in-one vaccine triggered protective immunity against all three respiratory diseases in mice, ferrets and cotton rats.
Researchers identify a novel SRV2 envelope protein that serves as a key to unlock immune cells, enabling more efficient delivery of anticancer genes and improving the production and therapeutic performance of CAR immune cells.
A comprehensive review synthesizes current advances linking gut bacteria to immunotherapy outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of primary liver cancer.
A comprehensive review brings together global evidence to strengthen public trust and counter misinformation as mRNA vaccines expand to prevent and treat more diseases.
The Fleming Initiative has received support from Amazon Web Services (AWS), including up to several million pounds worth of cloud and AI technology, as well as technical support, for the Initiative’s global antimicrobial resistance (AMR) intelligence platform.
Scientists have discovered a protein secreted by a deep-sea extremophile — an organism adapted to extreme environmental conditions — that self-assembles into a biofilm and is highly stable, boosting its potential for biomedical applications.
Current tests for Lyme disease often miss infections during the early critical window and cannot tell whether bacteria are still present or were cleared years ago. New research suggests that anti-lipid antibodies may address these shortcomings.
A new analysis of state health department data reveals that more than 6,400 Illinois residents were diagnosed with tickborne diseases from 2004-2022.