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
Two-in-one tool tracks viral RNA inside live infected cells in real time
The tool lets researchers film activity of Zika and chikungunya viruses in high resolution and identify virus-host interactions, a key step to developing effective antiviral strategies that could stop infections
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NewsScientists reveal how deadly Andes hantavirus attaches to human cells
Earlier this year, an outbreak of Andes hantavirus on a cruise ship, which killed three passengers and sickened 13, highlighted the lack of approved vaccines or treatments for the virus. Scientists now show how the virus recognizes its target on a human cell, a finding that could lead to effective therapies against Andes virus and other hantaviruses.
NewsNew dosing data expands HIV treatment options for newborns
Newborns with HIV can now be treated with dolutegravir from the first days of life. An international clinical study identified a safe dosing regimen that produced drug levels comparable to those seen in older children and adults, helping support the FDA’s expanded approval.
NewsHow clinicians can manage recurrent catheter bloodstream infections
Long-term intravenous catheters can be essential for treatment, but they also create a persistent risk of serious bloodstream infections. A new clinical review outlines how doctors can diagnose, treat and prevent recurrent infections while preserving vital vascular access whenever it is safe to do so.
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News
Could climate change have helped Candida auris become a global pathogen?
How did Candida auris become a global health threat so quickly? A new review suggests climate change may be one factor, with rising environmental temperatures potentially favouring fungi that can tolerate the heat of the human body, although researchers stress that the link has not yet been proven.
NewsNeedle-free approach could offer a new way to deliver mRNA vaccines
A needle-free mRNA vaccine delivered through the skin protected mice against both SARS-CoV-2 and influenza while causing less inflammation than lipid-based formulations. The approach uses a high-pressure liquid jet and a combination of two immune-boosting adjuvants to strengthen protection without relying on conventional mRNA carriers.
NewsScientists discover migration-mediated mechanism enabling bacteria-virus coexistence
A study shows how collective movement enables viruses to persist with migrating bacterial colonies while minimizing the risk of either complete viral takeover or bacterial escape.
NewsReindeer grazing reshapes the hidden roots of northern forests
Reindeer grazing is reshaping northern pine forests beneath the surface as well as above it. Researchers found nearly 30% less shallow-root biomass in grazed forests, alongside shorter, thicker and less-branched roots, changes that could alter nutrient uptake, soil microbial communities and the way carbon moves through these ecosystems.
NewsNew architecture for antifungal drug precisely combats fungal infections in mice without the usual toxicity
By applying a unique molecular “scaffold,” researchers have created a broad-spectrum antifungal drug that homes in on a key fungal compound without disrupting the host’s cholesterol – a frequent side effect of current therapies. The compound’s selectivity could help avoid the toxic side effects that have plagued antifungal therapy regimens for decades.
NewsChildhood measles vaccination rates fall worldwide post COVID-19
Routine vaccine program disruptions and under-resourced health systems are driving a global decline in childhood measles vaccination rates post COVID-19, a study has found.
NewsArmored cells: A mineral shell lets whole-cell biocatalysts run 14 cycles for greener nicotinic acid
Scientists aiming to use whole-cell biocatalysis to manufacture niacin engineered Corynebacterium glutamicum to express a mutant nitrilase from Pseudomonas putida and then encapsulated the whole cells in a biomimetic hybrid shell.
NewsScientists create white blood cell with memory of how to fight off winter flu bugs
Scientists have started work on a new way to fight cold and flu viruses by reprogramming the cells in our immune system to respond faster to infections. They are developing a type of white blood cell, called killer cells, with a pre-installed memory of how to fight off respiratory diseases.
NewsTargeting the gut-liver axis: New review explores microbial modulation to enhance immunotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma
A review examines how gut microbiota and their metabolites reshape the hepatic immune microenvironment through the gut–liver axis, influence immune checkpoint inhibitor efficacy, and explore emerging combination strategies, including fecal microbiota transplantation, probiotics, engineered bacteria, and metabolite-based interventions.
CareersFrom evidence to action: how to bridge the gap between scientists and decision-makers to solve global One Health challenges
Reflections from the AMI Policy Team’s recent workshop at the 9th World One Health Congress.
NewsNew hypothesis drills down into the contributions of phage receptor-binding proteins in recognising a bacterial cell
A new hypothesis reveals how different receptor-binding proteins may make distinct contributions when a bacteriophage recognizes a bacterial cell.
News‘Raman barcodes’ can distinguish 20 SARS-CoV-2 variants
Viruses may carry a molecular ‘barcode’ hidden not just in their genetic sequence, but in the way their RNA folds and vibrates. Researchers have used Raman spectroscopy to distinguish 20 SARS-CoV-2 variants and subvariants, pointing towards a potentially faster way to screen emerging viral strains.
NewsScientists ‘crank up’ cells’ natural defence against viruses
Researchers have found a way to amplify one of the body’s natural antiviral defence pathways, making cells significantly more resistant to infection. By boosting signalling through the protein ISG15, the approach could lead to host-directed treatments that remain effective even as viruses mutate.
NewsResearch to uncover hidden life cycle of bacteriophages
Some bacteriophages can quietly replicate inside bacteria for generations without killing their hosts, making these infections difficult to detect with standard methods. A new research project will investigate this hidden life cycle and explore whether understanding it could help scientists engineer more effective phage therapies against drug-resistant infections.
NewsAdvanced air purification fails to reduce surgical infections
Cleaner operating-room air may not be enough to prevent surgical infections. In a study of more than 110,000 procedures, advanced air-purification systems did not reduce infections, complications or deaths, suggesting hospitals may gain more by targeting direct contamination of surgical wounds.
NewsCranberry juice may be a boon for oral hygiene
Pure cranberry juice may do more than add a tart kick to the holiday table. In a small human study, it slowed dental plaque growth and reduced acid production, suggesting the fruit’s natural compounds could help protect tooth enamel.
NewsLike humans, some primates become cautious of germs in the wake of a viral outbreak
Researchers found that macaque monkeys who had lived through a deadly disease outbreak became significantly more cautious about food that appeared contaminated, even though they did not know how the disease had spread. The findings suggest that pathogen-avoidance behavior can be shaped by experience, offering clues about the evolutionary roots of disgust.
NewsSpouses mattered more than genes for the risk of severe COVID-19
Researchers ound no evidence that genetic factors played an important role in determining who was hospitalised with COVID-19. Instead, spouses of hospitalised individuals had more than three times the risk of being hospitalised themselves compared with matched controls.
NewsVaccination has little impact on post-COVID smell and taste issues
Researchers examining whether COVID-19 vaccination affects persistent smell or taste problems after contracting the virus have found that, in most cases, it does not.