All UK & Rest of Europe articles
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NewsA new study reveals the microbial biodiversity of dehesa soil
A study reveals the underground interactions between fungi and oomycetes in twenty Andalusian dehesas, wooded pasturelands typical of the Iberian Peninsula, making it possible to identify the role of water as the main driver of microorganism diversity and to shed new light on the pathogen responsible for la seca.
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NewsCan an electronic nose detect indoor mold?
Researchers have developed an electronic nose that can reliably sense and identify mold, which causes various health issues for humans and animals, as well as damage to homes and other buildings and structures.
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NewsMoss and symbionts offer a promising solution for removing metals from mining and forestry-impacted waters
New findings shed light on the mechanisms behind a natural purification process and identify the key microbial “teammates” that enable mosses to remove metals from water. The new study reveals that mosses do not remove metals alone. The key is the cooperation between the moss and its microbial symbionts.
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NewsNew method accelerates resistance testing in urinary tract infections
Researchers have developed two methods that allow urine samples to be tested directly for antibiotic susceptibility. Because the procedures do not require standardized bacterial suspensions, the time to result is reduced by up to 24 hours compared to conventional testing.
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NewsUnseen allies: symbiotic bacteria help clean wastewater, but there is a catch
Scientists have identified new species of denitrifying endosymbionts in wastewater, highlighting their global prevalence – with an unexpected climate implication.
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NewsA fatal mix-up: How certain gut bacteria drive multiple sclerosis
If gut bacteria are too similar to the protective layer of nerves, they can misdirect the immune system and cause it to attack its own nervous system. This mechanism can accelerate the progression of multiple sclerosis.
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NewsOroya fever: Elucidation of disease mechanism opens possibility for novel therapy
An international research team has generated and analyzed more than 1,700 genetic variants of the pathogen that causes Oroya fever, identifying two proteins that Bartonella requires for the destruction of red blood cells.
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NewsNew method means contaminated bathing water easier to detect
A new method can provide both faster and more complete answers on whether the water is safe for swimming or not. The innovation has been successfully tested in Helsingborg, where the response time has been reduced from several days to just a few hours.
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NewsA testing paradox for sexually transmitted infections
Surveillance evidence shows an increase in people infected with other STIs after initiating PrEP. A new study provides a counterintuitive explanation revealing a testing paradox: even when the observed cases increase, the true numbers of STIs can decrease.
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NewsImmune system keeps mucosal fungi in check
Researchers investigating the mechanisms that keep the fungus under control on our mucosa shed light on how homeostasis is maintained through the fine-tuned interplay between Candida albicans and the epithelial barrier on the one hand, and the immune system on the other hand.
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CareersSummer studentship: Harini searches South Asian fermented foods for microbes that can tackle fruit browning
Harini Satkunarasa reports back on her AMI-sponsored summer studentship which explored South Asian fermented foods as a source of microorganisms for tyrosinase inhibition, with the wider aim of finding natural ways to decrease fruit browning in foods.
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NewsHarmless Klebsiella strain shows powerful protection against gut infections in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) model
A new study demonstrates that a harmless strain of Klebsiella can eliminate infections and reduce gut inflammation in mouse models of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
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NewsSwedish freshwater bacteria give new insights into bacterial evolution
Researchers analyzing the DNA of all known Caulobacterales species, including newly collected samples from Swedish and Finnish forest lakes, discovered that several freshwater species lacked more than a hundred genes typically linked to the group’s complex lifecycle.
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NewsStudy links gut bacteria to bloodstream infections in newborns within sub-Saharan Africa for the first time
New research has shown gut and bloodstream infections are caused by the same bacteria giving hope of better prevention and diagnosis of deadly neonatal sepsis.
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NewsBacteria double as Trojan horse for artificial amino acids
Researchers have hijacked a natural transport system of the bacterium E. coli to develop a solution that allows artificial amino acids to be introduced into bacteria efficiently. This means the “amino acid toolbox” can be expanded for widespread use in medicine and the biotech industry.
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NewsPersistent antibiotic resistance of cholera-causing bacteria in Africa revealed
In 2024, representatives from 14 African countries came together for a five-day intensive workshop on a whole-genome sequencing method called Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) aimed at strengthening cholera surveillance capabilities across the continent.
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NewsPandemic ‘beneath the surface’ has been quietly wiping out sea urchins around the world
Over the last four years, an unrecognized pandemic that has been wiping out sea urchins around the world has hit the Canary Islands. The consequences on marine ecosystems aren’t yet fully known, but likely profound.
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NewsRice resists change: Study reveals viral tools for probing gene function fall short
Researchers tested two popular viral vectors - barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV) and foxtail mosaic virus (FoMV) - to see if they could temporarily switch genes on or off in rice (Oryza sativa). They found no evidence that these virus-enabled reverse genetics (VERG) techniques work in rice.
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NewsIncreased risk of severe bacterial infection after high teenage BMI
High BMI and poor physical fitness during later adolescence increase the risk of both contracting and dying from sepsis and other severe bacterial infections in adulthood, according to a study.
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NewsHow polyphenol-rich diets promote healthy aging through microbiome and metabolome modulation
New findings suggest that polyphenol-rich diets can serve as a simple, safe, and effective nutritional strategy to counteract inflammation and support healthy aging.