All UK & Rest of Europe articles
-
NewsHow soil bacteria help plants defend themselves against disease
A study reveals the mechanism by which surfactin, a molecule produced by beneficial soil bacteria, activates plants’ immune defences. This mechanism, distinct from the classical paradigm of immune recognition, relies on direct interaction with the plant cell membrane.
-
NewsHappy 100th birthday! Eight inspiring quotes from Sir David Attenborough
Happy centenary! As Sir David Attenborough celebrates his 100th birthday today, we dig up some of his most famous quotes that celebrate the vital role that microbes and their ecosystems play on planet Earth.
-
NewsHow bacteria ‘chat’ their way to carbon-neutral water treatment
Global climate goals demand that wastewater treatment plants transform their operations. A new review reveals that quorum sensing (QS), the chemical communication system bacteria use to coordinate behavior, could be the key.
-
NewsTuberculosis risk: promising approaches for screening and prediction
It is currently difficult to detect TB in its early stages, or predict who will go on to have TB, and therefore preventive treatment is not widely used. Researchers assessed whether a blood-based 3-gene host-response test can detect active tuberculosis and help predict future disease.
-
News Researchers unveil new AI-driven system set to transform coral reef restoration
Researchers have developed a first-of-its-kind bespoke AI system designed to assess coral health and detect early stress. BlueBiome is reimagining coral reef care by applying the same principles of preventive, precision health commonly used in human gut health.
-
NewsMembrane complex aids rock-eating microbes in converting carbon dioxide to biomass
So-called rock-eating microorganisms obtain their energy to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) from inorganic sources. Using electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy, researchers investigated the structure of DAB2 in the sulfur bacterium Halothiobacillus neapolitanus.
-
NewsScientists discover how HIV hijacks a cellular ‘gateway’ to infect resting immune cells
New research reveals that when HIV spreads directly between T-cells it triggers a molecular signalling chain that temporarily ‘unlocks’ the nuclear pore complex, allowing the HIV virus and capsid to enter and integrate into the host’s DNA.
-
NewsEvolutionary processes shape bacterial populations in the human gut
Researchers used the ‘reverse ecology’ analytical approach to demonstrate that many known gut bacterial species consist of several evolutionarily distinct groups that have adapted to different conditions in the gut.
-
NewsGenetic ‘bonus material’ makes the gut bacterium Segatella copri oxygen-tolerant
Researchers have found that some strains of the gut bacterium Segatella copri possess bonus material that makes them more oxygen tolerant. The presence of the molecular regulator OxyR is crucial for this. The team discovered that strains carrying OxyR are particularly prevalent in industrialized regions of the world.
-
NewsResearchers identify potential new route for antimalarial drug design
Researchers have uncovered a promising new potential target for drug discovery. The team focused on an enzyme called aminopeptidase P (PfAPP) from Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite responsible for the most severe form of malaria in humans.
-
NewsFungi utilize ancient antimicrobial proteins to attack hosts and their microbiomes
An international research team has discovered the surprising evolutionary origin of fungal effector proteins: molecules that pathogens use today to infect their hosts appear to have evolved from ancient antimicrobial proteins.
-
NewsModular Clean Air strengthens position as part of Total Clean AIr
Modular Clean Air (MCA) is now wholly owned by Total Clean Air (TCA), marking the next phase in its development following its successful launch as a joint venture in 2025.
-
NewsNew research finds that almost all plant-based meat alternatives contain mycotoxins
New research into plant-based food and drinks has found a prevalence of mycotoxins – naturally occurring poisonous compounds produced by fungi - in hundreds of vegetarian and vegan products.
-
NewsNutrient imbalance may drive coral disease more than heat stress, new study suggests
New research shows that an imbalance of nutrients in seawater can cause coral disease – possibly to a greater extent than that from heat stress of warming oceans. Disruption of the delicate nutrient balance of the sea can destabilise microbial communities that live in harmony with corals.
-
NewsCaesarean birth: sex-specific effects on the microbiota
A research team investigating microbial colonisation in early life set out to understand how delivery mode and sex interact over the course of development, and whether this interaction could affect susceptibility to intestinal diseases such as colitis in adulthood.
-
NewsHantavirus cluster linked to cruise ship highlights ongoing zoonotic risk and the need for vigilance
Experts emphasized caution while underscoring the importance of environmental controls, early detection, and clear communication in travel settings.
-
NewsNew study could help scientists produce more accurate records of past ocean change
Tiny plankton shells used to reconstruct past polar ocean temperatures may contain two different chemical stories, a new study has found.
-
NewsWhy antibiotics may soon fail to curb the plague bacterium - and where we can find new strategies
A new review shows that while most infections caused by the Yersinia plague bacterium can currently be treated with antibiotics, concerns about rising antimicrobial resistance mean that we need to come up with new ways to disarm the bacteria instead of killing them.
-
NewsSouth American camelids: Potential carriers of the zoonotic pathogen Campylobacter
A comprehensive investigation has identified a previously underappreciated source of thermotolerant Campylobacter spp. in South American camelids (SACs)—alpacas and llamas kept in Germany. The findings underscore the importance of expanding epidemiological surveillance beyond traditional livestock.
-
NewsNew study shows antibodies need a strong core — not just grip — to fight SARS-CoV-2
Researchers used advanced computer simulations to investigate how antibody–virus complexes respond to mechanical forces across multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants, including the original 2019 strain and Omicron subvariants BA.4 and JN.1.