All UK & Rest of Europe articles – Page 17
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NewsWorld’s largest metabolomic study completed, paving way for predictive medicine
UK Biobank has today released the final set of data on nearly 250 metabolites in half a million volunteers. This completes the world’s largest ever metabolomic study, which will help drive treatment strategies for neurological conditions, heart disease and cancer.
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NewsNew nanogel technology destroys drug-resistant bacteria in hours
A novel technology shows over 99.9% effectiveness against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). It centres on a heteromultivalent nanogel: a flexible particle made by crosslinking polymers and adding sugar residues (galactose and fucose) alongside antimicrobial peptides.
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NewsGSK and Fleming Initiative scientists unite to target AMR with advanced AI
GSK and the Fleming Initiative have announced six major new research programmes, called ‘Grand Challenges’ which harness some of the best scientific expertise and the latest technologies, including advanced AI, to find new ways to slow the progress of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
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NewsPhase 2 clinical trial results show potential to shorten TB treatment time
New clinical trial results show that the novel antibiotic candidate sorfequiline (TBAJ-876), a next-generation diarylquinoline, has the potential to improve tuberculosis (TB) treatment when combined with pretomanid and linezolid in a treatment regimen known as “SPaL.”
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NewsMicropores pave the way for infection research
Organ-on-a-chip technology often contains gels that imitate the 3D environment of our tissues - however, many of these gels are too dense, hindering the passage of microbes and immune cells, and movement is essential to recreate how infections really develop. In this study, the research team developed a new type of porous gel that solves this problem.
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NewsTime to act and not react: how can the European Union turn the tide of antimicrobial resistance?
Despite determined efforts by countries and healthcare professionals, Europe is not on track to meet four of the five AMR targets set by the EU Council for 2030*, according to data released on EAAD.
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NewsWastewater from most countries favours non-resistant bacteria
Municipal wastewater contains a large range of excreted antibiotics and has therefore long been suspected to be a spawning ground for antibiotic-resistant bacteria. By testing the potential of untreated municipal wastewater from 47 countries to select for resistant E. coli, researchers show that while some samples indeed do so, most instead suppress them.
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NewsHepatitis E virus from rats can also infect humans in individual cases – a new zoonotic pathogen?
It has only been known for a few years that humans can also be infected with a variant of the hepatitis E virus that is usually prevalent in rats. Following reports of individual cases, mainly from Hong Kong and Spain, the first infection with ratHEV has now also been described in a patient from Germany.
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NewsA new gateway to global antimicrobial resistance data
To support global AMR research, EMBL’s European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) has launched the AMR portal, a central hub that connects bacterial genomes, resistance phenotypes, and functional annotations, all in one place. The AMR portal ensures long-term availability, standardisation, and reusability of AMR data.
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NewsSingle-celled organisms found to have a more complex DNA epigenetic code than multicellular life
Researchers discovered that in more ‘primitive’ unicellular organisms, both the adenine and the cytosine bases are methylated. This would suggest that in some ways, these unicellular organisms are more complex than their multicellular peers.
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CareersSummer studentship: Megan investigates the mobile gene element that gives MRSA its clout
Megan Stenton reports back on her AMI-sponsored summer studentship which investigated the frequency of the SCCmec gene - a mobile gene element that houses the methicillin resistance gene - across members of the same species of Staphylococcus aureus.
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NewsStudy in Europe: monoclonal antibodies effectively prevent respiratory syncytial virus in infants
Data from Belgium, Portugal and Spain show that immunisation of children after birth reduced the risk of hospitalization due to RSV infection by almost 80%.
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NewsBacterial scents behind oak tree decline may be luring deadly beetles
The deadly decline of Britain’s native oak trees may be driven by an unexpected accomplice: their own smell. Scientists have discovered that trees affected by Acute Oak Decline (AOD) emit distinct odours that are highly attractive to the beetle Agrilus biguttatus, a key contributor to the decline.
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NewsNew blueprint for nature’s carbon-capturing nanomachines revealed
Researchers have uncovered how bacterial organelles assemble, opening new routes for bioengineering and climate innovation. The team has unveiled the most detailed picture yet of how bacteria construct microscopic compartments known as carboxysomes – natural nanomachines that play a vital role in capturing and converting carbon dioxide (CO₂).
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NewsProtecting infants against respiratory syncytial virus this winter — ECDC issues advice
ECDC has issued rapid scientific advice for policymakers and public health authorities on ways to mitigate the impact of RSV disease among infants through immunisation and to support intensified efforts to protect them from RSV across Europe.
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NewsPredicting the development of biological communities in different kinds of ecosystems
Researchers tested a mechanistic consumer-resource model and confirmed its high predictive capacity. Using the model, the researchers refined current rules on the coexistence of species, too. Their findings can be applied to any situation in which communities of organisms compete for resources.
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NewsThe link between the gut microbiome and autism is not backed by science, researchers say
There’s no scientific evidence that the gut microbiome causes autism, a group of scientists argue in an opinion paper. They warn that conclusions that supported this hypothesis are undermined by flawed assumptions, small sample sizes, and inappropriate statistical methods.
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NewsAvian flu halves South Georgia’s breeding elephant seal population
South Georgia’s breeding population of female southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) may have been halved by highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV), finds new research. These losses may threaten the security of the island’s breeding population.
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NewsHigher methane emissions from warmer lakes and reservoirs may exacerbate worst-case climate scenario
Emissions of the greenhouse gas methane from lakes and reservoirs risk doubling by the end of the century due to climate change according to a new study. This in turn could raise Earth’s temperature more than suggested by the UN climate panel IPCC’s current worst-case scenario.
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CareersSummer studentship: Jonas investigates how metals influence bacterial ecosystems
Jonas Flohr from Portsmouth reports back on his AMI-sponsored summer studentship at Durham University investigating how metals influence bacterial ecosystems.