All UK & Rest of Europe articles – Page 4
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NewsPlant discovery could lead to new ways of producing medicines
Scientists studying a plant called Flueggea suffruticosa, which produces a particularly powerful alkaloid known as securinine, investigated how this chemical is made - and discovered that the process is driven by a gene that looks more like it comes from bacteria than from a plant.
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NewsA new study reveals how cholera virulence is activated
A new study provides a long-sought structural explanation of the regulatory cascade that allows Vibrio cholerae to colonize the human gut and produce the cholera toxin that causes life-threatening diarrhea.
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NewsScientists observe infections by cancer-causing retroviruses in koalas as they occur
Scientists analysed the ongoing colonization by two retroviruses of the germline of koalas and resulting deaths from cancer in multi-generational pedigrees of over 100 koalas in US and European zoos. They calculated genetic risk scores (GRS) that can help guide koala breeding programs.
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NewsWhen a virus releases the immune brake: New evidence on the onset of multiple sclerosis
A study investigating the links between Epstein-Barr virus and multiple sclerosis shows that EBV can interfere with the control of B cells. One viral protein mimics a crucial “approval” signal that B cells usually require from other immune cells. Self-reactive B cells can then survive even when they should be shut down.
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NewsResearch reveals hidden diversity of E. coli driving diabetic foot infections
New research has shed light on the diversity and characteristics of E. coli strains that drive diabetic foot infections, providing the first comprehensive genomic characterisation of E. coli strains isolated directly from diabetic foot ulcers across multiple continents.
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NewsNew mechanism links Epstein-Barr virus to MS
Scientists investigating the links between the Epstein-Barr virus and multiple sclerosis show that when the immune system fights EBV, certain T cells – which normally attack the virus – can also react to a protein in the brain called Anoctamin-2 (ANO2), a phenomenon called molecular mimicry.
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NewsNot only toxic but also a nutrient: guanidine as a nitrogen source
Cyanobacteria are key ecological players of global carbon and nitrogen cycles. They are also becoming increasingly important for carbon-neutral biotechnology. They could serve as green cell factories for a light-driven and sustainable production of chemicals and fuels – a central pillar of the sustainable bioeconomy. Source: André Künzelmann/UFZ ...
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NewsGenetic risk factor and viral infection jointly contribute to MS
One of the leading triggers for multiple sclerosis (MS) is an infection with the Epstein-Barr virus. However, certain gene variants also play an important role. Researchers have shown that it is the molecular interaction between environmental and genetic risk factors that ultimately triggers the disease.
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NewsNew test could help pinpoint IBD diagnosis, study finds
A test that rapidly detects signs of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in stool samples could improve future diagnosis and monitoring of the condition, a study suggests. The luminescent reporter lights up when it detects a molecule linked to gut inflammation.
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NewsRare microbial wrinkle structures - signs of ancient life - turn up in an unexpected place
Deep water sediment layers in the Dadès Valley in the Central High Atlas Mountains of Morocco have revealed rare microbial wrinkle structures formed far from sunlight.
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NewsFirst extensive study into marsupial gut microbiomes reveals new microbial species and antimicrobial resistance
New research provides the first metagenomic data for 13 marsupial species , including the red kangaroo and the common brushtail possum. They revealed that host family, animal location, and diet all contributed towards variance between different microbiomes.
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NewsBiologist Dr. Toby Kiers wins Tyler Prize, calls fungi key to restoring degraded land and an untapped ally for the earth
Evolutionary biologist Dr. Toby Kiers, a world-renowned expert on mycorrhizal networks, is being awarded the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement for her “transformative” work, the Tyler Prize Executive Committee announced today.
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NewsVaccine against foot-and-mouth disease could deliver $1.3 billion a year in global livestock benefits
A new foot-and-mouth disease vaccine is projected to deliver over $1.3 billion in annual benefits and transform global livestock resilience.
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NewsHow wheat protects itself from fungi
Researchers have conducted in-depth studies to establish how the powdery mildew fungus is able to infect wheat despite the presence of resistance genes. The researchers discovered a previously unknown interplay between resistance factors in wheat and disease factors in powdery mildew.
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NewsResearchers uncover the secret route of prostate infections
A research team has developed a “mini prostate” organoid model using adult stem cells. Using this model, the scientists could follow a bacterial prostatitis infection step by step under controlled conditions and identify exactly how the bacteria attack.
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NewsFrom palm oil to designer enzymes: researchers reprogram yeast cells
Many everyday products contain fatty acids from palm oil or coconut oil, but the extraction of these raw materials is associated with massive environmental issues. Researchers have now developed a biotechnological approach that could enable a more environmentally friendly production method.
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NewsUK: COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy decreased over time, though mistrust persists among certain groups
Most COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is rooted in concerns that can be addressed and effectively reduced over time, according to a new study following more than 1.1 million people in England between January 2021 and March 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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NewsNew test shows which antibiotics actually work
Drugs that act against bacteria are mainly assessed based on how well they inhibit bacterial growth under laboratory conditions. A critical factor is whether the active substances actually kill the pathogens in the body. Researchers have presented a new method for measuring how effectively antibiotics kill bacteria.
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NewsTB harnesses part of immune defense system to cause infection
Scientists have made a discovery that helps explain why humans and animals are so susceptible to contracting tuberculosis – and it involves the bacteria harnessing part of the immune system meant to protect against infection. They team discovered that MTB survives within the cells of its host by targeting Dectin-1.
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NewsPlastic particles can increase intestinal inflammation
Researchers investigating a possible link between the rising number of people with chronic inflammatory bowel disease and the increasing exposure to micro- and nanoplastics show that plastic particles influence the immune cells and the intestinal microbiome and can thus increase inflammation.