All UK & Rest of Europe articles – Page 6
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NewsTiny DNA ‘hitchhikers’ may be reshaping life in thawing Arctic soils
A new study in the peatlands of northern Sweden provides one of the clearest pictures yet of how frequently microbes swap, gain and lose genes in nature. The study establishes a new framework for measuring genetic mobility in natural environments.
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NewsDeep-sea extremophile yields protein that forms super stable biofilm
Scientists have discovered a protein secreted by a deep-sea extremophile — an organism adapted to extreme environmental conditions — that self-assembles into a biofilm and is highly stable, boosting its potential for biomedical applications.
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NewsWidespread saprotrophs identified as the hidden engine of soil carbon decomposition
A nationwide study across China reveals that broad geographic distribution, rather than local diversity alone, determines which soil fungi actively fuel carbon decomposition and shape future carbon dynamics under climate change.
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NewsEmissions from plankton help in forming cloud seeds over the world’s oceans
For nearly fifty years, scientists have suspected that microscopic marine plankton play a role in cloud formation over the oceans. Now, an experiment has suggested that it may be more important than previously thought.
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NewsScientists probe how proteins are inserted into cell membranes
Researchers looking at the cell membrane investigate how the proteins manufactured by the ribosomes in the cell interior reach their position within the membrane in the correct form and when the processes became established over the course of evolution.
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NewsViruses under stress: how viral shells change shape as they dry out
New research explores the structural dynamics and conformational changes of bacteriophage MS2 capsids under conditions of dehydration.
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NewsCorals show climate change is reshaping the rules of survival
Which species benefit from climate change, and which are coming under pressure? Using corals as an example, researchers demonstrated that even seemingly successful life strategies can lose their advantage when environmental conditions change.
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NewsA 'copper economy' helps fungi and bacteria build better biofilms
Scientists have discovered that two common human pathogens can work together by managing copper in their shared environment - a finding that could open new ways to break down stubborn mixed biofilms.
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NewsDecline in plankton across North East Atlantic sends stark warning for ocean health
A new study has used more than six decades of data to show that plankton abundance is declining across vast swathes of the North East Atlantic – a region covering the Atlantic Ocean from Portugal to Norway, and the entirety of the North Sea.
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NewsGut microbiome could hold important clues as to how IBD develops and progresses
The gut microbiome could hold important clues as to how IBD develops and progresses – and which treatment is best suited to individual patients.
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NewsHow YouTube shapes public understanding of avian influenza
A new study analyzing more than 11,000 YouTube videos and comments found that online narratives surrounding avian influenza evolved alongside major outbreak developments, including increasing reports of infections in mammals, sporadic human cases, and economic consequences.
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NewsNatural compound may help boost vaccine responses
A team of researchers has found that the naturally occurring compound spermidine can help boost vaccine response in older adults by reducing molecular markers of immune system ageing.
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NewsBiofilm “scaffolds” protect bacterium responsible for food poisoning from antibiotics
Bacillus cereus, which is responsible for human infections and food poisoning, builds organized communities that act as a ‘shield’ against antibiotics, a new study reveals.
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NewsThe miracle microbes that could save crops from impact of rising sea levels
A new study reveals a previously unknown mechanism by which microbes help plants – including maize, tomato and rapeseed - survive in harsh environments, with major implications for agriculture worldwide.
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NewsLarge-scale microbiome study identifies robust colorectal cancer signature
Researchers have identified a robust microbial signature associated with colorectal cancer. The study also analysed 906 intestinal tissue samples to compare stool-based microbiome signals with microbes found directly in tumour tissue.
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CareersLAMECS 2026: An important milestone for early-career microbiologists
Ekramul Karim reveals why LAM ECS 2026 has been an important milestone in his own journey as an early-career microbiologist and how it has broadened his appreciation for the versatility of microbiology beyond biomedical and environmental settings.
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NewsThe climate crisis threatens river microbial biodiversity
A study warns that the biodiversity and biological functions of aquatic fungi in rivers are at risk due to rising temperatures, prolonged dry periods and the loss of riparian vegetation caused by climate change.
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NewsDiscovery of severe pneumonia subtypes could lead to tailored treatments for life-threating disease
New research shows that severe pneumonia has three different subtypes, helping explain why some patients in intensive care units (ICUs) recover quickly, while for other patients the disease can be life-threatening.
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NewsHidden protein linked to severe COVID-19 and lung disease risk
A genetic difference carried by nearly one in three people may increase the risk of severe COVID-19 and lung fibrosis by disrupting the function of a previously unknown protein, according to a new study.
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NewsThe early immune clues that determine who develops TB
An early view of the immune response to bacteria in the lungs provides clues as to why some people keep TB in check, while others develop disease, suggesting new ways to intervene earlier and stop TB.