All University College London articles
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NewsUse of synthetic microbial communities has stalled - but we can get moving again
Use of synthetic microbial communities outside the lab is rare - but a more systematic approach could improve confidence in their long-term behaviour and address ethical considerations. Source: Sarah Keetch and Alex Fedorec That’s the message from a review of the field by scientists at University College ...
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NewsPlant bacteria deploy phage elements to wipe out the competition
A new study has found that plant bacterial pathogens are able to repurpose elements of their own phages to wipe out competing microbes, suggesting such elements could someday be harnessed as an alternative to antibiotics.
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NewsGlobal study reveals stark differences between females and males in major causes of disease burden
Globally, there are substantial differences between females and males (aged 10 and older) when it comes to health, with limited progress in bridging these health gaps over the past 30 years, according to a new study.
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NewsGay and bisexual men diagnosed with mpox faced substantial stigma
Gay and bisexual men who were diagnosed with mpox during the 2022 outbreak in England faced substantial issues related to stigma and potentially poor-quality care when accessing services, finds a new study.
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NewsCarbon beads help restore healthy gut microbiome and reduce liver disease progression
Innovative carbon beads, invented by researchers at UCL, reduce bad bacteria and inflammation in animal models, which are linked to liver cirrhosis and other serious health issues. The study, published in Gut, found that the carbon beads, licensed to UCL-spinout Yaqrit, were effective in restoring gut health and had a ...
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NewsSpecific nasal cells protect against COVID-19 in children
Important differences in how the nasal cells of young and elderly people respond to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, could explain why children typically experience milder COVID-19 symptoms, a new study finds.
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NewsHumans pass more viruses to other animals than we catch from them
Humans pass on more viruses to domestic and wild animals than we catch from them, according to a major new analysis of viral genomes.
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NewsBlindness from some inherited eye diseases may be caused by gut bacteria
Sight loss in certain inherited eye diseases may be caused by gut bacteria, and is potentially treatable by antimicrobials, finds a new study in mice co-led by a UCL and Moorfields researcher. The international study observed that in eyes with sight loss caused by a particular genetic ...
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NewsIndustrial pollution leaves its mark in Mediterranean corals
For the first time, pollutants from burning fossil fuels have been found embedded in corals, offering scientists a potential new tool to track the history of pollution, finds a new study led by UCL researchers. Source: Diego K. Kersting The coral species Cladocora caespitosa The study, published ...
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NewsViral enhancement of nanomaterial cancer sensor improves early detection
Researchers have developed an advanced system of breast cancer cell detection with improved speed and sensitivity, using a viral mechanism to enhance the tool’s sensing accuracy.
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NewsEvidence of climate change in the North Atlantic can be seen in the deep ocean
Evidence of climate change in the North Atlantic during the last 1,000 years can be seen in the deep ocean, according to a newly published paper.
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NewsAir cleaners don’t stop you getting sick, research shows
Air filtration systems do not reduce the risk of picking up viral infections, according to new research.
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NewsArtificial bladders shine light on bugs that cause urinary tract infections
The first study to use a sophisticated human tissue model to explore the interaction between host and pathogen for six common species that cause urinary tract infections suggest that the ‘one size fits all’ approach is inadequate.
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NewsResearch partnerships to improve access to vaccines in low and middle-income countries
Four new research hubs that will address challenges of vaccine manufacturing and delivery in developing countries have been announced.
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NewsTreatment found effective for rare sight-threatening infection
A drug candidate has been found to be highly effective in treating a rare sight-threatening eye infection in a new international clinical trial.
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NewsNew calcifying phytoplankton species discovered off Bermuda
Researchers’ discovery bolsters the scientific record, indicating the global distribution of a coccolithophore species now formally described as Calciopappus curvus.
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NewsCOVID-19 could hold key to spotting viruses with pandemic potential
Certain SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern are evolving to do a better job of shutting down human innate immune responses, according to new research.
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NewsMonitoring bats can help ID coronaviruses with pathogen potential
Researchers who found novel coronaviruses in UK bats say genetic surveys of the viruses should be regularly conducted, even if none of those viruses can infect humans yet.
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NewsMapping evolution of E. coli virulence factor offers refined drug target
Researchers have presented evidence that targeting the K1 capsule can be used as the basis of treatment, paving the way to prevent serious E. coli infections.
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NewsNewborns worldwide dying from sepsis as antibiotics lose their bite
A global observational study involving more than 3,200 newborn babies suffering from sepsis in 11 countries has shown that many newborns are dying because the antibiotics used to treat sepsis are losing their effectiveness.
