All University of California San Diego articles
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NewsRecent pandemic viruses jumped to humans without prior adaptation, study finds
A large-scale evolutionary analysis shows most zoonotic viruses emerge without prior adaptation, while passing through a laboratory leaves detectable genetic signatures, offering a new tool to interpret outbreak origins.
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NewsStudy finds natural fungal supplement improves COVID-19 vaccine response
Researchers have found that a natural fungal supplement taken at the time of COVID-19 vaccination reduced short-term vaccine side effects and helped antibodies last longer in people who had not previously been exposed to the virus.
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NewsImmunity against common virus leveraged against pancreatic cancer
Researchers have discovered a promising new treatment approach for pancreatic cancer. The approach leverages the body’s natural immune response to cytomegalovirus (CMV), a common but typically harmless virus that most people are infected with at some point in their lives.
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NewsResearchers rebuild microscopic circadian clock that can control genes
Researchers have solved how the circadian clocks within microscopic bacteria are able to precisely control when different genes are turned on and off during the 24-hour cycle.
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NewsNext generation genetics technology developed to counter the rise of antibiotic resistance
The new Pro-Active Genetics (Pro-AG) tool called pPro-MobV is a second-generation technology that uses an approach similar to gene drives to disable drug resistance in populations of bacteria.
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NewsNew dashboard helps predict and plan for disease outbreaks
When infectious diseases surge, response often comes down to whether communities can position the right people and supplies before case counts spike. Researchers have designed a new platform to translate academic disease forecasting into actionable guidance for decision-makers.
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NewsStudy cites link between mental health and long COVID in older women
Older women who have a history of both depression and anxiety had a 78% higher risk of developing long COVID after a SARS-CoV-2 infection, report researchers. Infection rates were not higher; only their risk of complications increased.
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NewsWhat causes some people’s gut microbes to produce high alcohol levels?
A study of people with a rare condition known as auto-brewery syndrome has found a link between gut microbes and symptoms of intoxication, pointing to new treatment strategies.
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NewsYour genes may influence gut microbiome of others, rat study shows
New research, carried out by studying more than four thousand animals, reveals that the composition of the rat gut microbiome is shaped not only by an individual’s own genes but also by the genes of the individuals they share a living space with.
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NewsOld molecules show promise for fighting resistant strains of COVID-19 virus
SARS‑CoV‑2 continues to mutate, with some newer strains becoming less responsive to current antiviral treatments like Paxlovid. Now, researchers have identified several promising molecules that could lead to new medications capable of combating these resistant variants.
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NewsResearchers expand virus-based treatment options for antibiotic-resistant infections
Phages are extremely specific about which strains of a bacterial species they will attack. This has limited their effectiveness against the most antibiotic-resistant strains. To overcome this problem, the research team “trained” the phages by allowing them to evolve together with the bacteria in a controlled laboratory setting for 30 days.
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NewsRebalancing the gut: how AI solved a 25-year Crohn’s disease mystery
Researchers have settled a decades-long debate surrounding the role of the first Crohn’s disease gene to be associated with a heightened risk for developing the auto-immune condition.
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NewsMaking yeast more efficient ‘cell factories’ for producing valuable plant compounds
Researchers have discovered a new way to make yeast cells more efficient “factories” for producing valuable plant compounds. By studying a plant membrane protein called AtMSBP1, they uncovered a mechanism that helps yeast cells better support plant cytochrome P450 enzymes.
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NewsResearch alert: Bacterial chatter slows wound healing
Researchers have discovered a previously unrecognized mechanism by which Staphylococcus aureus delays wound healing. The study finds that quorum sensing is a key driver of delayed healing in wounds infected by S. aureus.
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NewsBlood microbial DNA distinguishes liver cancer from metastatic lesions
A simple blood test analyzing microbial DNA could help doctors tell apart primary liver cancer from colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver, according to a new study.
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NewsScientists report the first use of CRISPR activation to treat a cardiac disease in mice
Researchers have demonstrated for the first time that CRISPR-based gene activation (CRISPRa) can be used to treat genetic heart disease in vivo. The study paves the way for novel targeted therapies for patients with genetic cardiac disorders.
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NewsCan a healthy gut microbiome help prevent childhood stunting?
Researchers find gut microbiome turnover in children is linked to poor growth outcomes, pointing to microbiome-based diagnostics for malnutrition.
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NewsAlcohol opens the floodgates for bad bacteria
Scientists have found that chronic alcohol use impairs the production of a key cellular signaling protein that helps keep gut bacteria within the gut. Without this guardrail in place, bacteria from the gut can more easily migrate to the liver, exacerbating liver damage caused by alcohol.
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NewsA microbial DNA signature differentiates two types of cancer in the liver
Researchers have identified a microbial DNA signature in blood plasma that reliably differentiates primary liver cancer from colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver (metastatic colorectal cancer).
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NewsEngineers take a closer look at how a plant virus primes the immune system to fight cancer
Scientists took a closer look at how the cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV), unlike other plant viruses, is uniquely effective at activating the body’s immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells.