All University of California San Diego articles
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NewsCorn stalks. It’s what’s for dinner … If you’re a microbe
Engineers have developed a strain of a common bacterial species, Pseudomonas putida, that can feed exclusively on the three major sugars present in corn stalks, with broader implications for the future of biomanufacturing.
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NewsGeology: Antarctica’s Blood Falls reveals an ancient marine community
Salty water flowing through Antarctica’s Blood Falls contains a distinct community of marine-specific microorganisms, providing evidence that the brine system beneath the glacier has a marine origin.
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NewsHelpful microbes could battle pathogens in our hospitals and schools - with the help of AI to make it work
Helpful microbes that combat harmful pathogens could be the answer to rising antimicrobial resistance, particularly within built environments such as hospitals, homes and schools, says a new review.
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NewsEject! Bacteria discovered with the ability to jettison cells as a survival mechanism
Biologists have found that communities of bacteria are capable of ‘escape pod’ ejection strategies. They documented the biofilm ejection phenomenon for the first time while studying a bacterium known as hay bacillus (Bacillus subtilis).
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NewsA subtle difference offers insight into bacteria survival strategies
Researchers have discovered that Bacillus subtilis employs a different survival strategy to E coli, raising the question of whether other types of bacteria use alternative strategies, and how this might help researchers think differently about antibiotic tolerance.
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NewsResearcher wins $5.6M NIH Avant Garde Award to prevent HIV, Hepatitis C and overdose
An innovative project will use AI-powered “digital twins” to help public health agencies better prevent HIV, hepatitis C and overdose among people who use drugs.
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NewsPlants could be used to grow medicines in space, study shows
Astronauts on long space missions may one day use plants to produce fresh stocks of medicines on demand. Researchers developed a simple method to grow and repeatedly harvest plant virus-based pharmaceuticals from plants under space-like conditions, without destroying the plants or generating large amounts of waste.
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NewsPopular GLP-1 drug may slow down biological aging in people with HIV
A new study provides the first randomized, placebo-controlled clinical evidence that semaglutide, a widely used GLP-1 drug, slows down the accumulation of biological aging markers in the DNA of adults with HIV.
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NewsExperimental gene therapy shields brain from toxic protein damage
An experimental gene therapy could help protect the brain from the damage and cognitive decline linked to TDP-43-related proteinopathy, a type of neurodegeneration.
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NewsStick-on gel offers new way to treat and monitor plants
Scientists have developed an adhesive gel that can be loaded with substances, such as small molecule drugs or nanoparticles, and applied directly onto a plant to deliver those materials into its tissues. In tests, a gel loaded with antibiotics cleared a bacterial infection in a plant within about 48 hours.
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News To thwart pathogens, researchers are giving beneficial microbes what they really want
Researchers have developed a new method that allows precise modification of any microbiome with prebiotics, helping beneficial organisms outcompete dangerous pathogens.
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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.