All University of Edinburgh articles
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NewsPlastic bottles transformed into Parkinson’s drug using bacteria
A drug to treat Parkinson’s disease can be made from waste plastic bottles using a pioneering method. The approach harnesses the power of bacteria to transform post-consumer plastic into L-DOPA, a frontline medication for the neurological disorder.
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NewsBreadcrumbs lead to fossil free production of everyday goods
The humble breadcrumb could hold the key to cutting out fossil fuels from one of the chemical industry’s most widely used reactions. Scientists have found a one-pot microbial formula that uses waste bread to replace fossil fuel-derived hydrogen in hydrogenation.
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NewsMicrobes harvest metals from meteorites aboard space station
Microorganisms can harvest crucial minerals from rocks and could provide a sustainable alternative to transporting much-needed resources from Earth. Researchers have studied how those microorganisms extract platinum group elements from a meteorite in microgravity, with an experiment conducted aboard the International Space Station.
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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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NewsNew drug target identified in fight against resistant infections
Researchers have identified new drug targets within a special repair system possessed by certain bacteria, known as Rtc, which enables them to counteract the effects of these antibiotics.
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NewsResearch finds higher rare risk of heart complications in children after COVID-19 infection than after vaccination
A whole-population study showed that although these conditions were rare, children and young people were more likely to experience heart, vascular or inflammatory problems after a COVID-19 infection than after having the vaccine — and the risks after infection lasted much longer.
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NewsNew jab protects babies from serious lung infection, study shows
Vaccination of pregnant women has been linked to a drop in newborns being admitted to hospital with a serious lung infection, research suggests.
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NewsEstrela brings microbial research to Texas A&M AgriLife Department of Nutrition
Sylvie Estrela, Ph.D., has joined the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Nutrition as an assistant professor. Estrela’s research focuses on microbial interactions, specifically, the way nutrients can impact bacterial communities.
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NewsPhage expert Graham Hatfull elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society
Graham Hatfull, Eberly Family Professor of Biotechnology and HHMI Professor in the University of Pittsburgh Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, has been named a Fellow of the Royal Society.
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NewsSusceptibility to bovine TB in cattle traced to key genes
A new study identifying genetic factors contributing to bovine tuberculosis (bTB) susceptibility has found several key genes and pathways involved in the bovine response to Mycobacterium bovis, the causative agent of the disease in cattle.
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NewsScottish bio-tech company secures £3.4m investment
Scottish biotech engineering company uFraction8 has secured £3.4m in new investment following the completion of a funding round led by Foresight Group.
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NewsBacteria evolved to help neighboring cells after death, new research reveals
A study has shown that a type of E coli bacteria produces an enzyme which breaks the contents of their cells down into nutrients after death. The dead bacteria are therefore offering a banquet of nutrients to the cells that were their neighbours when they were living.
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CareersThe Space Microbiology Group
The Space Microbiology Group studies how microorganisms behave in space conditions, using tools such as microbiology, molecular biology, system biology and geomicrobiology to learn how new biotechnologies could be applied to space.
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NewsKeeping fewer friends protects ageing monkeys from diseases
New research shows becoming less sociable protects older monkeys from getting ill.
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NewsSaline nasal drops reduce the duration of the common cold in young children by two days
Using hypertonic saline nasal drops can reduce the length of the common cold in children by two days, according to a study that will be presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress.
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NewsNew study reveals metabolites key to faster intestinal recovery for cancer patients
A collaborative study has uncovered how metabolites drive communication between gut microbes and human cells to aid intestinal recovery after chemotherapy. This research offers new hope for enhancing cancer treatment outcomes.
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NewsIncidence of heart attacks and strokes found to be lower after COVID-19 vaccination
A new study involving nearly the whole adult population of England has found that the incidence of heart attacks and strokes was lower after COVID-19 vaccination than before or without vaccination.
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NewsNew study provides insights into COVID-19 vaccine uptake among children and young people
COVID-19 vaccine uptake among children and young people was low across all four UK nations, compared to other age groups, according to the first research study to look at data from all four UK nations.
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NewsVirus ancestry could aid bid to predict next pandemic, study finds
Virus family history could help scientists identify which strains have potential to become the so-called Disease X that causes the next global pandemic.
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NewsWest Nile virus emergence and spread in Europe linked to agricultural activities
The spread of West Nile virus in Europe is strongly linked to agricultural activities, urbanization, and bird migration, according to a modelling study.