All University of Helsinki articles
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NewsMicroplastics disrupt gut microbiome and fermentation in farm animals
Microplastics, tiny plastic particles pervasive in agricultural environments, interact with and disrupt the microbial ecosystem in the rumen – the first stomach chamber of cattle, reveals an international study.
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NewsArctic plant–fungal partnerships are surprisingly flexible in a warming world
A new study suggests that Arctic fungi appear to form opportunistic partnerships with whatever plant hosts are available, rather than maintaining exclusive relationships. This flexibility may help both plants and fungi cope with rapid environmental change.
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NewsAdvanced disease modelling shows some gut bacteria can spread as rapidly as viruses
Escherichia coli (E. coli), a type of bacteria commonly found in the human gut, could spread as quickly as swine flu, new research suggests. For the first time, researchers are able to predict the rate at which one person could transmit gut bacteria to those around them.
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NewsInspection confirmed mould damage in schools does not increase students’ risk of developing asthma
A recent study found that mould damage in school buildings does not increase the risk of asthma among students. The study included 110 Finnish primary and secondary schools, and the health of 30,000 students was tracked using national health registers over a 16-year period.
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NewsResearchers’ call: Consider the risk of wildlife-spread diseases during ecosystem restoration
Researchers are urging adaptive ecosystem restoration, which implements key considerations for minimizing the zoonotic disease risk otherwise associated with restorations. A new study is providing practical guidance for restoration project stakeholders.
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NewsEven healthy children can be severely affected by RSV
It is not only premature babies and children with underlying diseases who suffer from serious respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections. Even healthy, full-term babies are at significant risk of intensive care or prolonged hospitalisation – especially during the first three months of life.
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NewsMultidrug-resistant bacteria spread from war-zone hospitals to other countries
After Russia’s full-scale invasion, thousands of patients were transferred from Ukraine to other European countries. Researchers in Helsinki found that 8% of Ukrainian refugees had been hospitalised due to war injuries. Almost 80% of them carried multidrug resistant bacteria.
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NewsGut microbes may help in recognizing and treating pancreatic cancer
A new international cooperation study indicates that in the future pancreatic cancer may be detected at an early stage with the help of gut microbes. Gut microbes may also offer solutions for therapy development.
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NewsA gene variant increases the risk of long COVID
An international team of researchers has found a genetic link to long-term symptoms after COVID-19. The identified gene variant is located close to the FOXP4 gene, which is known to affect lung function.
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NewsUrbanization reshapes soil microbes: Bacteria adapt, fungi resist
A groundbreaking study reveals that urban environments favor bacterial generalists, which adapt to diverse conditions, whereas fungi maintain specialized ecological roles. Despite these divergent responses, the functional overlap between bacteria and fungi ensures ecosystem resilience.
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NewsCircadian rhythms in tea plant microbiomes shed light on nutrient cycling
A groundbreaking study has uncovered a fascinating connection between the circadian rhythms of tea plants and the microbial communities in their rhizosphere, providing new insights into nutrient cycling.
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NewsOutokumpu’s bedrock reveals a smelly surprise
In a borehole in Finland, volatile organic compounds (VOC) are detected in the bedrock and groundwater due to the presence of a highly diverse underground microbial community, which reflects the composition of VOC and thus the bedrock characteristics.
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NewsNew study reveals how COVID-19 variants hijack human cells
A research team has successfully mapped what they call the “hijackome”, detailing how SARS-CoV-2 variants exploit specific cellular pathways.
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NewsPossible colon cancer vaccine target uncovered in bacteria
Higher rates of certain cancers may be linked to two particular strains of bacteria. Targeting these with treatments or vaccines could help reduce the risk of colorectal, bladder, and prostate cancers.
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NewsInfant gut microbiota development predicts future health
Infants’ gut microbiota development follows one of five predictable trajectories, significantly influenced by infant exposures, according to a new study. These are strong indicators of later health outcomes, including allergies, growth patterns, and infections.
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NewsPromising antibiotic candidates discovered in microbes deep in the Arctic Sea
A new study demonstrates that prospecting novel habitats like the Arctic Sea can yield novel antivirulence drugs that are less likely to select for resistance.
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NewsWestern superbugs do not dominate in Pakistan, study reveals
Certain antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria endemic to the UK, Norway and the USA have not taken hold in Pakistan despite the widespread use of antibiotics in this region.
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NewsResearchers develop predictive model for cross-border COVID spread
A study on the spread of infections across Nordic borders from spring until the end of 2020 sheds light on the efficacy of cross-border travel restrictions, helping to better understand which measures actually make a difference.
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NewsStudy reveals role of fathers in seeding the microbiota of newborns
A new paper shows the important contributions that fathers make to the composition of microbes colonizing a baby’s gut, and confirms that maternal fecal microbiota transfer (FMT) in babies born by C-section can help to correct microbiota disturbances.
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NewsGenome research reveals the global march of malaria
Researchers have reconstructed ancient Plasmodium genome-wide data from 36 malaria-infected individuals spanning 5,500 years of human history on five continents, reconstructing the worldwide spread of malaria and its historical impact.