All University of Oxford articles
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NewsNeanderthals may have used birch tar for its anti-bacterial properties
Scientists extracted tar from modern birch tree bark, specifically targeting species known from Neanderthal sites. When exposed to different strains of bacteria, all tar samples were found to be effective at hindering the growth of Staphylococcus bacteria known to cause wound infections.
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CareersLife is a rollercoaster: AMI Global Ambassador Chris Greening opens up on his ADHD journey
It can be the quiet moments that give you time to pause, ponder and sort through your tangled thoughts. For Professor Chris Greening, that moment came during a long bike ride last August that led to a ‘classic ADHD moment’.
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NewsMissing microbes in UK infant gut and probiotics highlighted by global microbiome atlas
A global atlas mapping two key gut bacteria in infants around the world has uncovered a treasure trove of bacterial strains adapted to the infant gut and not found in commercial probiotic products. It lays the foundation for more effective, tailored infant probiotics.
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NewsLow vitamin D levels shown to raise risk of hospitalization with potentially fatal respiratory tract infections by 33%
Severe vitamin D deficiency is associated with a higher rate of hospitalisation for respiratory tract infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia. Scientists found that those with a severe deficiency (below 15 nnmol/L) were 33 per cent more likely to be admitted to hospital for treatment.
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NewsScientists engineer quantum-enabled proteins, opening a new frontier in biotechnology
A new study reports the creation of a new class of biomolecules, magneto-sensitive fluorescent proteins, that can interact with magnetic fields and radio waves. This is enabled by quantum mechanical interactions within the protein, and occur when it is exposed to light of an appropriate wavelength.
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NewsVaccine against foot-and-mouth disease could deliver $1.3 billion a year in global livestock benefits
A new foot-and-mouth disease vaccine is projected to deliver over $1.3 billion in annual benefits and transform global livestock resilience.
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NewsThe link between the gut microbiome and autism is not backed by science, researchers say
There’s no scientific evidence that the gut microbiome causes autism, a group of scientists argue in an opinion paper. They warn that conclusions that supported this hypothesis are undermined by flawed assumptions, small sample sizes, and inappropriate statistical methods.
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NewsMyocardial infarction may be an infectious disease
A pioneering study has demonstrated for the first time that myocardial infarction may be an infectious disease. This discovery challenges the conventional understanding of the pathogenesis of myocardial infarction and opens new avenues for treatment.
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NewsArchaea can kill bacteria with new antibacterials
A first look into the molecular defenses of archaea highlights the importance of surveying diverse microbes to discover new types of antimicrobials.
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NewsMalaria vaccine mimics natural immunity with high precision
A detailed analysis reveals one of the reasons why the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine works so well: the antibodies generated following vaccination are indistinguishable from those found in people who have been infected by the parasites.
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NewsSmart bacteria could transform global agricultural food production
An interdisciplinary team are to receive almost half a million pounds to fund the development of a ‘smart bacterium’ that can dynamically reprogramme how crops respond to environmental stresses in real-time.
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NewsPenicillin allergy testing needed to fight antibiotic resistance
Removing incorrect penicillin allergy labels on GP records could combat antibiotic resistance and save lives, an NIHR-funded clinical trial has found.
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NewsMum’s obesity linked to child’s heightened hospital admission risk for infection
Children born to mothers who are very obese with a BMI of 35 or higher are at heightened risk of being admitted to hospital for an infection, finds a long term study.
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NewsStudy discovers DNA switch that controls TB growth – and could help unlock its antibiotic resistance secrets
The bacteria that cause tuberculosis (TB) may have an ‘on-off switch’ that lets them pause and restart growth, according to a new study which helps explain why TB is so hard to treat with antibiotics and could pave the way for better drugs.
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CareersHow structural imaging is revolutionising vaccines
Dr. Peijun Zhang, Director of the Electron Bio-Imaging Centre (eBIC) at the UK’s national synchrotron facility Diamond Light Source, reveals how Cryo-ET is powering some of the most important advances in vaccine research.
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NewsChimpanzees use medicinal leaves to clean and treat their wounds
Scientists studying chimpanzees in Budongo Forest, Uganda, have observed that these primates don’t just treat their own injuries, but care for others, too — information which could shed light on how our ancestors first began treating wounds and using medicines.
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NewsSugar-mimicking molecule central to virulence of a common crop disease, study finds
A strain of Pseudomonas syringae manipulates plants by producing a substance called glycosyrin to suppress the immune response. New research shows that glycosyrin does this by mimicking galactose, acting like a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
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NewsResearchers announce breakthrough in next-generation polio vaccines
Researchers have taken a major step towards producing a more affordable and lower-risk polio vaccine using virus-like particles (VLPs). These particles mimic the outer protein shell of poliovirus, but are empty inside.
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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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NewsCompound derived from Brazilian plant acts against parasite that causes visceral leishmaniasis
A compound derived from Nectandra leucantha, a tree native to southern Brazil (local names canela-seca or canela-branca), has the potential to be used to treat visceral leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease.