All USA & Canada articles
-
NewsAI and robotics accelerate search for better gut microbiome therapies
Biomedical engineers have demonstrated a method for systematically developing novel, complex combinations of probiotics and prebiotics to more effectively maintain gut health and treat various gastrointestinal diseases.
-
NewsStudy shows seawater may offer early clues to changing reef health
Researchers have shown that the water surrounding coral reefs contains chemical and microbial signals that could reveal changes in ecosystem health long before those changes are visible.
-
NewsStudy reveals dengue virus can infect immune cells meant to fight disease
Researchers have discovered that dengue virus can infect and replicate inside memory B cells, immune cells traditionally understood to help protect the body from infection. It’s a previously unrecognized way the virus may evade immune defenses.
-
NewsA new light on the microbiome and its metabolites
Two studies shed new light on how plant-based diets support the gut microbiome. One study reveals that plant fibers and proteins reprogram microbial metabolism to boost production of a healthful species of metabolites, while suppressing that of their harmful counterparts.
-
NewsNew drug could contribute to stopping measles outbreaks
A new oral antiviral drug candidate administered either before or after direct contact or airborne exposure to canine distemper virus, which causes measles-like disease in ferrets, blocks transmission of the virus and reduces clinical symptoms.
-
NewsMicroscopic atlas reveals how citrus Huanglongbing disease progresses through trees
Scientists have created a detailed microscopic atlas that provides one of the clearest pictures to date of how citrus huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening disease, develops over time and affects different parts of a tree.
-
NewsFrom urinary tract infection to brain abscess: How bacterial subpopulations can spread to distant body sites
Researchers present a remarkable clinical case that provides new insights into the evolution of bacterial pathogens and presents the concept of heterovirulence, i.e., the simultaneous presence of subpopulations with different levels of virulence within a single infection.
-
NewsPartners in crime produce extreme antibiotic resistance
A study shows how environmental bacteria enter the lungs during an infection and transfer antibiotic resistance genes to disease-causing bacteria.
-
NewsHow a pandemic detour helped researchers uncover clues to a mysterious disease
Researchers examined the environmental and human factors that influence the distribution of Buruli ulcer, a neglected tropical disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium ulcerans.
-
NewsRecycling food waste would bring huge benefits, but microplastics a challenge
A first nationwide look shows diversion of U.S. food waste from landfills could reduce related climate impacts by 89% and nutrient pollution by 50%, researchers say.
-
NewsGut microbiomes follow distinct trajectories during urbanization across South Asia
An international team of researchers studied communities across India and Sri Lanka to understand the impact of urbanization, local diets, and culture on the gut microbiome.
-
News A secret weapon against superbugs
A molecular library of potential adjuvants has been used to help restore the activity of vancomycin, a powerful antibiotic widely used to treat serious infections such as MRSA and Clostridium difficile (C. diff).
-
NewsResearchers find link between gut bacteria byproduct and irregular heart rhythm
A study shows a connection between elevated blood levels of TMAO (trimethylamine N-oxide) — a byproduct of gut bacteria digestion of nutrients found in red meat and other animal products — and a higher risk of atrial fibrillation.
-
NewsAntibiotic-tolerant bacteria rely on a hidden survival strategy
Scientists have uncovered how S. pneumoniae adapts to antibiotic exposure and immune pressures. Their findings reveal that changes in RNA regulation enable bacteria to enter a state of antibiotic tolerance.
-
NewsResearchers find CRISPR-Cas coordinates layered bacterial defense network
A new study reveals that CRISPR-Cas plays a broader role in bacterial immunity. Rather than acting alone like a solitary sniper shooting at phages, it also serves as a central command center, directing a network of diverse innate immune systems.
-
NewsPrebiotic sodas typically contain as much sugar as fiber
Prebiotic sodas have become more popular in recent years. According to a new analysis, however, many of these beverages contain relatively little prebiotic fiber content and more sugar than marketing claims might imply.
-
NewsHow the most widespread parasite on earth reads its genome
Researchers have uncovered new details about how Toxoplasma controls the timing of protein production, ensuring the right molecular tools are available exactly when they are needed. Two protein complexes manage this process.
-
NewsResearchers find estrogen-like mycotoxin in every pregnant woman tested
Consuming common foods such as corn chips and popcorn may put pregnant women at risk of being exposed to mycotoxins. A study found hormone-mimicking mycotoxins in 100% of participants.
-
NewsResearchers develop automated system to accelerate outbreak detection and disease surveillance
Biomedical engineers have developed a fully automated workflow that simplifies and accelerates the preparation of bacterial samples for genetic sequencing. The method streamlines a critical bottleneck in the genetic sequencing process.
-
NewsWeather and human activity impact lake extremophiles
Researchers found that extreme changes, both due to weather and human activity, are reshaping microbial communities in the Great Salt Lake that form the base for a large food web.