All USA & Canada articles – Page 4
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NewsAI speeds chemists’ search for better disinfectants
Scientists published their computational-experimental framework for developing quaternary ammonium compounds, or QACs, to kill bacteria. The method yielded 11 new QACs that show activity against antimicrobial-resistant bacteria.
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NewsHantavirus cluster linked to cruise ship highlights ongoing zoonotic risk and the need for vigilance
Experts emphasized caution while underscoring the importance of environmental controls, early detection, and clear communication in travel settings.
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NewsResearchers identify natural compound that disarms drug-resistant bacteria
Scientists studying MRSA discovered that geranylgeranoic acid (GGA) – a naturally occurring fatty acid found in plants like ginger and turmeric – interferes with the bacteria’s virulence, its ability to infect, spread, defend itself, and cause disease.
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NewsStudy finds four of the CDC’s seven measles elimination status indicators missed
After public health experts declared measles eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, the U.S. CDC established seven indicators of measles elimination status to ensure that the country remained on track. Now researchers find that the U.S. missed four of the seven criteria, with the others at risk.
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NewsDisease-causing pathogen rewires gut metabolism to secure nutrients for growth
Enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis (ETBF), which causes diarrhea and has been implicated in colitis and colorectal cancer, uses a toxin it produces to reprogram intestinal cell metabolism and generate conditions that support its growth.
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NewsChanges in CDC communication undermine public trust in vaccines
Exposure to uncertainty-based messaging about vaccines increased perceived vaccine risks and uncertainty, reduced vaccination intentions, lowered trust in the CDC, and increased endorsement of science-denial strategies.
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NewsCervical cancer: A growing gap between high- and low-income countries
While high-income countries could eliminate cervical cancer by 2048 through human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and screening, the gap with lower-income countries is widening.
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NewsIn mice, viruses gain virulence in some individuals, depending on genetics and sex
New research demonstrates that some hosts appear to serve as “evolutionary accelerators” that could enable viruses to gain virulence more quickly.
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NewsAncient, insect-targeting bacterial toxin may have implications for human health, agriculture, and drug discovery
Scientists have identified and characterized a new class of Streptomyces-produced toxins that are very distantly related to the deadly toxin that causes diphtheria, a serious and contagious infection, in humans.
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NewsPet cats that roam outdoors carry similar disease risk as feral cats, global study finds
A new study has found that pet cats allowed to roam outside unsupervised carry infectious diseases at rates comparable to feral cats, even when they receive veterinary care, regular meals and shelter.
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NewsSignificant rise in valley fever cases in El Paso linked to extreme weather and dust
A new study has identified a significant rise in Valley fever cases in El Paso over the past decade and found strong connections between the disease and extreme weather, wind and airborne dust.
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NewsTeam discovers gene pattern that could help doctors identify Ebola faster and more accurately
Researchers have made an important discovery that could help doctors tell Ebola apart from other infections more quickly. The overlap of response by Ebola and other pathogens had made it difficult to find markers that are truly unique to Ebola.
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NewsYour nose is a battlefield
Scientists have discovered that FluMist can trigger an immune response directly in nasal tissue in adults. The vaccine trains immune cells in the upper nasal passages to recognize and fight influenza virus infection. This immune response stays in the upper airways and can’t be detected via blood samples.
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NewsPortable TB test matches lab accuracy in just minutes
A portable device called MiniDock MTB can deliver accurate TB test results in less than half an hour. Researchers show the device is as effective as a laboratory test and can detect cases even among people who have trouble producing phlegm samples from deep within their lungs.
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NewsSimple new system keeps microscopes in focus automatically
Anyone who has ever used a microscope knows that it takes time to bring a sample into sharp focus. Now a team of scientists has developed an inexpensive robust fix for this problem that involves little more than a couple of LED lights and some physics-based processing.
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NewsNew study suggests seasonal flu vaccines may reduce severity of H5N1 bird flu infections
Researchers have found that seasonal influenza vaccines in routine global use may significantly reduce the risk of death from H5N1 infection. The findings that readily available tools may offer protection while the world races to develop more targeted solutions.
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NewsScientists source anti-cancer treatment in bacteria
Researchers have developed an anti-cancer therapy inspired by bacteria found in cancer tumors. The therapy is made from a fragment of a bacterial protein, a peptide called aurB. In cancer tumors in the animal models, aurB prevented energy production in the tumor cells’ mitochondria, essentially cutting off the tumor’s fuel.
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NewsDecades-long study finds ‘stable’ soil carbon degrades
After nearly four decades, the world’s longest-running soil warming experiment is revealing a surprising result: even ‘stable’ carbon in forest soils can break down as temperatures rise, releasing more CO₂ into the atmosphere.
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NewsLifestyle, diet, and clinical factors shape the gut microbiome in cancer patients
Lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and dietary modifications can beneficially modulate the gut microbiome of cancer patients - however their effects are often shaped by non-modifiable variables.
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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.