All The Microbiologist articles in Web Issue – Page 293
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NewsIn pregnant mice with severe flu, harmful molecules can breach fetal barriers
A new study shows, for the first time, that severe flu infection in pregnant mice leads to a breakdown in placental and brain barriers, leading to the accumulation of potentially harmful molecules in the fetal brain. Fibrinogen can pass into developing fetal brains.
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NewsWorld’s first discovery of a mysterious tubular structure in citrus pest symbionts
A multinational research team has discovered a mysterious tubular structure — previously unknown in any organism — within Profftella, a symbiotic bacterium associated with a major global citrus pest.
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NewsMilk matters: How donor human milk storage affects preemie gut health
A study reveals that shorter storage durations of donor human milk are linked to reduced gastrointestinal complicatoins in premature infants, including necrotizing enterocolitis. These findings suggest that minimizing milk storage time may help to preserve protective properties crucial for preterm gut health.
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NewsHot springs in Japan give insight into ancient microbial life on Earth
Iron-oxidising bacteria in the iron-rich hot springs suggest early microbes used iron and trace oxygen, not sunlight, as their primary energy source during the planet’s shift from a low-oxygen to a high-oxygen atmosphere about 2.3 billion years ago.
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NewsSugary drinks influence the psyche via the intestine
A new study provides strong evidence that sugary drinks affect not only metabolic but also mental health – especially in women. This effect is probably mediated by the sensitive microbiome of the intestine.
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NewsNew study reveals subway station fungal communities
Researchers who collected monthly samples from subway stations in Beijing found high fungal diversity, mostly non-pathogenic. Some opportunistic pathogens were also detected. Fungal communities varied significantly by season and station types.
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NewsRevealed: How fungus-farming termites protect gardens from invaders
When harmful fungi invade their carefully cultivated crops, some fungus-farming termites fight back with the precision of skilled gardeners, a new study reveals, smothering them in soil clumps enriched with microbial allies that inhibit fungal growth.
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NewsMeta-analysis: COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy is safe and beneficial for mother and infant
Vaccination is associated with better neonatal outcomes without added maternal risk, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2025 National Conference & Exhibition.
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NewsRSV vaccines safe and effective, Cochrane review finds
A new Cochrane review demonstrates that vaccines for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are both safe and effective in protecting vulnerable groups that are most at risk of serious illness, including older adults and infants.
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NewsVirologist leading team to bolster Canada’s ability to respond to future pandemics, public health emergencies
With $3M in new federal funding over two years, University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine molecular virologist Dr. Marc-André Langlois and a multidisciplinary team of collaborators will be a vital part of Canada’s ability to respond effectively to infectious disease threats & future pandemics.
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NewsDespite increase in U.S. cases, worry about West Nile virus remains low
Despite this season’s growing number of cases, relatively few Americans worry about becoming infected by West Nile or by dengue fever, another mosquito-borne illness, according to a survey of nearly 1,700 U.S. adults.
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NewsStartling images show how antibiotic pierces bacteria’s armor
Researchers have shown for the first time how life-saving antibiotics called polymyxins pierce the armour of harmful bacteria. They showed how Polymyxin B rapidly caused bumps and bulges to break out on the surface of an E. coli cell, followed by the bacterium shedding its outer armour.
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NewsNew study supports gene-tailored radiation doses to treat HPV+ throat cancer
Genetic testing can identify patients with HPV-positive throat cancer who may benefit from lower radiation doses, according to a new study that builds on a growing body of evidence that radiation treatment can be personalized using tumor genomics.
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NewsAI tool enables accurate measurement of diseased spikelet rate of wheat Fusarium Head Blight from phone images
A new study proposes a deep learning algorithm that can automatically measure the diseased spikelet rate (DSR) trait from wheat spike images with complex backgrounds captured by mobile phones, providing a measurement tool for wheat Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) resistance breeding.
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NewsChristensenella tenuis inhibits gut-derived endotoxins to alleviate metabolic disorders
The gut probiotic Christensenella tenuis significantly alleviates endotoxemia and metabolic disorders by modulating gut bile acids (BAs) metabolism and suppressing lipopolysaccharide (LPS) translocation across the gut barrier, a new study finds.
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NewsGlobal Virus Network launches multi-country mpox diagnostic evaluation to close global preparedness gaps
The Global Virus Network has initiated one of the first coordinated, multi-country evaluations of rapid point-of-care mpox diagnostics, a critical step to prevent resurgence and ensure the world is better prepared for future epidemics.
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NewsNutrient storage and release in uninfected cells of soybean nodules support symbiotic nitrogen fixation in infected cells
A new study employed the symplastic movement tracer carboxyfluorescein diacetate (CFDA) to observe and model the transport and storage status of nutrients within nodules.
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NewsVast gut microbiome diversity and antibiotic resistome across 14 mammal species on the Tibetan Plateau
A new study provides the most comprehensive genomic catalogue to date of mammalian gut microbiomes from the Tibetan Plateau.
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NewsAtom-precise agriculture: The future of eco-friendly crop protection
Researchers have created a novel single-atom copper pesticide that addresses the critical limitations of traditional copper-based pesticides, acting against the rice pathogen Pantoea ananatis.
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NewsNew mechanisms for bacterial motility and DNA transfer between bacteria decoded
Scientists have discovered a new family of signaling proteins, widespread in the bacterial kingdom and contributing to regulating bacterial motility and DNA uptake mechanisms.