Microbiology News and Research

RSS

Zinc Inhibits Plasmid Transfer in Gut Microbes

Genes responsible for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) can spread from microbe to microbe through circular genetic material called plasmids, and this lateral transfer occurs in the gut. This week in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, researchers in Iowa report that the transmission of some AMR plasmids may be inhibited by a readily available source-;dietary zinc supplements.

4 Oct 2024

Unraveling the Mysteries of Endosymbiotic Relationships

Endosymbiosis refers to a remarkable biological process where one organism resides within another. This unique arrangement is frequently advantageous for both organisms involved.

3 Oct 2024

29 Novel Antibodies Targeting Drug-Resistant Klebsiella Pneumoniae Identified

Research at UMC Utrecht has identified 29 novel antibodies against the bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae, an important cause of drug-resistant infections.

27 Sep 2024

Exploring Drug-Microbiome Interactions in Complex Bacterial Communities

Many human medications can directly inhibit the growth and alter the function of the bacteria that constitute our gut microbiome.

25 Sep 2024

Study Finds How Plants Limit Viral Spread to Progeny with RNA Interference

Scientists have learned how plants keep viruses from being passed to their offspring, a finding that could ensure healthier crops.

20 Sep 2024

IgM Antibodies Offer Protection Against Staph Infections

One of the main sources of community- and hospital-acquired infections is Staphylococcus aureus, well known for its antibiotic-resistant variation Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

18 Sep 2024

Research Sheds Light on Plant-Microbe Interactions and Auxin Hormone Effects

Gazing out on a freshwater pond, you may see tiny green plants with oval shaped leaves floating in clusters.

16 Sep 2024

Soil pH Influences Microbial Community Formation and Nitrogen Cycling

Though a founding concept of ecology suggests that the physical environment determines where organisms can survive, modern scientists have suspected there is more to the story of how microbial communities form in the soil.

15 Sep 2024

Study Reveals How Surface Properties Affect Bacterial Motility

As bacteria continue to become more resistant to antibiotics, it will be harder to treat bacterial infections, leading to more severe illnesses, longer hospital stays, and higher mortality rates.

10 Sep 2024

Study Unveils How Bacteria Thrive Within the Nucleus of Deep-Sea Mussels

Most animals live in intimate relationships with bacteria. Some of these bacteria live inside the cells of their hosts, but only very few are able to live inside cell organelles (structures inside the cell, like organs in the body).

9 Sep 2024

Decoding the Infant Microbiome's Three Pioneers

Researchers discovered that newborn newborns had one of three pioneer bacteria in their stomach immediately after birth, one of which might be exploited to generate novel personalized infant therapeutic probiotics.

9 Sep 2024

A Computational Approach to Understanding Microbiome Formation

Almost all multicellular creatures on Earth form symbiotic relationships with extremely extensive and complex microbial communities known as microbiomes.

9 Sep 2024

Common Skin Fungus Identified as a Potential Factor in Tumor Growth

A common skin fungus, Malassezia globosa may invade deep tissues through the skin or by other means, then cause tumor growth, according to a new study.

6 Sep 2024

LSTM Research Identifies 91 RNA Viruses in Parasitic Worms

New research shows that parasitic nematodes, responsible for infecting more than a billion people globally, carry viruses that may solve the puzzle of why some cause serious diseases.

5 Sep 2024

Bacteria's Ability to Sense Chemical Changes Across Their Cell Bodies Uncovered

Scientists at the University of Sheffield have discovered a new sensory capability in bacteria that could transform treatments for bacterial infections.

4 Sep 2024

Transforming Waste into Culinary Delights with Neurospora

Chef-turned-chemist Vayu Hill-Maini has a passion: to turn food waste into culinary treats using fungi.

30 Aug 2024

Cryo-EM Study Sheds Light on HSV Drug Resistance Mechanisms Through Protein Movement

All organisms -; from fungi to mammals -; have the capacity to evolve and adapt to their environments. But viruses are master shapeshifters with an ability to mutate greater than any other organism. As a result, they can evade treatments or acquire resistance to once-effective antiviral medications.

28 Aug 2024