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Three new COVID-19 variants can evade antibodies that act against original virus

New research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis indicates that three new, fast-spreading variants of the virus that cause COVID-19 can evade antibodies that work against the original form of the virus that sparked the pandemic.

5 Mar 2021

Automated next generation sequencing platform can accurately screen thousands for COVID-19

A robotics platform designed by researchers to screen many COVID-19 samples at once has the potential to revolutionize how labs track the spread of viruses.

From University of Toronto 3 Mar 2021

Researchers use science to take the guesswork out of cheese manufacturing

Making cheese leaves a lot to chance as a batch could be ripened for months or even years before a problem is discovered, which could send a prized batch of cheddar to be sold off cheap as an ingredient for processed cheese.

2 Mar 2021

Interbacterial toxins may contribute to bacterial genetic diversity

A toxin produced by bacteria as a defense mechanism causes mutations in target bacteria that could help them survive, according to a study published today in eLife.

24 Feb 2021

Portable DNA sequencers may enable routine microbial monitoring during food production

According to a recent study, handheld or portable instruments are suitable for environmental control during the production of food.

23 Feb 2021

Rebuilding soil microbiomes becomes challenging in high- tunnel soils with salt and nitrogen

The presence of high salt and nitrogen concentrations in high- tunnel soils may make it more challenging to rebuild a healthy soil microbiome following a soil-clearing event, according to microbial ecologists in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.

From Penn State University 12 Feb 2021

Seasonal human coronavirus antibodies not associated with protection against SARS-CoV-2

Past exposure to seasonal coronaviruses (CoVs), which cause the common cold, does not result in the production of antibodies that protect against the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, according to a study led by Scott Hensley, PhD, an associate professor of Microbiology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

11 Feb 2021

Brain protein that causes Alzheimer's also protects against the disease

Findings from a new study on Alzheimer's disease could eventually help clinicians identify people at the highest risk for developing the progressive brain disorder.

10 Feb 2021

Researchers uncover clues to why some corals are resistant to bleaching

Coral reefs are beautiful and diverse ecosystems that power the economies of many coastal communities. They're also facing threats that are driving their decline, including the planet's warming waters.

9 Feb 2021

Hidden genes in bacteriophages may be key to the development of new antibiotics

A study from the Center for Phage Technology, part of Texas A&M's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Texas A&M AgriLife Research, shows how the "hidden" genes in bacteriophages -- types of viruses that infect and destroy bacteria -- may be key to the development of a new class of antibiotics for human health.

8 Feb 2021

Study suggests the need to characterize patient-specific responses to respiratory syncytial virus

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine found that while most individuals responded to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) natural reinfection with a typical sustained antibody response associated with protection, a few individuals surprisingly responded atypically, not being able to sustain the antibody response, which declined to levels that made the individuals susceptible to RSV reinfection.

5 Feb 2021

Study shows how microbiomes may recover from biodiversity loss

For many years, researchers have fought with opposing theories to describe how inter-species interactions, including competition, affect biodiversity.

5 Feb 2021

Vaccine based on virus-like particle could generate antibodies to prevent malaria

An inexpensive, long-lasting and easy-to-administer vaccine against malaria could be a game-changer for millions of people living in countries where the mosquito-borne disease is endemic.

5 Feb 2021

Toxin-antitoxin systems negatively control plasmid replication

According to Thomas Wood, Biotechnology Endowed Chair and Professor of Chemical Engineering at the Penn State College of Engineering., toxin-antitoxin (TA) structures are currently known to adversely regulate the replication of plasmids.

From Penn State University 2 Feb 2021

Genome architectural changes linked to B cell-related blood cancers

Flaws in the way chromosomes are packed into antibody-producing B-cells seem to play a key role in the development of B-cell-related blood cancers.

2 Feb 2021

Researchers identify key molecule involved in immune regulation

The majority of the molecules in human bodies support the immune system to keep individuals healthy but they do so without reacting excessively, as this may otherwise drive the immune cells to cause problems, like autoimmune disorders.

29 Jan 2021

New technique replicates bone tissue complexity and bone remodeling processes

A multidisciplinary team of researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst's Institute for Applied Life Sciences (IALS) have developed a technique to replicate bone tissue complexity and bone remodeling processes.

27 Jan 2021

Single-dose universal vaccine could protect against many types of leptospirosis bacteria

Scientists have designed a single-dose universal vaccine that could protect against the many forms of leptospirosis bacteria, according to a study published today in eLife.

27 Jan 2021

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs reduce antibody and inflammatory responses to COVID-19

According to a new study, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) decreased both inflammatory and antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection in mice.

26 Jan 2021

New search engine helps compare samples in different microbiomes

Metagenomics refers to the study of genetic material from an environmental specimen. This field is now progressing as organisms evolve or are identified worldwide.

26 Jan 2021

Microbiology News and Research

Three new COVID-19 variants can evade antibodies that act against original virus

Automated next generation sequencing platform can accurately screen thousands for COVID-19

Researchers use science to take the guesswork out of cheese manufacturing

Interbacterial toxins may contribute to bacterial genetic diversity

Portable DNA sequencers may enable routine microbial monitoring during food production

Rebuilding soil microbiomes becomes challenging in high- tunnel soils with salt and nitrogen

Seasonal human coronavirus antibodies not associated with protection against SARS-CoV-2

Brain protein that causes Alzheimer's also protects against the disease

Researchers uncover clues to why some corals are resistant to bleaching

Hidden genes in bacteriophages may be key to the development of new antibiotics

Study suggests the need to characterize patient-specific responses to respiratory syncytial virus

Study shows how microbiomes may recover from biodiversity loss

Vaccine based on virus-like particle could generate antibodies to prevent malaria

Toxin-antitoxin systems negatively control plasmid replication

Genome architectural changes linked to B cell-related blood cancers

Researchers identify key molecule involved in immune regulation

New technique replicates bone tissue complexity and bone remodeling processes

Single-dose universal vaccine could protect against many types of leptospirosis bacteria

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs reduce antibody and inflammatory responses to COVID-19

New search engine helps compare samples in different microbiomes

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