Microbiology News and Research

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Soil Bacteria Use Umbrella Toxins to Fight Back

Scientists have found that soil bacteria called Streptomyces secrete toxic protein particles in the shape of umbrellas that are meant to suppress competitors, particularly those that belong to their species.

18 Apr 2024

Copper Beads in Pig Feed Could Impact Gut Microbes

Copper is a natural antimicrobial material that, when added to pig feed, may promote the growth and health of the animals.

18 Apr 2024

What Makes Certain Mushrooms 'Magic'?

In a recent study published in the journal Nature Communications, an international research team from various Universities including Hans Knöll Institute investigated the biosynthesis of psilocybin, the primary component of hallucinogenic mushrooms.

17 Apr 2024

Mysterious Plasmid in Human Gut Holds Potential for Health Hazard Detection

A component of the human intestinal flora that has been little studied to date is the focus of a new study.

17 Apr 2024

Breakthrough RNA-Based Vaccine Strategy Offers Universal Protection

Scientists at UC Riverside have demonstrated a new, RNA-based vaccine strategy that is effective against any strain of a virus and can be used safely even by babies or the immunocompromised.

16 Apr 2024

Nasal Cells in Children Shield Against Severe COVID-19

Children usually have milder COVID-19 symptoms; this could be due to differences in how elderly and young people's nasal cells react to the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

16 Apr 2024

Deciphering the Significance of m6A RNA Modification in HIV-1 Genome

A chemical modification in the HIV-1 RNA genome whose function has been a matter of scientific debate is now confirmed to be key to the virus's ability to survive and thrive after infecting host cells, a new study has found.

13 Apr 2024

Unraveling the Molecular Mechanisms of DNA Entanglement Resolution

Picture in your mind a traditional "landline" telephone with a coiled cord connecting the handset to the phone.

12 Apr 2024

RNA Molecules Govern Battle Between Cholera Bacteria and Phages

Viruses need hosts. Whether it's measles, the flu or coronavirus, viral pathogens cannot multiply or infect other organisms without the assistance of their hosts' cellular infrastructure.

5 Apr 2024

Gut Microbiota Signatures Linked to KRAS Mutations in Colorectal Cancer Patients

For about 40% of people diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC), the tumor carries a mutation in a gene called KRAS. Many of those mutations have been linked to shorter survival and more aggressive forms of disease.

5 Apr 2024

Researchers Uncover the FACT-ETS-1 Antiviral Response Pathway

By focusing on a poxvirus protein, a team led by UT Southwestern Medical Center scientists has discovered an antiviral immune pathway that broadly fights a wide variety of viruses.

4 Apr 2024

New Virus Offers Hope for Amphibians Ravaged by Fungus

A fungus devastating frogs and toads on nearly every continent may have an Achilles heel. Scientists have discovered a virus that infects the fungus, and that could be engineered to save the amphibians.

4 Apr 2024

Study Reveals Structure of Two Nucleic Acid-Degrading Enzymes

When nucleic acids like DNA or RNA build up in a cell's cytoplasm, it sets off an alarm call for the immune system.

3 Apr 2024

Unveiling the Hidden Lives of Microbes Deep Underground

A group of scientists working at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences have created a novel technique that connects the genetics and functionality of individual microbes that are oxygen-free and exist far below the surface of the Earth.

3 Apr 2024

Researchers Identify Protein Regulating Gas Vesicle Patterning in Bacteria

Gas vesicles are hollow structures made of protein found in the cells of certain microorganisms, and researchers at Rice University believe they can be programmed for use in biomedical applications.

30 Mar 2024

Chickadees' Brain Activity Reveals Unique Memory Barcodes

Your ability to remember and recall moments in time is important for recording life-defining moments and everyday information like where you parked the car.

30 Mar 2024

Nanoparticle-Based Therapy Shows Promise in Eradicating Tumors

A nanoparticle-based therapy developed by UT Southwestern Medical Center scientists stimulated an immune pathway that eradicated tumors in mouse models of various cancer types.

28 Mar 2024

Enzymatic Cocktail Outperforms Antibiotics Against Mycobacteria, Including TB

A recent study published in Microbiology Spectrum, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology, demonstrates that an enzymatic cocktail has the capability to eliminate various mycobacterial species of bacteria, including those responsible for tuberculosis.

28 Mar 2024