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Study sheds light on the role of white blood cells in the developing brain

Whether white blood cells can be found in the brain has been controversial, and what they might be doing used to be complete mystery.

23 Jul 2020

Study explains the compatibility of bacteria and virus in the human gut

The proverb “all things in moderation” holds good not only for food and drink but also for the cluster of microorganisms found inside the human gut.

22 Jul 2020

Edible coating made with green tea extract kills microbes

Infusing prepared foods with an edible coating that contains green tea extract may lower consumers' chances of catching the highly contagious norovirus by eating contaminated food, new research suggests.

22 Jul 2020

Researchers comprehensively describe the 'human tissue virome atlas'

Human-resident microbes can influence both health and disease. Investigating the microbiome using next-generation sequencing technology has revealed examples of mutualism and conflict between microbes and humans.

22 Jul 2020

Chronic inflammation disrupts tissue structure of the colon, study finds

In a new study, researchers have compared diseased colon with healthy tissue to better understand how inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is linked to an increased risk of colorectal cancers, at a molecular level.

22 Jul 2020

Study shows how T cells become cancer-killing cells

Within the immune system, the T lymphocytes operate to kill cancer cells or infected cells.

21 Jul 2020

Small, compact Cas proteins found in bacteriophages are ideal for gene editing

The DNA-cutting proteins central to CRISPR-Cas9 and related gene-editing tools originally came from bacteria, but a newfound variety of Cas proteins apparently evolved in viruses that infect bacteria.

20 Jul 2020

Study shows flotillin proteins have direct influence on cell membrane structure

Similar to all cells, bacteria have a membrane that protects them from the outside just like skin.

20 Jul 2020

Hypercompact CRISPR enzyme from bacteriophages expands genome editing toolbox

A recently discovered hypercompact CRISPR enzyme found only in huge bacteriophages, and known as CRISPR-CasΦ, is functional, a new study by Patrick Pausch, Jennifer Doudna and colleagues reports, and it provides a powerful new tool in the CRISPR genome editing toolbox, including because it can target a wider range of genetic sequences compared to Cas9 and Cas12

17 Jul 2020

Scientists gain insights into how parasitic bacterium gives rise to lesions

Bacteria of the genus Bartonella are parasites that can be transmitted to humans via insect bites and animal scratches, resulting in an infection known as "bartonellosis." Cat-scratch disease and trench fever are forms of bartonellosis caused by different Bartonella species infecting humans.

17 Jul 2020

Beautyberry leaf extract boosts drug's activity antibiotic-resistant staph bacteria

Scientists discovered a compound in the leaves of a common shrub, the American beautyberry, that boosts an antibiotic's activity against antibiotic-resistant staph bacteria. Laboratory experiments showed that the plant compound works in combination with oxacillin to knock down the resistance to the drug of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA.

17 Jul 2020

Durable coating for hard surfaces could help eliminate foodborne germs

In the future, a durable coating could help keep food-contact surfaces clean in the food processing industry, including in meat processing plants.

17 Jul 2020

Microbiologists identify bacteria which feed on manganese

Caltech microbiologists have discovered bacteria that feed on manganese and use the metal as their source of calories. Such microbes were predicted to exist over a century ago, but none had been found or described until now.

16 Jul 2020

Combination of western-style high-fat diet with antibiotic can increase the risk of pre-IBD

Researchers have found that combining a Western-style high-fat diet with antibiotic use significantly increases the risk of developing pre- inflammatory bowel disease.

16 Jul 2020

Healthy microbiome can reduce severity of chickungunya disease

Chikungunya virus, once confined to the Eastern Hemisphere, has infected millions of people in the Americas since 2013, when mosquitoes carrying the virus were discovered in the Caribbean.

15 Jul 2020

Early exposure to vaccine-derived antigens can have dramatic effect on antibody diversity

University of Alabama at Birmingham researchers have added fresh evidence that early exposure to vaccine-, bacterial- or microbiota-derived antigens has a dramatic effect on the diversity of antibodies an adult mammal will have to fight future infections by pathogens.

14 Jul 2020

New, evidence-based guideline for treating patients suffering from NTM pathogens

NTMs are closely related to tuberculosis bacteria and can (but do not need to) cause infectious diseases in humans. They are called "nontuberculous mycobacteria" (NTMs) to distinguish them from tuberculosis bacteria.

14 Jul 2020

Study: Specific mechanism of Cyclocarya paliurus shows promise for treating type 2 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes mellitus and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are the two main types of diabetes, while T2DM accounts for 90%-95% of those with diabetes.

14 Jul 2020

Study shows gut microbiota can predict the development of type 2 diabetes

The individual mix of microorganisms in the human gastrointestinal tract provides vital clues as to how any future incidence of type 2 diabetes can be predicted, prevented and treated. This is demonstrated in a population study led from the University of Gothenburg. Sweden.

14 Jul 2020

Researchers evaluate role of zinc in COVID-19 prevention

Researchers from Sechenov University in collaboration with colleagues from Germany, Greece and Russia reviewed scientific articles on the role of zinc in the prevention and treatment of viral infections and pneumonia, with projections on those caused by SARS-CoV-2. The results were published in the International Journal of Molecular Medicine.

14 Jul 2020