Microbiology

RSS

New Insights into the Structure and Function of a Key Viral Protein

Researchers at Harvard Medical School and Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine have mapped a crucial part of the Nipah virus, a deadly bat-borne infection that has been responsible for human outbreaks every year since its discovery in 1999.

21 Jan 2025

Mapping Global Microbial Diversity Using Genomic Sequencing Data

Metagenomic datasets could help map out microbial diversity hotspots. Published January 17, 2025 in Science Advances, researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Joint Genome Institute (JGI), a DOE Office of Science User Facility located at Berkeley Laboratory, have taken stock of the current state of microbial genomic biodiversity.

20 Jan 2025

Bacterial Growth in Mucus Leads to Formation of Cable-Like Structures

Scientists at Caltech and Princeton University have discovered that bacterial cells growing in a solution of polymers, such as mucus, form long cables that buckle and twist on each other, building a kind of "living Jell-O."

20 Jan 2025

Deep Sea Foraminifera Species Unveil Secrets of Life in Extreme Environments

Most life on Earth relies on the sun's energy for survival, but what about organisms in the deep sea that live beyond the reach of its rays? A new study led by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), published in The ISME Journal, sheds light on how a species of foraminifera, single-celled organisms found in almost all marine habitats, thrives in a dark, oxygen-free environment.

17 Jan 2025

Researchers Develop Method to Produce Strigolactones Using Microbial Cell Factories

Sometimes just using a different tool makes the job a whole lot easier. A team of researchers co-led by the University of California San Diego has developed a method to produce a special class of plant hormones, known as strigolactones, at unprecedented levels using microbial cell factories.

17 Jan 2025

Gene-Edited Bacteria Increases Nitrogen Fixation in Corn

If corn ever felt envious of soybean’s relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, advancements in gene editing may one day level the playing field.

17 Jan 2025

Breakthrough in Understanding Semliki Forest Virus Neuro-Invasion

In a recent study, researchers from Uppsala University show that the Semliki Forest virus enters the central nervous system by first entering the cerebrospinal fluid and then binding to a specific cell type before penetrating deeper into the brain.

16 Jan 2025

Human H5N1 Bird Flu More Virulent in Mice Than Bovine Strain

Researchers from the Texas Biomedical Research Institute reported in the journal Emerging Microbes & Infections that one of the first strains of bird flu to be isolated from a human in Texas exhibits a distinct set of mutations that allow it to more readily replicate in human cells and inflict more severe disease in mice than a strain found in dairy cattle.

16 Jan 2025

Genetic Study Uncovers Growing Threat of Powdery Mildew to Blueberry Crops

The study on E. vaccinii uncovers its evolution and spread, linking genetic diversity to increased threats to blueberry crops and the role of human activities.

16 Jan 2025

Is Calcium Signaling the Bridge Between Unicellular and Multicellular Life?

Calcium-dependent signaling in S. rosetta uncovers mechanisms of cellular coordination, shedding light on the evolution of multicellularity and sensory systems.

16 Jan 2025

Study Identifies Five Root-Lesion Nematodes Affecting New Zealand Maize

A new study has lifted the lid on five species of root-lesion nematodes living in maize crops across New Zealand - and suggested the existence of a hitherto-unsuspected cryptic species.

15 Jan 2025

Friendly Germs May Hold the Key to Overcoming Antimicrobial Resistance

Friendly germs armed with their own biological syringes and poisons could hold the key to overcoming the antimicrobial resistance crisis, according to a new study by biologists at the Universities of Manchester and Basel.

15 Jan 2025

Study Reveals How Gut Bacteria and the Body Regulate Bile Acids

Our gut is a bustling hub of activity, home to trillions of microbes that work together with our bodies to keep us healthy.

15 Jan 2025

Genetic Analysis Sheds Light on How Staphylococcus aureus Evades the Immune System

The most detailed study to date on the mechanisms by which a common type of bacterium, Staphylococcus aureus, adapts to living on the human body could help improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of certain infections.

15 Jan 2025

Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Copper Against Bacteria

A researcher at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson was awarded a $1.9 million grant by the National Institutes of Health to carry out more research on the mysteries of copper, particularly how it can be used to eradicate dangerous bacteria and other microorganisms.

13 Jan 2025

Is it possible to predict a pathogen’s next move? Novel tool for detecting pathogen fitness says yes!

Phylowave reveals evolutionary dynamics in pathogens, identifying fitness-linked lineages and mutations, essential for effective public health interventions.

13 Jan 2025

Scientists Uncover Key Plant Metabolite to Block Biofilm Development

If your teeth have ever felt fuzzy after skipping a brushing, you've encountered biofilm-a slimy bacterial layer that clings to surfaces. In medical settings, biofilms make infections harder to treat when they form protective shields for bacteria on devices like catheters and implants.

13 Jan 2025

Fiber Consumption Linked to Reduced Risk of Harmful Gut Bacteria

The group of bacteria called Enterobacteriaceae, including Klebsiella pneumoniae, Shigella, E.coli and others, is present at low levels as part of a healthy human gut microbiome.

13 Jan 2025

Study Reveals T Cells as Key Players in Complete Viral Infection Control

Scientists from Duke-NUS Medical School and the Singapore General Hospital have discovered that T cells-white blood cells that can destroy harmful pathogens-can completely prevent viral infection, to an extent previously thought only possible due to neutralizing antibodies.

13 Jan 2025

Multi-Site Effort to Understand Viral Influences on Human Health

For more than ten years, researchers have been investigating the microbiome, the ecosystem of microorganisms that inhabit the body, and its impact on health and disease.

10 Jan 2025