Microbiology

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How Drug-Resistant Bacteria Use Antimicrobial Tools to Outcompete Others

A drug-resistant type of bacteria that has adapted to health care settings evolved in the past several years to weaponize an antimicrobial genetic tool, eliminating its cousins and replacing them as the dominate strain.

24 Mar 2025

Unveiling Bacterial Immune Mechanisms Against Temperate Phages

Like humans, bacteria can be attacked by viruses. In the case of bacteria, these viral attackers are referred to as bacteriophages, a term derived from the Greek word for bacteria-eaters, or simply “phages.”

24 Mar 2025

Unraveling the Evolutionary Link to Eukaryotic Cells

A decade ago, the existence of Asgard archaea was unknown. However, in 2015, researchers analyzing deep-sea sediments uncovered gene fragments that suggested the presence of a new, previously unidentified group of microbes.

24 Mar 2025

Research Unveils Mechanism Behind Evolution of Organelles from Bacteria

Organelles in cells were originally often independent cells, which were incorporated by host cells and lost their independence in the course of evolution.

20 Mar 2025

Researchers Develop RNA "Barcoding" Tool to Track Genetic Exchange in Bacteria

In the microscopic world of bacteria, gene transfer is a powerful mechanism that can alter cellular function, drive antibiotic resistance and even shape entire ecosystems.

19 Mar 2025

Study Reveals How Tuberculosis Bacteria Survive Airborne Journey

Tuberculosis bacteria rely on a family of genes that help them survive the challenging journey from one person's lungs to another person's during coughing, sneezing or talking, according to researchers from Weill Cornell Medicine and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

12 Mar 2025

Microbiome-Based Approach Shows Promise for Treating Ulcerative Colitis

The human gut is home to trillions of bacteria that play vital roles in digestion, immunity, and overall health.

12 Mar 2025

Cryo-EM Reveals 3D Structure of Nipah Virus RNA Polymerase

The replication of the Nipah virus's genetic material in infected cells has been demonstrated for the first time by researchers from the Max Planck Institute (MPI) for Multidisciplinary Sciences and the University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG). In humans, the virus can cause fatal encephalitis.

11 Mar 2025

Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria Play Key Role in Global Carbon Breakdown

Sulfate-reducing bacteria break down a large proportion of the organic carbon in oxygen-free zones of the Earth, and in the seabed in particular.

10 Mar 2025

Study Shows How Transposons Exploit Telomeres in Bacteria

Transposons, or "jumping genes" – DNA segments that can move from one part of the genome to another – are key to bacterial evolution and the development of antibiotic resistance.

8 Mar 2025

Novel Enzyme for Synthesizing β-1,2-Galactooligosaccharides

Carbohydrate chains, also known as glycans, are intricate sugar-like molecules that are crucial for various biological functions and structures within human bodies.

7 Mar 2025

New Insights into Biofilm Formation and Dispersal

The oldest type of multicellularity on Earth is biofilms, which are common bacterial communities embedded in a slimy matrix.

7 Mar 2025

Macrophages Use Bacterial Debris To Fine-Tune Immune Responses

Findings reveal macrophages' role in immune modulation through bacterial metabolites, paving the way for improved therapies for infections and inflammation.

6 Mar 2025

Synthetic Microbiome Treatment Prevents C. difficile Infection in Mice

A synthetic microbiome therapy, tested in mice, protects against severe symptoms of a gut infection that is notoriously difficult-to-treat and potentially life threatening in humans, according to a team of researchers at Penn State.

4 Mar 2025

New CRISPR Method Enhances Surveillance of Antibiotic Resistance in Wastewater

Antibiotic resistance is a global concern that threatens our ability to prevent and treat bacterial infections in humans and animals.

4 Mar 2025

Gut Microbes Transform Excreted Glucose into Crucial Fatty Acids

Gut microbes that were thought to feed exclusively on dietary fiber also get fed sugar from our guts, from which they produce short-chain fatty acids that are crucial to many body functions.

4 Mar 2025

Mapping Bacterial Responses to Reactive Nitrogen and Oxygen Species

A study in Microbiological Research explored the impact of varying ratios of Reactive Nitrogen Species (RNS) and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) on pathogenic bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

28 Feb 2025