Microbiology

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New study reveals hidden diversity of acetic acid bacteria in the sourdough microbiome

Biologists have sequenced various acetic acid bacterial genomes to understand their genomic diversity, function, and ecology in the sourdough microbiome.

10 Oct 2024

AI Uncovers Over 160000 New RNA Virus Species

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been used to reveal details of a diverse and fundamental branch of life living right under our feet and in every corner of the globe.

10 Oct 2024

Researchers Develop Highly Selective SARS-CoV-2 Mpro Inhibitors

New research from The Wistar Institute's Salvino lab -; led by professor Joseph Salvino, Ph.D. -; has identified a novel series of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitors that may lead to potential new COVID-19 treatments that, according to preclinical testing, effectively inhibits COVID-19 and synergizes with existing anti-COVID therapies.

9 Oct 2024

Bird Migration and Invasive Species Fuel Parasite Spread

A single shift of a parasite from one host species to another can trigger catastrophic infectious disease outbreaks. Despite this, scientists continue to debate the role of species diversity in natural environments on the spread of these parasites.

9 Oct 2024

Bioengineered Bacteria with Mussel-Like Adhesion Could Clean Up Plastic

Researchers at Rice University have created bioengineered microbes with strong adhesion that have the potential to revolutionize environmental cleanup by drawing on nature's genius for adhesives, the sticky power of mussels.

8 Oct 2024

Transforming Microbiome Research with Single-Cell Genome Analysis

The human microbiome plays a critical role in our health, influencing everything from disease development to treatment responses.

8 Oct 2024

How Comamonas Bacteria Transform Plastic Waste into Food

Researchers have long observed that a common family of environmental bacteria, Comamonadacae, grow on plastics littered throughout urban rivers and wastewater systems.

7 Oct 2024

Uncovering Hidden Bacteria in Antibiotic Resistance

Imagine a country with a billion people, where every individual has different interests and different goals. You will never know their interests and goals until you ask them, but asking a billion people is not an easy task.

7 Oct 2024

Novel Phage Cocktail Combats Antibiotic-Resistant Infections

A novel strategy has been developed by researchers to combat drug-resistant bacterial infections.

7 Oct 2024

Fighting Drug-Resistant TB with a Novel Antibiotic

A novel semi-synthetic molecule that produces significant activity against strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, including those that are resistant to drugs, can be generated from natural compounds according to a study published in the American Society for Microbiology journal Microbiology Spectrum.

4 Oct 2024

Zinc Inhibits Plasmid Transfer in Gut Microbes

Genes responsible for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) can spread from microbe to microbe through circular genetic material called plasmids, and this lateral transfer occurs in the gut. This week in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, researchers in Iowa report that the transmission of some AMR plasmids may be inhibited by a readily available source-;dietary zinc supplements.

4 Oct 2024

Microbial Enzyme From Sewage Sludge Offers Hope for Plastic Waste Reduction

Plastic pollution is everywhere, and a good amount of it is composed of polyethylene terephthalate. This polymer is used to make bottles, containers and even clothing.

4 Oct 2024

Living Microbes Unearthed in 2-Billion-Year-Old Rock

Pockets of microbes have been found living within a sealed fracture in 2-billion-year-old rock. The rock was excavated from the Bushveld Igneous Complex in South Africa, an area known for its rich ore deposits. This is the oldest example of living microbes being found within ancient rock so far discovered.

4 Oct 2024

EPA-Funds Study on Antimicrobial Resistance in Wastewater and Agricultural Runoff

Aided by a $2.4 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency, a team of University of Nebraska–Lincoln engineers and scientists is leading a multi-state effort to assess the potential threat to human health from antimicrobial-resistant pathogens spread via wastewater and agricultural runoff.

4 Oct 2024

Unraveling the Mysteries of Endosymbiotic Relationships

Endosymbiosis refers to a remarkable biological process where one organism resides within another. This unique arrangement is frequently advantageous for both organisms involved.

3 Oct 2024

Hydrogen Sulfide Plays a Crucial Role in Bacterial Survival

Two crucial biological processes that support the growth of bacteria, particularly pathogenic bacteria like Escherichia coli, are antibiotic resistance and the oxidative stress response.

30 Sep 2024

Circadian Rhythm Disrupts Gut Barrier in Cancer

Research from the University of California, Irvine has revealed how disruption of the circadian clock, the body's internal, 24-hour biological pacemaker, may accelerate the progression of colorectal cancer by affecting the gut microbiome and intestinal barrier function. This discovery offers new avenues for prevention and treatment strategies.

30 Sep 2024

29 Novel Antibodies Targeting Drug-Resistant Klebsiella Pneumoniae Identified

Research at UMC Utrecht has identified 29 novel antibodies against the bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae, an important cause of drug-resistant infections.

27 Sep 2024

Gut Bacteria Influence Hormonal Balance and Hypopituitarism Symptoms in Mice

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have shown that the balance of bacteria in the gut can influence symptoms of hypopituitarism in mice.

27 Sep 2024

Bacteria Can Recode Their Genetics With a Single Flip

Envision being a single cartwheel away from altering looks. The brown locks will turn platinum blond with just one flip. That is similar to what occurs in certain prokaryotes, or single-celled creatures like bacteria when they go through a process known as inversions.

26 Sep 2024