Microbiology

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Innovative Computational Tool Analyzes Gut Microbiome for Early Health Insights

A team of Mayo Clinic researchers has developed a unique computational tool that analyzes the gut microbiome, a complex ecosystem of trillions of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other microorganisms within the digestive system, to provide insights about general well-being.

5 Sep 2024

Climate Change Exacerbates Valley Fever Threat

A fungal disease called valley fever is on the rise in the western United States. It typically manifests as flu-like symptoms, but it can potentially have fatal or extremely serious side effects.

4 Sep 2024

Research Uncovers Unique Cell Division Mechanism in Dental Plaque Bacteria

One of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet is closer than you think -; right inside your mouth. Your mouth is a thriving ecosystem of more than 500 different species of bacteria living in distinct, structured communities called biofilms.

3 Sep 2024

Arctic Actinobacteria Yield Novel Antivirulence Compounds Against E. coli

A novel set of techniques was created by researchers in Finland and Norway to screen unknown substances with bacterial origin for antivirulence activity.

2 Sep 2024

Understanding the Gut Microbiome's Role in Space and on Earth

Scientists have uncovered how space travel profoundly alters the gut microbiome, yielding insights that could shape future space missions.

30 Aug 2024

Transforming Waste into Culinary Delights with Neurospora

Chef-turned-chemist Vayu Hill-Maini has a passion: to turn food waste into culinary treats using fungi.

30 Aug 2024

Bacterial Protein Utilizes DNA for Target Recognition and Plasmid Elimination

Scientists who have described in a new study the step-by-step details of a bacterial defense strategy see the mechanism as a promising platform for development of a new genome-editing method.

30 Aug 2024

Marine Bacteria Could Hold Key to Fighting Tuberculosis

The surprising discovery of a bacterium in a marine sponge from the Great Barrier Reef with striking similarity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the pathogen responsible for tuberculosis (TB), could unlock and inform future TB research and treatment strategies.

30 Aug 2024

Bacterial Cells Pass on Non-Genetic Traits Across Generations

Bacterial cells can "remember" brief, temporary changes to their bodies and immediate surroundings, a new Northwestern University and University of Texas-Southwestern study has found.

29 Aug 2024

New Study Reveals Antibiotic Mismanagement in Aged Care Facilities

There is an urgent need for more careful antibiotic management to protect older people living in residential aged care from the dangerous spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria or 'superbugs', researchers from Flinders University and SAHMRI warn.

29 Aug 2024

Cryo-EM Study Sheds Light on HSV Drug Resistance Mechanisms Through Protein Movement

All organisms -; from fungi to mammals -; have the capacity to evolve and adapt to their environments. But viruses are master shapeshifters with an ability to mutate greater than any other organism. As a result, they can evade treatments or acquire resistance to once-effective antiviral medications.

28 Aug 2024

Gut Microbiota Modulates Rotavirus Vaccine Effectiveness

Scientists at Georgia State University's Institute for Biomedical Sciences have shown that some gut flora can reduce the effectiveness of the rotavirus vaccine.

27 Aug 2024

New Screening Methods Uncover Antivirulence Compounds from Arctic Actinobacteria

Antibiotics are the linchpin of modern medicine: without them, anyone with open wounds or needing to undergo surgery would be at constant risk of dangerous infections.

27 Aug 2024

Engineering Purple Bacteria for Enhanced Bioplastic Synthesis

In a world overrun by petroleum-based plastics, scientists are searching for alternatives that are more sustainable, more biodegradable and far less toxic to the environment.

27 Aug 2024

Engineering Cyanobacteria-Yeast Systems for Synthetic Biology

Using evolution as a guiding principle, researchers have successfully engineered bacteria-yeast hybrids to perform photosynthetic carbon assimilation, generate cellular energy and support yeast growth without traditional carbon feedstocks like glucose or glycerol.

27 Aug 2024

Study Utilizes Flow Cytometry and Advanced Transcriptomics to Reveal Age-Related Defects in Thymic Regeneration

Research identifies two states of age-associated thymic epithelial cells, linking thymic degeneration to aging and injury, impacting immune system function.

26 Aug 2024

New Research Reveals Infrared Radiation as a Mosquito Host-Seeking Trigger

While a mosquito bite is often no more than a temporary bother, in many parts of the world it can be scary. One mosquito species, Aedes aegypti, spreads the viruses that cause over 100,000,000 cases of dengue, yellow fever, Zika, and other diseases every year. Another, Anopheles gambiae, spreads the parasite that causes malaria. The World Health Organization estimates that malaria alone causes more than 400,000 deaths every year. Indeed, their capacity to transmit disease has earned mosquitoes the title of deadliest animal.

23 Aug 2024