Microbiology

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Intermittent Energy Restriction Diet Alters Brain-Gut-Microbiome Axis

Worldwide, more than one billion people are obese. Obesity is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and some cancers.

21 Dec 2023

Researchers Discover Core Genes for Bacteria Colonizing Plants

Using a novel experimental approach, Max Planck researchers have discovered a core set of genes required by commensal bacteria to colonize their plant hosts.

20 Dec 2023

Unmasking the Energy Secrets of a Marine Bacterial Giant

Not all bacteria are created equal. Most are single-celled and tiny, a few ten-thousandths of a centimeter long. But bacteria of the Epulopiscium family are large enough to be seen with the naked eye and 1 million times the volume of their better-known cousins, E. coli.

19 Dec 2023

How Next-Gen Sequencing is Revolutionizing Infection Diagnosis

Scientists from Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital (AP-HP), the Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Inserm, Université Paris-Est Créteil and the Alfort National Veterinary School, coordinated by Professor Marc Eloit and Dr. Anne Jamet in collaboration with Dr. Jacques Fourgeaud and Beatrice Regnault, studied the role of global genetic characterization of samples (or non-targeted metagenomics) using next-generation sequencing (mNGS) in diagnosing infections.

19 Dec 2023

Tiny Microbes Help Corals "Remember" and Fight Heat Waves

Some coral species can be resilient to marine heat waves by "remembering" how they lived through previous ones, research by Oregon State University scientists suggests.

19 Dec 2023

Harnessing the Power of Vibrio natriegens for Eco-Friendly Rare Earth Element Processing

A minuscule and industrious bacterium, weighing just one-trillionth of a gram, is poised to significantly impact the eco-friendly processing of rare earth elements.

19 Dec 2023

NTNU Develops Dual-Mechanism Antibiotic Strategy to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance

NTNU has developed a promising antibiotic candidate against MRSA. Behind the discovery lies a methodology that may be important in the fight against antimicrobial resistance.

18 Dec 2023

Revealing the Molecular Machinery of Virus Warriors Against Bacterial Infections

The term “virus” is frequently linked with negative implications. Nevertheless, it is crucial to recognize that not all viruses are detrimental.

18 Dec 2023

The Impact of Gut Microbiome Communities on Pathogen Protection

The gut microbiome, comprising numerous bacterial species, serves as a residence for various bacteria within the human digestive system.

15 Dec 2023

Study Delves into the Transmission of Antimicrobial Resistance Among Cockroaches

A recent study delves into the transmission of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among cockroaches, shedding light on potential implications for AMR transmission in humans.

15 Dec 2023

Cryo-EM Analysis Uncovers Unexpected Enzymatic Switch in Bacterial Anti-Phage System

Scientists have revealed a never-before-seen phenomenon in a protein: Alone, the enzyme processes DNA and RNA but, when bound to another protein as part of a defense system, interacts with a completely different type of compound to help bacteria commit suicide.

14 Dec 2023

Light Sensing Helps Bacteria Survive Daily Environmental Shifts

Scientists know that many bacteria have proteins that give them the ability to sense light. This ability helps some bacteria use light for energy.

14 Dec 2023

CRISPR Takes Probiotics to the Next Level

Humans can benefit significantly from symbiotic relationships with probiotics-;live bacteria and microorganisms that influence the gut microbiota.

14 Dec 2023

Zika's Enzyme Cascade Holds the Key to Viral Replication

Viruses operate with limited genetic material and a sparse protein repertoire, requiring efficient utilization of their components. The Zika virus serves as an illustrative case, producing only 10 proteins.

11 Dec 2023

Insights into the Shaping and Organization of Microbial Communities

Dental plaque, gut bacteria, and the slick coating on river rocks exemplify biofilms—structured communities of microorganisms that inhabit both human bodies and the surrounding environment.

11 Dec 2023

Study Investigates Antibiotic Resistance Genes Transfer Between Bacteria

A recent study reported in The Lancet Microbe reveals that the exchange of antibiotic resistance genes among diverse bacteria is significantly more extensive than previously believed.

11 Dec 2023

Earliest Evidence of Disease-Causing Fungus Found

A recent breakthrough has unveiled the earliest disease-causing fungus, residing within the fossil collections of the Natural History Museum.

7 Dec 2023

Mucus Thickness Dictates Bacterial Behavior, Affecting Infection Potential

The telltale signs of cold and flu season—sniffles, snorts, and the sound of noses being blown—serve as indicators of increased mucus production.

6 Dec 2023

A Breakthrough in Combatting Multi-Drug Resistant Bacteria

Healthcare-associated infections pose a widespread challenge in the treatment of suppurating wounds, compounded by the escalating prevalence of multi-drug resistant bacteria.

6 Dec 2023

AI Helps Scientists See Neurons in Moving Animals

A collaborative team from EPFL and Harvard has introduced an advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technique to track neurons within animals in motion.

5 Dec 2023