Microbiology

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Study reveals how coronavirus aerosols flow through the lower lungs

When we inhale isolated coronavirus particles, more than 65% reach the deepest region of our lungs where damage to cells can lead to low blood oxygen levels, new research has discovered, and more of these aerosols reach the right lung than the left.

8 Jun 2021

Study explores how the microbiome could be manipulated for good

There's a lot of interest right now in how different microbiomes--like the one made up of all the bacteria in our guts--could be harnessed to boost human health and cure disease. But Daniel Segrè has set his sights on a much more ambitious vision for how the microbiome could be manipulated for good: "To help sustain our planet, not just our own health."

7 Jun 2021

Scientists discover two drugs that provide effective SARS-CoV-2 suppression

COVID-19 continues to claim lives across the world and is infecting millions more. Although several vaccines have recently become available, making significant strides towards preventing COVID-19, what about the treatment of those who already have the infection?

From Tokyo University of Science 4 Jun 2021

Three plausible solutions mitigates zoonotic risk associated with intensive animal agriculture

As early as the Neolithic period (circa 3900 BC), the domestication of animals likely led to the development of diseases including measles and smallpox. Since then, zoonotic disease has led to other major transnational outbreaks including HIV, Ebola, SARS, MERS, and H1N1 swine flu, among others.

3 Jun 2021

Scientists design new gene drive to stop the transmission of devastating diseases

CRISPR-based technologies offer enormous potential to benefit human health and safety, from disease eradication to fortified food supplies. As one example, CRISPR-based gene drives, which are engineered to spread specific traits through targeted populations, are being developed to stop the transmission of devastating diseases such as malaria and dengue fever.

From UC San Diego 3 Jun 2021

Global land-use changes are creating “hot spots” favorable for new coronaviruses

Global land-use changes -- including forest fragmentation, agricultural expansion and concentrated livestock production -- are creating "hot spots" favorable for bats that carry coronaviruses and where conditions are ripe for the diseases to jump from bats to humans, finds an analysis published this week by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, the Politecnico di Milano (Polytechnic University of Milan) and Massey University of New Zealand.

2 Jun 2021

Study highlights need for sustainable solutions to provide safe drinking water

Lead is not the only danger when it comes to drinking water - harmful bacteria can also find their way into the water we consume despite treatment prior to distribution. In the face of water scarcity and aging infrastructure, there is a need for innovative, affordable, and portable solutions to sustainably provide safe drinking water across the globe.

From University of Pittsburgh 2 Jun 2021

Researchers identify new therapeutic targets for flaviviruses

In a recent study, Australian scientists used an original approach to resolve the 3D structure of flaviviruses with an unprecedented level of detail, identifying small molecules known as 'pocket factors' as new therapeutic targets.

2 Jun 2021

Each city has its own exclusive microbiome, finds study

A new study performed by researchers report that each city has its own exclusive microbiome or a “fingerprint” of bacteria and viruses that uniquely identify it.

1 Jun 2021

Worm cells sense metabolism changes to stimulate their defense against pathogens

Microbial infections form part of the wider repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, and researchers are focusing more on such infections.

1 Jun 2021

Genetic differences within microalgal symbionts relate to the coral species they inhabit

The microscopic algae that live inside and provide nutrients to their reef-building coral hosts may be evolving in tandem with the corals they inhabit, so each partner is fine-tuned to meet one another's needs.

From Penn State University 1 Jun 2021

New consortium of bacteria can be used to treat aggressive colitis in humanized mouse models

A new study reported in Nature Communications shows that a consortium of bacteria, developed to complement lacking or poorly represented functions in the imbalanced microbiome of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients, inhibited and treated chronic immune-mediated colitis in humanized mouse models.

31 May 2021

“Topologically tunable” DNA-based material has potential applications in drug delivery, tissue regeneration

DNA is usually idealized as the “molecule of life,” but it is also a highly advanced polymer that can be used for cutting-edge materials. Apart from storing information, other interesting aspects of DNA are its topological and geometrical properties, like super-coiling and knotting.

31 May 2021

Novel drug is highly effective in preventing severe COVID-19 in mice

The drug diABZI -- which activates the body's innate immune response -- was highly effective in preventing severe COVID-19 in mice that were infected with SARS-CoV-2,

31 May 2021

New plasmofluidic chip could accelerate diagnosis during current and future pandemics

Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) has been the gold standard for diagnosis during the COVID-19 pandemic.

27 May 2021

Neutralizing antibodies are produced after SARS-CoV-2 infection

A research group from Osaka University led by Professor Hisashi Arase and consisting of researchers from the Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, the Institute for Protein Research, the Immunology Frontier Research Center, the Center for Infectious Diseases, and the Graduate School of Medicine has discovered for the first time that both neutralizing antibodies that protect against infection as well as infection-enhancing antibodies that increase infectivity are produced after infection with SARS-CoV-2 by analyzing antibodies derived from COVID-19 patients.

From Osaka University 26 May 2021

New method helps tests large groups for SARS-CoV-2 infection

Researchers at the Vienna BioCenter designed a testing protocol for SARS-CoV-2 that can process tens of thousands of samples in less than 48 hours. The method, called SARSeq, is published in the journal Nature Communications and could be adapted to many more pathogens.

25 May 2021

Microbiology

Study reveals how coronavirus aerosols flow through the lower lungs

Study explores how the microbiome could be manipulated for good

Scientists discover two drugs that provide effective SARS-CoV-2 suppression

Three plausible solutions mitigates zoonotic risk associated with intensive animal agriculture

Scientists design new gene drive to stop the transmission of devastating diseases

Global land-use changes are creating “hot spots” favorable for new coronaviruses

Study highlights need for sustainable solutions to provide safe drinking water

Researchers identify new therapeutic targets for flaviviruses

Each city has its own exclusive microbiome, finds study

Worm cells sense metabolism changes to stimulate their defense against pathogens

Genetic differences within microalgal symbionts relate to the coral species they inhabit

New consortium of bacteria can be used to treat aggressive colitis in humanized mouse models

“Topologically tunable” DNA-based material has potential applications in drug delivery, tissue regeneration

Novel drug is highly effective in preventing severe COVID-19 in mice

New plasmofluidic chip could accelerate diagnosis during current and future pandemics

Neutralizing antibodies are produced after SARS-CoV-2 infection

New method helps tests large groups for SARS-CoV-2 infection

Plant-based technology reveals key process in virus infection cycle in dynamic detail

Researchers discover dramatic changes in the chemistry and composition of Sargassum

New projections can help support COVID-19 patients experiencing homelessness

Driving Support for Pharmaceutical Testing Through Continuous Innovation

From Memory to Metaplasticity: Unraveling the Brain's Secrets

Revolutionizing Mass Spectrometry: A Deep Dive into Plasmion’s SICRIT® Technology

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