Microbiology

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New study uncovers how enterococcal cytolysins affect cells

Although Enterococcus faecalis is usually an innocuous member of the bacterial community in the human gut, it can also cause several infections, including liver disorders. The bacteria produce cytolysins, which are molecules that destroy cells. In a new study, researchers have uncovered how they do so.

22 Jul 2021

Soil microbes are critical players in corn heterosis

The tiny organisms living in soil may have a greater effect on the yield and pest and disease resistance of crop plants grown in that soil than previously known.

22 Jul 2021

Persister bacteria manipulate intracellular pH for surviving antibiotic treatment

Decreasing bacterial acidity could help reduce antimicrobial resistance by eliminating bacteria that can survive being treated with antibiotics.

From University of Exeter 21 Jul 2021

Study holds phages responsible for superbug emergence

Scientists unraveled that phages are responsible for the initiation of rapid bacterial evolution that leads to the rise of treatment-resistant “superbugs.”

From University of Pittsburgh 21 Jul 2021

Metabolite produced by gut microbes found to be involved in regulating commensal bacteria

Researchers at the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS) have discovered that acetate, a major metabolite produced by some intestinal bacteria, is involved in regulating other intestinal bacteria.

20 Jul 2021

Contamination of urban surface water by human waste drives 'superbug' spread

Contamination of urban lakes, rivers and surface water by human waste is creating pools of 'superbugs' in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC) - but improving access to clean water, sanitation and sewerage infrastructure could help to protect people's health, a new study reveals.

16 Jul 2021

Isoflavone diet plus metabolizing gut bacteria may provide protection against MS

A new University of Iowa study suggests that metabolism of plant-based dietary substances by specific gut bacteria, which are lacking in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), may provide protection against the disease.

14 Jul 2021

Study reveals the relationship between gut microbiome and neurodegenerative disorders

Eran Blacher bagged the NOSTER & Science Microbiome Prize 2021 for his work in highlighting the relationship between the microbiome and neurodegenerative diseases.

12 Jul 2021

Emerging variants of COVID-19 could be treated with a new anticoagulant drug

The capacity of the COVID-19 virus’s spikes to bind to human cells may be hampered by molecules from the same family as the anticoagulant medication heparin.

9 Jul 2021

Research reveals how plants allocate resources to their microbial partners

"Equal pay for equal work," a motto touted by many people, turns out to be relevant to the plant world as well. According to new research by Stanford University ecologists, plants allocate resources to their microbial partners in proportion to how much they benefit from that partnership.

8 Jul 2021

Study on memory T cells of COVID-19 convalescent patients could power effective vaccine strategies

Researchers have discovered that a majority of the COVID-19 convalescent patients develop and maintain T cell memory for more than 10 months.

7 Jul 2021

Combating drug-resistant pathogens using genetically modified immune cells

As part of the drive to support junior research groups in research into infectious diseases, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research is to provide 2,162,188 euros in funding from 2021 to 2026 for the research project 'AGEnTS - Genetic Engineering of T-cells for Treating Infectious Diseases' at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU).

7 Jul 2021

Study reveals connection between aboveground light and belowground microbial conditions

Land plants - plants that live primarily in terrestrial habitats and form vegetation on earth - are anchored to the ground through their roots, and their performance depends on both the belowground soil conditions and the aboveground climate.

6 Jul 2021

Microbes from cow’s rumen could be a sustainable means of plastic reduction

Researchers discovered that bacteria present in cow’s rumen could digest materials like plastic, which is especially tough to break down.

6 Jul 2021

Two new studies reveal the power of microbiome in plants

Hundreds of different bacterial species live in and on leaves and roots of plants. A research team led by Julia Vorholt from the Institute of Microbiology at ETH Zurich, together with colleagues in Germany, first inventoried and categorized these bacteria six years ago.

2 Jul 2021

Mutations on SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins create antibody-resistant variants

Researchers have identified how mutations on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein separately create variants that are potentially resistant to antibodies.

1 Jul 2021

New MRSA superbug tactic could boost vaccine development

A new study has discovered a novel tactic used by the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus to resist the immune response, boosting hopes that a vaccine to prevent lethal MRSA infections is closer than previously thought.

25 Jun 2021

Epstein-Barr virus reactivation likely to blame for long COVID symptoms

Long COVID symptoms, such as weariness, brain fog, and rashes, may be caused by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation because of the inflammatory response to coronavirus infection, which occurs in about 30% of individuals following recovery from initial COVID-19 infection.

25 Jun 2021

New nanobodies could fight against SARS-CoV-2 variants

Looking for a new strategy in the long-running battle against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, researchers have developed nanobodies.

23 Jun 2021

Fluorescence microscopy and deep learning predict viral infections

Researchers have now used fluorescence images from live cells to train an artificial neural network to reliably detect cells that are infected by herpes viruses.

22 Jun 2021