The ‘windows’ that set genotoxic bacteria on a track towards colorectal cancer
Scientists have identified potential ‘windows of opportunity’ that can provide routes for some pathogenic strains of E coli to cause mutations that ultimately lead to colorectal cancers.
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The living wooden cellar: microbiota of high-elevation artisanal cider in Slovenia
In the subalpine region of Carinthia, in northern Slovenia, cider is produced on remote family farms at altitudes of 500 to 860 metres - above the range in which the country’s vineyards operate. Here, cider-making is not a specialty product but a long-standing regional practice, historically shaped by a climate unsuited to winegrowing.
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How globalisation is reshaping traditional diets, our food culture, and gut microbiome
Globalisation has transformed not only the way we trade, travel and eat, but also the microbes that live with us. As food systems become increasingly interconnected, traditional diets that have shaped human gut microbiomes for generations are increasingly being replaced by a globalised food culture dominated by ultra-processed foods.
Advancing animal disease outbreak management in support of a One Health approach
Animal health is often overlooked, with global expenditure reaching just a fraction (around 0.4 percent) of total human health spending, yet it is a crucial component of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) One Health approach. The One Health initiative highlights the commonalities between human, animal and environmental health and aims ...
Soil microbes and the hidden network connecting plants, animals, and humans
Coevolution has shaped Earth’s ecosystems for over a billion years. However, climate change and unprecedented anthropogenic activities have placed immense pressure on the soil ecosystem over the past few decades.
Under the Lens video series
The Microbiologist: Under the Lens | Episode 4
The microscopic organisms living around plant roots may hold the key to reducing agriculture’s reliance on chemical fertilisers and other non-renewable inputs, according to plant microbiome researcher Dr Davide Bulgarelli.
The Microbiologist: Under the Lens | Episode 3
Is raw milk safe to drink? Prof Emmanuel Adukwu is joined by Prof Nicola Holden and Dr Gil Domingue for a conversation on the societal, scientific, and health implications of this pertinent question.
The Microbiologist: Under the Lens | Episode 2
In our second episode, Dr Callum Cooper joins Professor Emmanuel Adukwu to talk about all things bacteriophage, from alternatives to antibiotics, social impact, and regulation.
The Microbiologist: Under the Lens | Episode 1
In our first episode, Professor Raquel Peixoto joins Professor Jack Gilbert for a deep dive into coral reefs, microbes, and the future of our planet.
The Microbiologist: Under the Lens | Episode 4
The Microbiologist: Under the Lens | Episode 3
The Microbiologist: Under the Lens | Episode 2
The Microbiologist: Under the Lens | Episode 1
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Whose culture is it? Rethinking the study of traditional fermented food microbiomes
When microbiologists study traditional fermented foods, are we simply documenting natural biodiversity, or are we also accessing a form of cultural heritage, asks Tara Spencer-Drakes, PhD.
Federal research rule changes could reshape applied microbiology in America
On June 5, 2026, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) proposed sweeping changes to federal grant administration that would fundamentally alter how applied microbiology research and development is funded and conducted in America.
Fungi that inspired The Last of Us may hold the key to a pesticide-free agriculture
They may be the stuff of our nightmares, but Aditya Singh Ranout reveals how invisible allies underneath our feet in the form of entomopathogenic fungi are transforming agriculture - and why these fascinating microbes may hold the key to a pesticide-free agriculture.
Member Q&A: Thomas Thompson on the central role AMI has played in his research journey
Pharmacist and microbiologist Dr Thomas Thompson reveals how AMI membership has played a central role in reaching the point where he is about to start building his own research programme in the School of Pharmacy at Queen’s University Belfast.
Cortona Prokaryotes: fostering researcher identity for young scientists since 1984
This summer, Letters in Applied Microbiology sponsored the Cortona Prokaryotes congress in Italy, organised by the Italian Society of General Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology (SIMGBM). Loredana Baccigalupi, Professor of Microbiology at the University of Naples, reports back.
Member Q&A: Tanja’s pathway to policy-oriented papers
Head of Bioresources Unit of the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology Tanja Kostić, PhD, reveals how AMI membership has supported her professional development and career journey.
World’s first oral microbiome-based nanomedicine to supercharge anti-cancer immunity
Researchers have successfully developed the world’s first oral, microbiome-based nanomedicine which enhances the ability of immune cells to attack cancer cells.
Steroids reduce inflammation in chronic mycobacterial lung infections without limiting antimicrobial defence
Researchers have shown that dexamethasone, a commonly prescribed anti-inflammatory steroid, can reduce harmful inflammation triggered by Mycobacterium avium without weakening the ability of human immune cells to control the infection.
Ancient bacterial signals from cell powerhouses may fuel excessive inflammation
Researchers have discovered that proteins released from mitochondria can activate the immune system in a similar way to invading bacteria, suggesting that remnants of mitochondria’s evolutionary past may contribute to inflammation.
Food security
Breakthrough in engineering color-sensing yeast
In a new study, scientists engineered baker’s yeast to sense and respond to different colours of light, enabling new ways to control cellular behavior with red and blue light.
Clean Water
New AI-driven technology could help combat harmful algal blooms
Researchers are developing an innovative technology that could help stop harmful algal blooms before they spread.
Scientists reconstruct past ocean temperatures from red algae
Researchers have found a new way to reconstruct daily seawater temperatures over a four-month period. The key lies in rhodoliths: nodule-like calcareous structures formed by red algae that occur in oceans worldwide.
