Q&A: Meet Letters in Applied Microbiology Junior Reviewer Md. Ekramul Karim
We caught up with Md Ekramul Karim, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Houston, who is one of the newest Junior Reviewers with Letters in Applied Microbiology.
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Losing the Earth’s bounty
Farmland degradation and soil erosion have caused food shortages and the collapse of civilizations throughout human history. Today, soil degradation is a growing driver of global threats such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and food insecurity. Loss of soil, the resource that supports production of 95% of the food supply, ...
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Bottling the extremes: culturing the hidden microbiomes of caves and deserts
Imagine an environment so extreme that most life cannot survive: a pitch-dark cave deep beneath the mountains of Northern Spain, or a hyper-arid desert in Chile where rainfall is virtually non-existent. These are not lifeless wastelands. Beneath cave walls and within the dusty top layer of desert soils, thriving communities of cyanobacteria, green algae, and fungi quietly engineer their ecosystems: fixing carbon, weathering rock, and cycling nutrients in conditions that would defeat most organisms on Earth.
Equity and the response to Covid 19 - Preparing for the next pandemic in Aotearoa New Zealand
Aotearoa New Zealand enacted an effective response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The government approach to the first few cases in March 2020 was to implement a swift ‘go hard and go early’ response. Borders were closed to non-residents, lockdowns were enforced, and infection was effectively eliminated within 76 days of ...
Clinical considerations for the next pandemic: challenges facing Japan and strategic preparedness
Multiple global pandemics over the past century – the Spanish influenza (1918), Asian influenza (1957), Hong Kong influenza (1968), H1N1 influenza (2009), and COVID‑19 (since 2019) – have increasingly underscored the necessity for healthcare systems worldwide to be resilient, rapidly responsive, and forward‑facing.
Under the Lens video series
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 3
The Microbiologist: Under the Lens | Episode 2
The Microbiologist: Under the Lens | Episode 1
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Building sector infrastructure: The MLSFF model
Members of the MLSFF Steering Committee explores the sustainability problem that plagues equity initiatives in STEM - and the solutions presented by the infrastructure partnership that delivers Europe’s only conference for minoritised life scientists.
Fertile ground: The rise of soil viral ecology
Soil viral ecology has been one of the most neglected areas of microbiology, but technological advances are opening up fertile new frontiers, says AMI Healthy Land Advisory Group member and CNRS researcher Christina Hazard.
Reversing the threat: How to stop measles from spreading again
As the Global Virus Network issues a stark warning over the significant resurgence of measles in the US and globally, William J. Moss, Sten H. Vermund, and Maggie L. Bartlett set out what needs to be done if the preventable harms of the current surge are to be reversed.
Accessibility, visibility, and participation - what AMI’s 2026 survey reveals about the future of applied microbiology
Applied Microbiology International’s 2026 Member Survey paints a picture of an organisation with strong foundations, a genuinely global reputation, and a highly engaged membership community, particularly among early-career microbiologists.
A week in the life of a Parvovirus researcher
Alejandro Fernández Llorente works as a predoctoral researcher at Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CBM-CSIC), a prestigious biomedical research centre located in Madrid, Spain.
From microbiome research to personalized cosmetics: The genesis of BYOME LABS
BYOME LABS was founded through the initiative of David Suissa, an entrepreneur trained at École Polytechnique and the Corps des Mines. After leading companies in the fields of perfumery and applied microbiology, he chose to structure a new approach centered on the biological evaluation of cosmetic products.
The evolution of individual species can shape entire species communities
A study demonstrated that the evolution of a single species can alter the composition of an entire species community. The study monitored a microbial community composed of 23 bacterial species for four years. Researchers analysed the community’s species composition and changes in bacterial genomes.
Expert tips: Why it’s best to eat more than one kind of fiber - and build up gradually
Fiber is an essential part of a healthy diet. By eating a variety of plant-based foods, increasing fiber intake gradually and staying well hydrated, you can support gut health and overall well-being while making fiber goals more achievable and sustainable. Purna Kashyap, M.B.B.S., a gastroenterologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, ...
Study finds common infection does not increase risk of recurrent preterm birth
A new study has found that the common sexually transmitted infection, Mycoplasma genitalium, also known as MGen, does not appear to increase the risk of recurrent preterm birth. Earlier research suggested that certain Mycoplasma species might contribute to preterm labor, but those studies were limited.
Food security
Biochar and beneficial microbes team up to restore polluted soils and boost crop growth
A new review examines how biochar-immobilized microbes can help clean contaminated soils, improve soil health, and support crop growth. By analyzing evidence from 92 published studies, the authors provide a data-driven overview of how this technology works and what is needed to bring it closer to practical use on farms.
Clean Water
Antibiotics drive resistance in waterways - even after they break down
Antibiotics continue to drive resistance to bacteria, even after they are broken down in wastewater treatment plants and discharged into rivers and seas, new research published on World Oceans Day has shown for the first time.
Biologist dives beneath Antarctica sea ice to study the impact of climate change
One biologist is studying the genetic diversity of red algae to see how this vital part of Antarctica’s underwater ecosystem is affected by climate change. Answering that question is becoming increasingly important as Earth’s warming climate causes Antarctica’s sea ice to recede farther with every passing year.
