All Asia & Oceania articles – Page 2
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NewsAll-in-one POM-based nanoreactor with oxidase-like activity for versatile detection and antibacterial action
A research team has developed a novel nanoreactor that enables dual-mode biomarker detection and effective antibacterial treatment.
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NewsStinkbug leg organ contains symbiotic fungi to shield eggs from parasitic wasps
What looked like a hearing organ on a tiny stinkbug’s leg turned out to be something far stranger: a fungal nursery that mother bugs use to coat their newly laid eggs in protective symbiotic hyphae, shielding their offspring from parasitic wasps.
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NewsWhat we know and what we need to know about Antarctic marine viruses
Antarctic marine viruses, while proven to be important players in the ecosystem, are not completely understood. In a new paper, researchers aim to fill in the gap between what is known and what is unknown, with a primary focus on RNA viruses, the influence of climate change and their implications.
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NewsA triple-threat iron supplement that also improves gut health
A new iron supplement combines iron, prebiotics and probiotics. In trials, the treatment successfully restored blood iron levels in anemic mice without initiating an inflammatory response or throwing off the balance of the gut microbiota.
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NewsDiscovery of hundreds of new human gut viruses provides a new approach to studying the gut microbiome
Hundreds of new viruses living inside bacteria within our gut have been discovered in an international study. These bacteriophages could eventually be used to reshape the gut microbiome, potentially influencing gut health and the progression of various disease states.
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NewsBreakthrough in coronavirus fight: scientists develop powerful bispecific inhibitor to combat a wide range of coronaviruses
Researchers have discovered a powerful bispecific inhibitor capable of combating all existing human-pathogenic coronaviruses, including those resistant to existing treatments like Paxlovid.
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NewsWetland plant-fungus combo cleans up ‘forever chemicals’ in a pilot study
From a greenhouse study, researchers report that moisture-loving yellow flag irises and fungi on their roots are a promising combination for PFAS removal. As part of a constructed wetland, this pair could effectively treat contaminated wastewater.
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NewsFertilizer boosts soil’s ability to lock away carbon
The 180-year experiment at Rothamsted — the world’s longest-running agricultural trial — has revealed that long-term application of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilisers can significantly increase the amount of carbon stored in farmland soils, helping to mitigate climate change.
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NewsCould cardamom seeds be a potential source of antiviral treatment?
Researchers have found that cardamom seed extract, as well as its main bioactive ingredient, 1,8-cineole, can have potent antiviral effects through its ability to enhance the production of antiviral molecules known as type I interferons via nucleic acid ‘sensors’ inside cells.
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NewsSafer, more effective vaccines with new mRNA vaccine technology
A new messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccine technology could make future vaccines safer, more effective, and less burdensome for patients. The new approach uses albumin-recruiting lipid nanoparticles to deliver mRNA precisely to lymph nodes while bypassing the liver.
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NewsTraditional Chinese medicine combined with peginterferon α-2b in chronic hepatitis B
A new study demonstrates that adjunctive Traditional Chinese Medicine significantly enhances the antiviral efficacy of peginterferon α-2b in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B while concurrently mitigating treatment-limiting myelosuppression.
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NewsScientists unbolt gateway to sharper CRISPR gene editing
Identifying the passwords for a certain CRISPR tool is a major stumbling block in discovering and characterising the CRISPR tool - but a team of scientists has cracked the code.
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NewsValorization of soybean-processing wastewater sludge via black soldier fly larvae: performance and bacterial community dynamics
A new study indicates that the valorization of soybean-processing-sourced sludge via black soldier fly larvae was achieved via functionally important BSFL intestinal microbiota, providing an efficient recycling approach for similar waste streams.
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NewsComparison of E. coli inactivation by UV222-ADPs and UV254-ADPs in water
A new study investigates advanced disinfection processes (ADPs) that use 222 and 254 nm far-ultraviolet radiation in conjunction with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), sodium percarbonate (SPC), and persulfate (PDS) to inactivate E. coli in water.
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NewsScientists research potential anti-ulcer vaccine targeting Helicobacter pylori
Scientists are on the way to finding a vaccine to fight off the Helicobacter pylori bacterium, possibly preventing stomach ulcers and lowering the risk for stomach cancer. They used immunoinformatics to scan its genetic makeup and predict which parts can trigger a strong immune response.
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NewsRoot chemistry determines how antibiotic resistance spreads from manure to crops
Researchers found that the rhizosphere, the narrow soil zone surrounding plant roots, is a major hotspot for the accumulation of manure-derived ARGs. Across eight common crops, ARG abundance in rhizosphere soil was on average 1.24 times higher than in bulk soil.
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NewsScientists reveal role of paeoniflorin in mediating microbiota-gut-brain axis
Paeoniflorin treatment significantly reduced depression-like behaviours in stressed rats, while gut microbiota analysis revealed that the treatment corrected imbalances in key metabolites associated with brain function, a study shows.
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NewsCHIKVdb: A comprehensive genomic resource for chikungunya virus surveillance and outbreak response
Scientists have developed the Chikungunya Virus Database (CHIKVdb), a comprehensive genomic resource. CHIKVdb integrates 8,193 nucleotide sequences and 10,637 protein sequences from five major host categories across 99 countries, spanning 40 years.
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NewsTracking infectious disease spread via commuting pattern data
Researchers have introduced a Commuter Metapopulation Model (CMPM) to simulate the spread of COVID-19 with actual commuting data provided by the country’s second-largest telecommunication network, revealing it could better capture spatial variety in outbreak patterns.
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NewsWhen faucets rest: hidden microbial risks emerge in hours
Stagnant water in building plumbing systems is a well-known driver of microbial growth and contamination, including L. pneumophila. A new study highlights a short “microbial safety window” of 2–4 hours, after which risks increase significantly.