All Editorial articles – Page 26
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NewsTiny antibody has big impact on deadly viruses
Researchers have discovered a strategy to neutralise two lethal viruses for which there is currently no approved vaccine or cure. The team identified the first ever nanobody to work against Nipah and Hendra, henipaviruses which have jumped from animals to people.
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NewsChemists boost the efficiency of a key enzyme in bacterial photosynthesis
Chemists have shown that they can greatly enhance a version of the photosynthesis enzyme rubisco found in bacteria from a low-oxygen environment. Using directed evolution, they identified mutations that could boost rubisco’s catalytic efficiency by up to 25 per cent.
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NewsAlgae of polar origin may impact tropical ocean biogeochemistry and food webs
A single-celled algae genus may have a big impact on how the world’s chemical building blocks cycle between living things and the non-living environment. Polarella was thought to be restricted to polar cap regions, but turns out to be abundant in the tropical Pacific ocean.
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NewsResearchers find compound that inhibits cutaneous HPVs
Researchers have identified a promising new compound that inhibits cutaneous HPV. In lab studies, the compound inhibited viral replication genes in cutaneous HPVs without damaging host cells.
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NewsHow plants build the microbiome they need to survive in a tough environment
New research points to the idea that under some conditions plants can “curate” their microbiomes—selecting good microbes and suppressing harmful ones—to adapt to their environments.
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NewsScientists uncover ‘superfamily’ of bacterial predator proteins
Scientists have identified a new type of protein in bacteria that could change our understanding of how these organisms interact with their environments. It focuses on a protein called PopA, found in the bacterial predator Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus.
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NewsWhen sunscreen meets plastic: a newly discovered threat to marine ecosystems
The chemical Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate - found in sunscreen - could be slowing the degradation of discarded plastic in our seas, and may be helping biofilm bacteria – which have a greater protection from harsh conditions – to thrive.
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NewsScientists reimagine citrus greening treatment delivery
Texas A&M AgriLife Research is launching a multi-institutional study to develop and evaluate systems that deliver treatments to trees affected by citrus greening disease, also known as Huanglongbing.
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NewsLow dose of hydroxychloroquine is associated with reduced COVID-19 mortality: study
A new study provides observational evidence that low-dose hydroxychloroquine is associated with reduced COVID-19 mortality in hospitalized patients, particularly those with severe illness, when administered within the first week of symptoms.
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NewsNew insights into divergent nitrogen fixation in subtropical forests
This study focuses on two primary forms of biological nitrogen fixation (BNF): symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF), which occurs within the root nodules of nitrogen-fixing plants, and asymbiotic nitrogen fixation (ANF), carried out by free-living microorganisms in soil and litter.
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NewsEstrela brings microbial research to Texas A&M AgriLife Department of Nutrition
Sylvie Estrela, Ph.D., has joined the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Nutrition as an assistant professor. Estrela’s research focuses on microbial interactions, specifically, the way nutrients can impact bacterial communities.
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NewsEpidemiology, achievements, and challenges in the elimination of hepatitis B in China
A new review outlines China’s progress towards meeting the World Health Organization (WHO) hepatitis B virus 2030 elimination targets, identifies persistent gaps, and highlights strategies for achieving HBV elimination.
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NewsResearchers develop AI tool to detect surgical site infections from patient-submitted photos
Researchers have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) system that can detect surgical site infections (SSIs) with high accuracy from patient-submitted postoperative wound photos, potentially transforming how postoperative care is delivered.
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CareersPetri dishes, phages, and public speaking - at the LAM ECS Research Symposium 2025
Rachael Barton and Luka Brajdić open up on their experiences of the Letters in Applied Microbiology ECS Symposium 2025 at the University of Liverpool on June 12.
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NewsMediterranean bacteria may harbor new mosquito solution
Researchers recently identified bacteria in Crete producing metabolites that quickly kill mosquito larvae in lab tests. The compounds might be useful for the development of new biopesticides, though developing the right formulations and delivery method remains a challenge.
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NewsSpace Park Leicester developing technology for ultra-clean mini-lab to potentially contain extra-terrestrial samples returned to Earth
Work has begun to design and build a Double-Walled Isolator (DWI), akin to an ultra-clean miniature laboratory, to safely store and analyse extra-terrestrial materials, such as the first material from Mars.
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NewsStudy reveals beneficial microbes that can sustain yields in unfertilized fields
Naturally occurring bacteria in rice roots could help reduce the reliance on chemical fertilizers for rice cultivation, paving the way for sustainable agriculture.
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NewsNew breakthrough uncovers how to kill ‘zombie’ TB cells resistant to antibiotics
Researchers exposed a library of over 500,000 genetically modified tuberculosis bacteria to two commonly used antibiotics. By analysing the survivors, they pinpointed genes whose disruption significantly reduced the number of surviving persisters.
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News BugBiome to test lead bioinsecticide in sugar beet field trials with partner Niab
BugBiome, an agritech innovator developing new bioinsecticides from crop-associated microbes, is field testing its lead product against aphids via a new Innovate UK grant with partner Niab, an experienced crop trial specialist.
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NewsDrones reveal extreme coral mortality after bleaching
New research has revealed alarming coral mortality rates of 92 per cent after last year’s bleaching event at Lizard Island on Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef, marking one of the highest coral mortality rates ever documented globally.