All articles by Linda Stewart – Page 19
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NewsScientists uncover how ticks defend themselves against a deadly virus
Researchers studying ticks’ cellular responses to Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia syndrome virus pinpointed how two RNA helicases, essential proteins found in all forms of life, were critical in reducing SFTSV’s replication within the ticks.
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NewsCandida’s hidden toolbox: Scientists discover a previously unknown infection strategy
A new study shows that the common blood protein albumin can turn otherwise harmless fungal strains of Candida albicans into dangerous pathogens.
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NewsRestricted diet triggers individualized microbiome shifts without community convergence
Scientists who carried out a tightly controlled dietary intervention known as the “Oatmeal Study” found that while participants’ diets became nearly identical, their microbiomes did not follow suit.
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NewsInappropriate prescriptions for antibiotics, glucocorticoids and opioids common at urgent cares
Urgent care visits commonly result in inappropriate prescriptions of antibiotics, glucocorticoids or opioids, researchers have warned.
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NewsCertain fungi can boost the micronutrient content of bread wheat
New research indicates that bread wheat’s micronutrient content can be increased by cultivating it with a specific type of fungus. Crops grown with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis developed larger grains with greater amounts of phosphorus and zinc.
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NewsCan a compound produced by deep-sea bacteria treat cancer?
Investigators purified a long-chain sugar molecule, or exopolysaccharide, from deep-sea bacteria and demonstrated that it triggers pyroptosis—an inflammatory form of programmed cell death—to inhibit tumor growth.
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NewsHow does infection with respiratory syncytial virus affect the health of older adults?
Adults aged 65 and older hospitalized for RSV in Ontario experienced significantly higher rates of adverse outcomes such as longer length of hospital stay, transfer to intensive care, and 30-day mortality, compared with patients hospitalized with influenza, urinary tract infection, or fracture.
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NewsTiny soil microbes turn detective to uncover the timeline of oil spill contamination
Scientists in Belfast and Nigeria have developed a diagnostic tool that deploys microbes to uncover the timeline of crude oil contamination in soils.
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NewsStudy discovers that soft drinks affect the communication of gut bacteria and the immune system
Gut bacteria can adapt to environmental changes through DNA inversions. Researchers investigating how these DNA inversions occur found that consuming soft drinks, which contain white sugar, can alter the DNA of gut bacteria and, in turn, impact the host’s immune system.
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NewsProbiotics can help or hinder gut recovery after antibiotic treatment
All probiotics are not created equal, according to new research. In a mouse model, researchers found that different probiotic strains can either accelerate or delay the gut microbiome’s recovery after antibiotic treatment.
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NewsVitamin D deficiency increases risk of COVID-19 hospitalization
Experts say it’s not just booster shots that could offer protection against Covid-19 – healthy levels of vitamin D may also play a role. Researchers found a clear link between low vitamin D levels and an increased risk of being hospitalised by the virus.
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NewsCo-infections in young bats could underpin coronavirus emergence
A new study finds that young bats are infected more frequently by coronaviruses and could be a key source of viral spillover into other species. It also reveals the dynamics of coronaviruses circulating in Australian bats, which pose no known risk to humans.
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NewsHow AI can enhance early detection of emerging viruses: study
Coupling wastewater surveillance and a newly developed AI algorithm can help public health organizations more quickly predict potential outbreaks, a new study suggests.
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NewsStudy identifies world-first treatments to prevent a life-threatening virus infection
A study found two HIV antivirals already on the market can suppress transmission of HTLV-1 in humanised mice and prevent disease. When used in combination with a compound that induces cell death, infected cells were killed – flagging a potential future curative strategy.
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NewsYour microbiome, your medicine: Scientists gather in Valencia to redefine the future of health
The International Society of Microbiota (ISM) will host the 12th World Congress on Targeting Microbiota, presenting groundbreaking research that positions the human microbiome as a central determinant of health and disease across multiple organ systems.
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NewsBacteriostatic activity and mechanism of minerals containing rubidium
A new paper on traditional Chinese medicine outlines the bacteriostatic activity and mechanism of minerals containing rubidium (MCR).
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NewsInhaled agricultural dust disrupts gut health
Inhaling agricultural dust may pose significant risks to gut health for workers in animal agriculture, a new study has found. Inhaling hog farm dust alters the gut microbiome and impairs intestinal function, including increased “leaky gut” or intestinal permeability.
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NewsFermented stevia leaf extract has potential as anticancer treatment, researchers find
Stevia may provide more benefits than as a zero-calorie sugar substitute. When fermented with bacteria isolated from banana leaves, stevia extract kills off pancreatic cancer cells but doesn’t harm healthy kidney cells, according to a research team.
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NewsCassava witches’ broom disease takes flight in South America
Cassava witches’ broom disease is quickly spreading across Northeastern South America, threatening a critical food staple for millions of people in Brazil and the continent.
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NewsStudy tracks Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation using benthic foraminifera
Scientists investigated how the weakening of Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation is connected to the ventilation of the shallow ocean. Using benthic foraminifera, the team was able to reconstruct changes in the oxygen content of the oxygen-minimum zone over 27,000 years.