All MIT articles
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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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NewsEngineers develop electrochemical sensors for cheap, disposable diagnostics
Electrodes coated with DNA could enable inexpensive tests with a long shelf-life, which could detect many diseases and be deployed in the doctor’s office or at home.
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NewsSupercharged HIV vaccine could offer strong protection with just one dose
Researchers have shown that they can generate a strong immune response to HIV with just one vaccine dose, by adding two powerful adjuvants — materials that help stimulate the immune system.
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NewsRock record reveals oxygenation of ocean may have happened earlier than we thought
Researchers uncover evidence that oxygenation in the ocean—crucial for life as we know it—may have occurred earlier than previously thought, offering new insights into the evolution of our planet.
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NewsCombining laboratory techniques yields wealth of information about deadly brain tumors
In a new study, researchers injected into the tumor a virus aimed at killing glioblastoma cells. Surgeons took tumor tissue samples and ran them through multiple advanced laboratory techniques to demonstrate that even small tissue samples can yield additional insights.
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NewsNew molecular label could lead to simpler, faster tuberculosis tests
Chemists have demonstrated that they can label a glycan called ManLAM using an organic molecule that reacts with specific sulfur-containing sugars. These sugars are found in only three bacterial species, including the microbe that causes TB.
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NewsStudy of facial bacteria could lead to probiotics that promote healthy skin
Researchers have revealed the dynamics of interactions between two dominant skin bacterial species in more detail than previously possible, shedding light on when and how new bacterial strains emerge on the skin of the face.
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NewsEngineered bacteria emit signals that can be spotted from a distance
Engineers have found a way to read out bacterial signals from as far as 90 meters away. This work could lead to the development of bacterial sensors for agricultural and other applications, which could be monitored by drones or satellites.
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NewsMolecules that fight infection also act on the brain, inducing anxiety or sociability
New research on a cytokine called IL-17 adds to growing evidence that immune molecules can influence behavior during illness.
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NewsNewly discovered cyanobacteria could help sequester carbon from oceans and factories
Strains specialized to live in high-CO2 oceanic environments have evolved traits that are useful for decarbonization and bioproduction.
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NewsTwo-dose schedule could make HIV vaccines more effective
Researchers have found that the first dose primes the immune system, helping it to generate a strong response to the second dose, a week later.
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NewsMassive harmful algal bloom in the Arctic prompts real-time advisories to western Alaskan communities
A summer 2022 research cruise that detected a massive and highly toxic harmful algal bloom (HAB) in the Bering Strait has provided an example of science that utilized new technology to track a neurotoxic HAB and protect remote communities in Alaska.
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NewsStudy reveals a way to protect microbes from extreme conditions
By helping microbes withstand industrial processing, the method could make it easier to harness the benefits of microorganisms used as medicines and in agriculture.
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NewsWater-soluble version of bacterial enzyme may help researchers develop new antibiotics
Researchers created a water-soluble version of an important bacterial enzyme, which can now be used in drug screens to identify new antibiotics.
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NewsBreakthrough research identifies mechanism behind drug resistance in malaria parasite
A new study has found that a cellular process called transfer Ribonucleic acid (tRNA) modification influences the malaria parasite’s ability to develop resistance to Artemisinin-based combination therapies.
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NewsRepurposed beer yeast may offer a cost-effective way to remove lead from water
A filter made from yeast encapsulated in hydrogels can quickly absorb lead as water flows through it, researchers say.
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NewsFor microscopic organisms, ocean currents act as ‘expressway’ to deeper depths
New research shows how tiny plant-like organisms hitch a ride on ocean currents to reach darker and deeper depths, where they impact carbon cycling and microbial dynamics in the subtropical oceans.
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NewsDNA particles that mimic viruses hold promise as vaccines
Using a DNA-based scaffold carrying viral proteins, researchers created a vaccine that provokes a strong antibody response against SARS-CoV-2.
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NewsResearchers use AI to identify a new class of antibiotic candidates
Using deep learning, researchers have discovered a class of compounds that can kill methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) grown in a lab dish and in two mouse models of MRSA infection.
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NewsMicrobes could help reduce the need for chemical fertilizers
Chemical engineers have developed a coating that protects nitrogen-fixing bacteria from heat and humidity, which could allow them to be deployed for large-scale agricultural use.