All Research News articles – Page 14
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Asteroid that doomed dinosaurs created fungus farming among ants
Scientists analyzed genetic data from 475 species of fungi and 276 species of ants to craft detailed evolutionary trees, allowing them to pinpoint when ants began cultivating fungi millions of years ago, a behavior that some ant species still exhibit today.
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Plastic-eating enzyme identified in wastewater microbes
Plastic pollution is everywhere, and a good amount of it is composed of polyethylene terephthalate (PET, ♳). This polymer is used to make bottles, containers and even clothing. Now, researchers report in ACS’s Environmental Science & Technology that they have discovered an enzyme that breaks apart PET ...
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Beer-related discoveries mark Oktoberfest
To create a probiotic beer, researchers have screened several different lactic acid-producing bacterial strains.
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In lab tests, dietary zinc inhibits AMR gene transmission
Genes responsible for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) can spread from microbe to microbe through plasmids, and this lateral transfer occurs in the gut - but transmission of some AMR plasmids may be inhibited by dietary zinc supplements.
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Bacteria-fighting viruses team up to treat drug-resistant superbugs
Researchers screened a library of bacteriophages to find combinations of the viruses that can work together to fight antibiotic-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae infections.
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Scientists reveal how doxycycline for STI prevention affects the gut microbiome
Taking a dose of the oral antibiotic doxycycline after a high-risk sexual encounter has dramatically reduced the incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in places where the strategy is being tried. Source: NIAID Capsules of the antibiotic doxycycline Despite its effectiveness, the new strategy, known ...
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Gut bacteria engineered to act as tumor GPS for immunotherapies
Cancer researchers have engineered gut derived E. coli bacteria to express immune-activating cytokines on their surfaces, with the idea that the bacteria would move into tumors and induce potent immune responses.
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Novel Pseudomonas species supports plant growth at high altitudes
Scientists have discovered a new Pseudomonas species isolated from cold Himalayan soil that helps to promote plant growth, offering potential as a bio-inoculant for sustainable agriculture in high-altitude regions.
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Study identifies potential novel drug to treat tuberculosis
A new study demonstrates that a novel semi-synthetic compound can be derived from natural compounds to produce potent activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, including multi-drug resistant strains.
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Zooplankton go ‘Eew!’ to cleaning feces-contaminated water
Scientists were recently surprised to find that the natural community of zooplankton — tiny, aquatic animals known to graze on bacteria — present in freshwater and saltwater do not clean water that is contaminated with fecal microorganisms.
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Wastewater bacteria can break down plastic for food
Researchers have discovered how cells of a Comamonas bacterium break down plastic for food. First, they chew the plastic into small pieces, then secrete an enzyme that breaks down the plastic further, and finally use a ring of carbon atoms as a food source.
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Filament structure activates and regulates CRISPR-Cas ‘protein scissors’
Researchers have revealed the structure of the CRISPR-Cas ‘protein scissors’ found in bacteria and provided mechanistic details on how they function.
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Scientists study how a bacterium becomes a permanent resident in a fungus
To study the beginnings of endosymbiosis between two organisms, a team of researchers initiated such partnerships in the laboratory and observed what exactly happens at the beginning of a possible endosymbiosis.
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Researchers unravel mystery of dormancy in food pathogens for more effective elimination
The detection tests commonly used to check for the absence of microbes in hospitals or the agri-food industry are based on microbial growth, i.e. the laboratory cultivation of microorganisms from a sample to be checked. If no micro-organisms appear during culturing, the sample is considered safe. Source: INRAE ...
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A tool to enhance taste and texture of sourdough and study the complexity of microbiomes
Researchers explore how acetic acid bacteria shapes emergent properties of sourdough, with implications across complex microbial systems.
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Researchers identify likely culprit that turns classical Klebsiella pneumoniae into a drug-resistant killer
A hypervirulent strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae can infect and severely sicken otherwise healthy people. Researchers have identified a likely culprit that is causing the hypervirulence.
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Microbial biofertilizers and algae-based biostimulants boost tomato crop
A team of researchers in Italy have shown that use of microbial biofertilisers and algae-based biostimulants can significantly enhance both the yield and quality of organic tomatoes.
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Plankton bloom off Madagascar linked to drought in South Africa
Researchers show that dust from drought-stricken Southern Africa caused a bloom of marine phytoplankton off the southeast Madagascar coast from November 2019 through February 2020.
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Antibodies in breast milk provide protection against common GI virus
A study has found that breast milk provides protection against rotavirus, a common gastrointestinal disease that causes diarrhea, vomiting and fever in infants.