Young Innovators & Early Career Research
Early career research is crucial for science, and in delivering applied microbiology to the world. This page is focused on showcasing innovations and research from early career researchers across the globe and provides a hub for the latest news, opinions, careers advice and research for early career scientists. Discover how interdisciplinary colleagues from around the world are making advancements in, and through, applied microbiology.
News
Loss of microbiota alters the profile of cells that protect the intestinal wall
Experiments in mice and human tissue indicate that a reduction in bacteria living in the large intestine decreases mucus production and affects nutrient absorption, particularly in older adults.
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NewsOregano, rosemary and ‘time’: Long-term swine study shows natural-compound benefits
In a rare long-term public study that compared the effects of phytochemicals from rosemary and oregano with antibiotic growth promoters, animal scientists found that the natural agents given to weaned pigs supported favorable gut health and growth performance later in their lives.
NewsClimate change may produce ‘fast-food’ phytoplankton
Scientists report that as sea surface temperatures rise over the next century, phytoplankton in polar regions will adapt to be less rich in proteins, heavier in carbohydrates, and lower in nutrients overall.
NewsLong COVID associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease
People with long COVID are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, according to a new study. Women with long COVID had just over twice the risk of receiving a cardiovascular diagnosis compared with women without long COVID. Men had approximately a third higher risk.
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News
A study links armed conflict in Colombia with higher tuberculosis cases and mortality
Areas with the highest intensity of conflict between 2008 and 2019 recorded a higher disease burden, highlighting the need for control strategies tailored to each territory.
NewsViruses ‘eavesdrop’ on each other – but it can backfire
Viruses can “eavesdrop” on each other using chemical signals – but it can backfire for the eavesdropper, new research shows. Scientists studied chemical communication by phages, viruses that infect bacteria.
NewsThesis confirms algae have strong wound-healing, skin-protective, and immune-supporting properties
New research demonstrates that polysaccharides extracted from various seaweeds and freshwater cyanobacteria possess remarkable bioactive properties and can accelerate wound healing, reduce inflammation, and protect skin cells from UV-induced damage.
NewsGetting a glimpse of viral dances in the dark in the Sargasso Sea
In a new study of viral abundance over a short time frame in the Sargasso Sea, researchers found that almost all viruses with cyclical changes in abundance were most active at night – a somewhat surprising find.
NewsResearchers move closer to preventing pandemics
Researchers have developed an AI tool that can help determine whether unfamiliar bacteria carry genetic features linked to disease. By enabling the detection of harmful bacteria before they infect humans, this could transform pandemic preparedness.
NewsScientists combine algae and oyster shells for biodiesel born in the bayou
Researchers have developed an inexpensive way to make biodiesel from materials found along the banks of their Louisiana bayou: algae and oyster shells.
NewsWhole-genome sequencing is a powerful tool that can pick up on genetic signatures for antimicrobial resistance in UTIs: research
New research to be presented at MLSFF26 reveals whole-genome sequencing as a powerful tool that can distinguish between antibiotic-resistant and susceptible strains of urinary tract pathogens by identifying the specific genetic signatures that confer resistance.
NewsDiet determines the bacteria present in microbial gardens cultivated by ants
Researchers studying leafcutter ants have demonstrated how bacteria in the colonies respond to different diets provided by ants to the fungi they cultivate. The study paves the way for a better understanding of how colonies function and may lead to the discovery of new molecules for biotechnological use.
NewsBird flu risk to Danish cattle – new tool can warn farmers before infection spreads
Researchers have developed a tool that can predict where and when the risk of infection is highest. The tool is based on infection data from the U.S. outbreaks and adapted to a Danish context.
NewsNew single‑cell technique reveals how tuberculosis‑like bacteria alter human cells
Researchers have developed a new technique to measure the content of individual human cells infected with bacteria that model tuberculosis – and it is already revealing biological changes that conventional analysis would miss.
NewsEngineered yeast gives the US a green edge in the critical minerals market
A new, U.S.-based, environmentally friendly method for mining rare-earth elements used in consumer electronics, clean energy, defense and biomedical imaging uses oxalic acid made by sugar-eating engineered yeast, extracting almost all the rare-earth elements from low-grade ore.
NewsStudy identifies causes of potato dry rot in Colorado
Researchers have identified multiple fungal species causing dry rot in Colorado. By analyzing structural and molecular features, plant pathologists identified four Fusarium species associated with potato dry rot – including one that hadn’t previously been found in the U.S.
NewsStudy maps how tuberculosis bacteria power themselves
A new study provides the first detailed 3D structure of a protein called EtfD, which the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis uses to extract energy from lipids (fats), along with the first laboratory test capable of directly measuring its activity.
NewsScientists discover ‘consortium’ of bacteria cooperating to eat phthalate plasticizers that single microbes can’t stomach
Researchers have discovered a synergistic ‘consortium’ of plastic-eating bacteria, which can eat phthalate esters (PAEs) – plasticizers which are often found in building materials, food packages, and personal care products, but have been implicated in hormonal, metabolic, and developmental disorders and some cancers.
NewsOcean bacteria team up to break down biodegradable plastic
Researchers uncovered the role of individual ocean bacteria in the breakdown of a widely used biodegradable plastic. They also showed the complementary processes microbes use to fully consume the plastic, with one microbe cleaving the plastic into its component chemicals and others consuming each chemical.
NewsClimate change is fueling disease outbreaks
Researchers analyzed the connection between a cyclone in Peru and a massive outbreak of dengue fever, a mosquito-borne viral disease that can cause fever, rash, and life-threatening symptoms like hemorrhage and shock. Their findings reveal that warmer, wetter weather linked to climate change is making disease epidemics more likely.
NewsLemongrass essential oil may target bacteria even more effectively than conventional antibiotics, research suggests
Lemongrass essential oil can be even more effective than traditional antibiotics against some Streptococcus bacteria under certain conditions, new research to be presented at MLSFF26 has found.
NewsShell game: How oysters enlist help from microbes
Researchers have discovered that oyster microbes might help with the “heavy lifting” of calcification that forms oyster shells. These microbes and the oysters co-express – or coordinate – the expression of certain genes that hint at a chemical “dialogue” between the host and these microbes.
NewsHerpes virus fluidizes cell nuclei to multiply faster
A new study finds that herpes simplex virus uses a protein called infected cell protein 4 (ICP4) to make the human nucleus more fluid-like, which in turn makes it easier for the virus to replicate itself. Blocking the ability of ICP4 to fluidize the nuclear compartment caused a drop in viral copy production.