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
Seasonal flu vaccine study reveals host genetics’ role in vaccine response
Scientists have found that influenza subtype-bias is primarily driven by host genetics, particularly major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class-II polymorphisms, with prior exposure playing a secondary role.
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NewsTinkering with the ‘clockwork’ mechanisms of life
Scientists have successfully recreated and validated two distinct mechanisms that can program both the activation and deactivation rates of nanomachines in living organisms across multiple timescales.
NewsSyphilis had its roots in the Americas, archaeological bone reveals
New research supports a root in the Americas for syphilis and its known relatives, and their introduction to Europe starting in the late 15th century is most consistent with the data, scientists say.
NewsOcean microbe’s unusual pair of enzymes may boost carbon storage, study suggests
Scientists have discovered multiple forms of a ubiquitous enzyme in microbes that thrive in low-oxygen zones off the coasts of Central and South America.
More Early Career Research
News
What a century-old grapevine reveals about a disease that plagues wine country
Researchers used bacterial DNA from a 120-year-old herbarium specimen to reconstruct the history of Pierce’s disease in California.
NewsFlu virus remains infectious in refrigerated raw milk
Influenza or flu virus can remain infectious in refrigerated raw milk for up to five days, a new study reveals. The findings come at a time when outbreaks of bird flu in dairy cattle have raised concerns about the potential for a new pandemic.
NewsMicrobial oxidation in glacial rivers and lakes could help mitigate methane emissions
A new study suggests microbes in glacial rivers and lakes may play a crucial role in mitigating the effects of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that recent studies have shown emerging as glaciers melt in warming global temperatures.
NewsA dial for tuning the immune system: Discovery sheds light on why COVID makes some sicker than others
A new study identifies an “immune system tuning dial,” which originated as a bug in the genetic code tens of millions of years ago. When this signaling goes awry and leads the body to under or overreact, people are more likely to develop severe or Long COVID.
NewsGlobal research uncovers critical weakness in malaria parasite
Scientists exploring how immunity develops against Plasmodium falciparum found that broadly reactive antibodies from various individuals consistently bound to the same site on a key virulence protein of the malaria parasite.
NewsResearchers develop model to evaluate food safety control strategies for produce industry
You’ve probably heard of product recalls involving lettuce, spinach, or other leafy greens. Consuming these popular vegetables are among the main causes of food poisoning, affecting thousands of people every year. Leafy greens can become contaminated with pathogenic E. coli or other bacteria through splashes of soil or contaminated irrigation ...
NewsDiverse phage populations coexist on single strains of gut bacteria
A new study shows that a single bacterial species, the host of a phage, can maintain a diverse community of competing phage species. Several phage species coexist stably on a population of a genetically uniform strain of E. coli.
NewsNew super-enzyme could revolutionize CO₂ capture
Scientists have developed new metagenomic analysis tools to identify a super heat-resistant enzyme of biotechnological interest. The enzyme specializes in enhancing the dissolution of CO₂ in water and exhibits unprecedented stability under industrial conditions.
NewsStudy shows how genetic defects in Toxoplasma are rescued by co-infection
Toxoplasma gondii parasites can use secreted factors to compensate for genetic defects in neighbouring parasites, highlighting a limitation of pooled CRISPR screens.
NewsMRI could be key to understanding the impact a gluten free diet has on people with coeliac disease
Experts have used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to better understand the impact a gluten free diet has on people with coeliac disease, which could be the first step towards finding new ways of treating the condition.
NewsHow a middle schooler found a new compound in goose feces
Middle schoolers through a partnership with a local univeristy, collected and analyzed environmental samples to find new antibiotic candidates. One unique sample, goose feces collected at a local park, had a bacterium that showed antibiotic activity.
NewsPregnancy enhances natural immunity to block severe flu
Scientists discover a natural flu defense mechanism that activates in the nasal cavity during pregnancy.
NewsSatellite evidence bolsters case that climate change caused mass elephant die-off
New analysis showing carcass distribution and algae in watering holes points to climate-induced poisoning of over 300 African elephants.
NewsBacteria ditch tags to dodge antibiotics
Bacteria modify their ribosomes when exposed to widely used antibiotics, according to new research. The subtle changes might be enough to alter the binding site of drug targets and constitute a possible new mechanism of antibiotic resistance.
NewsPhotodynamic therapy with annatto colorant found to be effective against bad breath
A study by researchers working in Brazil shows that antimicrobial photodynamic therapy in which blue light targets annatto colorant is a feasible and effective option for treatment of halitosis in mouth-breathing children.
NewsA new tool to predict the most effective phage cocktail
Researchers have developed a simple and effective new tool that recommends the best possible phage cocktail for a given patient. Paving the way for personalized phage therapies to treat antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.
NewsHot water best for sanitizing in-shell pecans, sanitizers prevent cross-contamination
To identify best practices for microbial safety in the pecan market, scientists conducted a study to evaluate methods of sanitizing pecans against Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, also known as STEC.
NewsProbiotic may counteract fire-retardant chemical damage
A mouse study reports that probiotic supplementation can reduce the negative impacts of polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs - fire-retardant chemicals - on neurodevelopment, behavior, and metabolism.
NewsGut feelings: Social connections change our microbiomes
Friends tend to share common interests, tastes, lifestyles, and other traits, but a new Yale-led study demonstrates that similarities among buddies can also include the makeup of the microbes lining their guts.
