Economic Equality
Across the globe there are huge disparities in access to basic services such as healthcare, education, and economic resources, with the UN estimating over 98 million people live on less than $1.90 a day. It is vital for microbial research to identify those areas which actively maintain cycles of poverty and disparity. In recognising the interconnected nature of human financial systems and environmental health, microbial research can be a leader in working toward Economic Equality.
News
New Mexico measles outbreak estimated to cost $5.4 million
A cost analysis of the 2025 measles outbreak in New Mexico found that the outbreak carried an estimated societal cost of $5.4 million, or more than $53,000 per case.
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NewsRedistributing sunlight boosts algae biomass productivity sixfold
Researchers have developed a low-energy way to distribute sunlight more evenly throughout algae cultivation systems. The technology increased algae biomass productivity by as much as six times in outdoor testing.
NewsNew discovery could hold key to making microbes more resistant towards industrial processes
In the bacterium Pseudomonas putida, the membrane protein CrcB pumps harmful fluoride ions out of the cells. Researchers investigated how P. putida adapts to a fluoride-containing environment, when it is deprived of the ability to produce the CrcB protein.
NewsFloating colonies: engineering three-dimensional microbial architectures in liquid cultures
Researchers develop an innovative platform for engineering three-dimensional microbial structures while preserving molecular diffusion, microbial motility, and growth.
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Anaerobic dry processing unlocks flavor precursors in Arabica coffee beans
A research team has mapped how four post-harvest processing methods reshape flavor precursors in Arabica coffee beans, showing that anaerobic fermentation substantially increases key non-volatile metabolites linked to aroma, flavor, acidity, body, and balance.
Call for expertise: Help shape the future of biotechnology regulation in Europe
Microbiologists have a rare opportunity to help shape future European biotechnology regulation. Applied Microbiology International (AMI) is calling on members to contribute as the European Commission seeks expert input on a proposed new Biotech Act.
Move over quokkas: Rottnest’s salt lake bacteria could be the island’s next big claim to fame
Scientists have read the full genetic code of bacteria from the salt lakes of Wadjemup (Rottnest Island), giving them their clearest picture yet of how these tiny organisms could be used to make biodegradable plastic.
When it comes to brain health, is microbiome science missing much of the world?
For more than two decades, scientists have uncovered remarkable links between the trillions of microbes living in our gut and the health of our brains. What if much of this science is based on studying only a narrow slice of global diversity?
Bacterial cellulose offers a sustainable path for high-performance energy storage
Researchers review the structural, electrochemical, and mechanical aspects of bacterial cellulose-derived carbon electrodes for next-generation supercapacitors.
WHO Member States continue negotiations on the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing Annex
WHO Member States have advanced negotiations on the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) annex, while agreeing that continued discussions are needed to finalize a framework that supports a faster, more effective and equitable response to future pandemics.
COVID-19 booster strategies provide lasting immunity
Smaller doses of COVID-19 booster vaccines can provide long-lasting immunity, helping to reduce costs and improve access to vaccination, according to research. The findings could also inform vaccine dosing and options during future pandemics.
Low carbon dioxide levels improve microbial production of biodegradable plastic
In an innovative gas fermentation process, reducing concentration of carbon dioxide was found to significantly improve microbial production of the biodegradable plastic, poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate]. The study provides a promising strategy for sustainable carbon recycling and efficient CO2 utilization.
Scientists receive DOW funding for fungal biotechnology research
Scientists have been awarded funding to develop new tools permitting high-throughput analysis of fungal genes. The grant focuses on species of Candida, which can contaminate and sometimes cause operational issues in DOW systems like aircraft fuel systems, vehicles, and electronics.
Research team brings the era of microbial cell factories one step closer
A research team analyzed the key bottlenecks limiting the commercialization of biomanufacturing, and proposed an AI-based roadmap for industrialization.
A bacterium capable of predicting the course of a disease
A research team made use of the bacterium’s natural capabilities without altering it genetically. Using plasma samples from patients with COVID-19, they were able to distinguish patients likely to develop a mild form of the disease from those at risk of progressing to a severe form.
New study advances dry mRNA vaccine patch design
New research could help make future mRNA vaccines easier to store and distribute. The study identified conditions that help protect the particles that carry mRNA in dry vaccine patches, offering practical guidance for future patch design.
AMI teams up with the International Symposium on Biopolymers to launch new themed collection on microbial polymers
The Journal of Applied Microbiology is joining forces with the International Symposium on Biopolymers to launch a new themed collection called ‘Microbial polymers for industrial and environmental applications’. Guest editors Tanja Narancic and Kevin O’Connor reveal why this is such a fascinating area of research.
Wild yeast discovery enables non-GM brewing of ornithine-enriched craft beer
Researchers have uncovered a naturally derived yeast mutation that boosts ornithine production while preserving brewing performance for value-added fermentation.
Scripps Research scientists awarded $2M to advance global disease surveillance
Two Gates Foundation grants will expand wastewater surveillance and AI-driven disease monitoring to support faster public health responses worldwide.
Breakthrough study could unlock key to more reliable truffle cultivation
A pioneering study has revealed that growing truffles depends not just on soil conditions, but on a complex underground ecosystem that the truffles may help to engineer themselves.
Diabetes worsens long COVID complications
In a study involving 870 participants, people with diabetes took longer to recover from the virus and experienced more severe cardiac complications, as well as greater physical and cognitive difficulties.
Global burden of viral skin diseases rises 36% since 1990: Children and elderly bear the brunt
Global analysis of viral skin diseases underscores the need for equitable policies: while high-income countries have made progress via vaccination and better healthcare, low-resource regions lag behind.
Cascading disaster: While U.S. HIV infections have fallen, they are rising among Latinos
From 2010 to 2022, new HIV infections in the United States declined 19% overall but among Latinos, they rose 12%. In 2023, new HIV diagnoses among Latinos jumped 8% in a single year — the largest increase of any racial or ethnic group in the country.