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
Scientists devise comprehensive resource on microbial cell factories for sustainable chemical production
Scientists evaluated the production capabilities of various industrial microbial cell factories using in silico simulations and, based on these findings, identified the most suitable microbial strains for producing specific chemicals as well as optimal metabolic engineering strategies.
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NewsMicrobiologists must seize the day - and make their mark on policy
Microbiologists need to seize opportunities to engage with policymaking in order to move towards better, more scientifically informed policy that serves the common good, a new paper published in Sustainable Microbiology urges.
NewsProposed cuts to foreign aid could result in millions of HIV deaths, new modelling study estimates
New modelling analysis suggests that proposed funding cuts by major donor countries to foreign aid could undo decades of progress made to end HIV/AIDS as a public health threat and new infections and deaths could surge back to levels not seen since the early 2000s.
NewsHepatitis B: new rapid diagnostic test to halt mother-to-child transmission
Scientists have assessed a new rapid diagnostic test to identify pregnant women at elevated risk of transmitting hepatitis B to their babies. This diagnostic tool could help eliminate hepatitis B by preventing mother-to-child transmission during childbirth.
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Biogenic construction: The new era of civil engineering
Inspired by the concept of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, a new concept, biogenic construction, for civil engineering is proposed in a new paper.
From pollution to polymer: Methane-munching microbe brews biodegradable plastic at high speed
Scientists have tapped into a methane-consuming bacterium, Methylocystis suflitae, to produce biodegradable plastics called polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), offering a dual win for climate and sustainability.
WHO calls for urgent action to address worldwide disruptions in tuberculosis services
Since World Tuberculosis Day is only days away, World Health Organization addresses the current challenges faced by countries in TB responses. They urgently call for an united global effort to combat the deadly disease and safeguard the public health from the devastating consequences.
Long COVID could be causing huge economic burden annually
Behind the healthcare burden from long COVID, a study has also uncovered the economic burden of those who are more likely to suffer from long COVID through a computer simulation model of long COVID probabilities and the accompanied productivity loss.
Afro-Caribbean Commercial Science Network (ACCSN) named as winner of Dorothy Jones Diversity and Inclusion Achievement Award 2024
The Afro-Caribbean Commercial Science Network (ACCSN), founded by Daniel Similaki, has been named as this year’s winner of the Dorothy Jones Diversity and Inclusion Achievement Award 2024.
My autistic academic maze - and my advice to neurodiverse PhD students
In Neurodiversity Celebration Week, PhD student Joshua Yates reveals the challenges of pursuing a career in microbiology with autism and dyslexia - and his advice to others.
Clove oil yields new Pickering emulsion formulation with enhanced antibacterial properties
Researchers developed a sustainable Pickering emulsion using carbon quantum dots (CQDs), promising solid particles for food applications, derived from clove essential oil residue. They found that CQDs with 40% ethanol demonstrated the highest emulsifying efficacy.
New study links sleep debt and night shifts to increased infection risk among nurses
A new study examining the effects of sleep patterns and shift work on the immune system has found that sleep debt and night shifts increase the risk of several common infections in nurses.
Packets of freeze-dried bacteria grow biocement on demand
Researchers report a freeze-drying approach that preserves biocement-producing bacteria, potentially allowing construction workers to use powder out of a packet to quickly make tiles, repair oil wells or strengthen the ground for makeshift roads.
Researchers see breakthrough in efficient biofuel production
Researchers have found ways to limit the toxicity to microbes generated by the biofuel butanol through fermentation of plant biomass, by manipulating the structure of microbe cell membrane at atomic level.
A new test will make it possible to detect the parasite responsible for trichomoniasis more quickly and inexpensively
A sensitive, cheap and rapid test is developed to detect the parasite, Trichomonas vaginalis, which causes one of the world’s most common sexually transmitted infections, using an innovative approach that targets highly specific molecules with short nucleic acid sequences.
New method developed to dramatically enhance bioelectronic sensors
In a breakthrough that could transform bioelectronic sensing, researchers have developed a new method to dramatically enhance the sensitivity of enzymatic and microbial fuel cells using organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs).
Scientists build robot to track plant-fungal trade networks, revealing nature’s underground supply chains
New research uses advanced robotics to track the hyper-efficient supply chains formed between plants and mycorrhizal fungi as they trade carbon and nutrients across the complex, living networks that help regulate the Earth’s atmosphere and ecosystems.
New paper-based device boosts HIV test accuracy from dried blood samples
Scientists have trialled a more precise medical device to measure HIV viral loads by engineering a paper device with wax-printed patterns that create precise channels and collection spots, ensuring it consistently collects the same volume of blood.
New study calls for ethical framework to protect Indigenous genetic privacy in wastewater monitoring
Researchers have called for new ethical frameworks to protect Indigenous communities’ genetic privacy in the growing field of wastewater surveillance. The study examines how analysis of community wastewater raises significant privacy concerns for Indigenous populations.
Study calls for better measures of poverty to strengthen tuberculosis research
A new review examines existing methods for assessing socioeconomic status in TB studies and highlights their shortcomings. The authors call for better, standardized poverty metrics to improve research and policy.
Scottish bio-tech company secures £3.4m investment
Scottish biotech engineering company uFraction8 has secured £3.4m in new investment following the completion of a funding round led by Foresight Group.
1 in 5 older adults get infections after heart surgery, and women have a 60% higher risk
One in five older adults gets an infection up to six months after heart surgery, with women far more likely to develop one, according to two studies which examined thousands of cases of coronary artery bypass grafting.
Researchers ID key immune differences that make one West African ethnic group less susceptible to malaria
Researchers have uncovered how genetic and lifestyle factors influence immune responses to malaria in children from two large West African ethnic groups. Children showed key differences in immune cell activity offering greater protection.