Food security
Millions of people are undernourished globally and with the population growing, food security is a major concern. Food security is multifaceted, requiring advancements in food safety, ensuring products have a good shelf life, reducing spoilage and providing dietary additions to improve the nutrient intake of the population. The application of microbiology is far reaching, and new approaches are required to maintain food security. Through an improved understanding of plant-microbe interactions, it is possible to forecast and mitigate food shortages.
News
Review article highlights urgent need for aflatoxin control strategies in Pakistan’s feed supply chain
Scientists say there is an urgent need for aflatoxin control strategies in Pakistan’s feed supply chain to improve animal health, productivity, food safety and exports of animal-based products.
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FeaturesHow artificial intelligence and machine learning are transforming agriculture’s future
Agriculture is at a pivotal moment in history, and the sector needs to adopt new ideas to survive and flourish. AI and Machine Learning are no longer futuristic concepts; they are transforming farming today and helping to solve problems that have persisted for a long time.
NewsHow a common brain parasite disrupts neural communication
Scientists reveal how the Toxoplasma parasite can significantly disrupt brain function, even when it infects only a small number of neurons. The team found the parasite interferes with essential communication between brain cells.
NewsGut microbiome composition and food insecurity linked to risk of cognitive impairment in adults
A new study has found a compelling link between the composition of the gut microbiome and the risk of cognitive impairment (RCI) in adults, underscoring the complex role that both biology and social determinants—such as food insecurity—play in brain health.
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News
War, trade and agriculture spread rice disease across Africa
Since the mid-1800s, human activities have rapidly facilitated the spread of rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV), a pathogen that infects rice, far and wide across Africa, according to a new study.
NewsResearchers examine the impact of mycoestrogen exposure on birth outcomes
Exposure to mycotoxins – a broad group of harmful substances produced by mold – during pregnancy may impact placental function, which could result in lower birthweight in humans.
NewsScientists team up to identify infectious diseases using AI and hyperspectral imaging
A collaboration will expand patented technology to detect viral signatures in animals. ESS Protect – Animal will offer rapid, non-invasive, and contactless screening for bovine respiratory disease (BRD) using hyperspectral imaging and advanced machine learning.
NewsSimultaneous knockout of multiple eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E genes confers durable and broad-spectrum resistance to potyviruses in tobacco
Resistant tobacco varieties carrying the va locus significantly reduced Potato virus Y (PVY) incidence and yield loss, according to a new study. However, prolonged cultivation of va-resistant varieties has led to the emergence of resistance-breaking (RB) PVY isolates.
NewsScientists reveal gene pairs conferring resistance to wheat diseases
A research team led by Prof. Liu Zhiyong at the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has identified two novel genetic mechanisms for disease resistance in wheat, offering promising strategies to enhance resilience against powdery mildew and stripe rust. The discoveries were published in ...
NewsUrgent need to quantify role of fungal toxins in rising liver cancer rates in Ghana
There’s an urgent need to quantify the role of aflatoxins, found on agricultural crops, such as maize and peanuts, in the escalating rates of liver cancer in Ghana, as well as elsewhere in Africa and Asia, concludes a commentary.
NewsGene pyramiding protects peppers from devastating viral diseases
Researchers demonstrates how combining two different resistance genes can make pepper plants remarkably more resilient against even the most virulent begomovirus combinations.
NewsDrone-based tech deployed to detect subtle signs of rice blast disease
Scientists have developed a novel vegetation index—the Rice Blast Index (RBI)—using drone-based hyperspectral remote sensing technology, to rapidly and non-invasively detect subtle signs of rice blast disease and achieve precise field management.
NewsInfectious diseases experts raise alarm about antifungal resistance, call for global effort
Infectious disease experts are raising the alarm about the role new pesticides can play in building resistance to antifungal medical treatments, calling for a coordinated, global ”One Health” approach to developing, testing and using agents to fight pathogens.
CareersMeet the Global Ambassadors: our Q&A with Arsalan Zaidi
The Microbiologist gets to know our new Global Ambassador for Pakistan, Dr Arsalan Zaidi, who is Principal Scientist at the National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering.
NewsNanoparticle smart spray helps crops block infection before it starts
As climate change fuels the spread of plant diseases worldwide, a new nanoparticle smart spray could help crops defend themselves by blocking harmful bacteria from entering through tiny pores in their leaves.
NewsFungal resistance in wheat: preserving biodiversity for food security
Researchers have found traditional wheat varieties from Asia that harbor several genes that confer resistance against yellow rust. They may serve as a durable source of yellow rust resistance in commercial varieties in the future.
NewsMicrobes revealed as missing link in potato cyst nematode cycle
Potatoes produce a molecule that is converted by microbes and causes potato parasites to hatch. The discovery of this three-way relationship not only adds a new perspective to how plants interact with their environment, it also opens a path to countermeasures.
NewsBacterial species join forces to boost production in soybean - without disrupting soil microbiome
Combining a bacterial isolate with rhizobia can boost soybean production without disrupting the natural soil microbiome, a new study reveals.
NewsNatural algal communities can inhibit aquaculture pathogens
A new study has demonstrated that it is possible to develop a consortium of bacteria that can inhibit bacterial pathogens in aquaculture. This could potentially reduce the use of antibiotics in aquaculture and possibly other applications.
NewsCould nanoplastics in the environment turn E. coli into a bigger villain?
New research suggests certain nanoplastics may make foodborne pathogens more virulent. Nanoplastics with positively charged surfaces were more likely to cause physiological stress in E. coli O157:H7, making them pump out more Shiga-like toxin.
NewsAI predicts bacterial resistance to cleaning agents
With the help of artificial intelligence and DNA decoding, a new method can predict how well disease-causing bacteria such as Listeria tolerate disinfectants. This research may become a valuable weapon in the fight against harmful bacteria.
NewsResearchers develop living material from fungi
Researchers have developed a bio-based material that is completely biodegradable, but also tear-resistant and has versatile functional properties. All this with minimal processing steps and without chemicals – you can even eat it. Its secret: It’s alive.
NewsConsumption of ultra-processed foods by children up to one year old favors harmful bacteria in the gut
Analysis of the gut microbiota of more than 700 babies also showed that breastfeeding was a protective factor, mitigating the problem in those who consumed industrialized products. The study underscores the importance of breastfeeding.