One health
Communicable diseases remain one of the major causes of mortality worldwide. There are disparities in the numbers of individuals affected by disease between low-and-middle-income countries and those in developed nations. Microbes will play in important role in drug discovery: producing anticancer drugs and antimicrobials. Applying One Health principles, to understand the interaction of pathogens and the human host, development of diagnostics, treatments, and disease prevention, applied microbiologists can shape global health and wellbeing outcomes.
News
Tackling tuberculosis systematically: How the environment shapes TB risk
Researchers introduce the concept of the “tuberculogenic environment”: the complex interplay of structures, rules, and living conditions that keep certain communities at high TB risk, even when care is available.
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NewsBacterial cellulose as a sustainable vehicle for the controlled release of nisin and mandelic acid: A clean beauty-based approach for acne treatment
A new study developed a bacterial cellulose-based delivery system loaded with nisin and mandelic acid, targeting acne treatment. Bacterial cellulose, derived from Komagataebacter xylinus, served as a biocompatible, biodegradable matrix to control the release of bioactive compounds.
NewsTrust your gut to heal your brain
Researchers have found that short-term antibiotic treatment significantly reduced neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration following traumatic brain injury (TBI) by altering the gut microbiome in animal models.
NewsA highly precise target for medications against tropical diseases
Researchers have discovered a critical vulnerability shared by the pathogens that cause African sleeping sickness, Chagas disease and leishmaniasis. The PEX38 protein plays a crucial role in the formation of certain organelles of the trypanosomes that are essential for their energy supply.
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News
Fe₃O₄@mPEG-Ag nanoparticles: a new frontier in combating antibiotic resistance
A collaborative study introduces Fe₃O₄@mPEG-Ag nanoparticles (NPs) as a groundbreaking non-antibiotic strategy to combat drug-resistant bacteria, offering the antibacterial properties of silver (Ag) with the stability and biocompatibility of magnetite (Fe₃O₄) modified by methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (mPEG).
NewsImaging technique is step towards needed treatments for hantaviruses in new molecular ma
Researchers have produced a detailed blueprint, the highest resolution yet, for a protein complex the Andes virus uses to infect host cells. The new detailed structural information enabled the researchers to produce a vaccine candidate that caused mice to produce neutralizing antibodies against the Andes virus.
NewsAcoziborole Winthrop receives European Medicines Agency positive opinion as three-tablet, single-dose treatment for most common form of sleeping sickness
The European Medicines Agency has granted a positive opinion to Acoziborole Winthrop (acoziborole) as a single-dose oral treatment for both early- and advanced-stage gambiense sleeping sickness in adults as well as in adolescents 12 years and older weighing at least 40 kilograms.
NewsProtein interplay offers insights into how the immune system recognizes viral RNA
A new study reveals how two proteins cooperate in a key early step of antiviral detection. Using cryo-electron microscopy and high-speed atomic force microscopy, researchers found that LGP2 binds to viral RNA and recruits MDA5 molecules, as if threading beads on a string.
Long ReadsRethinking Blastocystis: a One Health perspective on a common and controversial gut protist worth our attention
Here’s the reality: a stool report that reads “Blastocystis detected” still provokes strong reactions. Some clinicians worry and reach for antibiotics. Some laboratories add a note about “uncertain significance.” Patients search online and find polarised claims ranging from harmless commensal to stealth pathogen. The truth is more nuanced and more ...
NewsUnder the Lens: Nicola Holden and Gil Domingue weigh in on the raw milk debate
The latest episode of Applied Microbiology International’s ‘Under The Lens’ video series turns the spotlight on the contentious issue of raw milk, with AMI Trustee Professor Emmanuel Adukwu interviewing Professor Nicola Holden and Dr Gil Domingue.
NewsGut health home-testing kit outcomes vary between kits and manufacturers
Results and health assessments from gut microbiome home-testing kits vary whether they are produced by the same or different manufacturers. The findings on testing kits from seven providers highlight the need for caution when interpreting or acting on test results, according to the authors.
NewsPeople’s gut bacteria worse in areas with higher social deprivation
Living in a poorer neighbourhood in the UK could impact the make-up of your gut microbiome, potentially leading to worse health. New research found that people living in areas of higher social deprivation have a less diverse range of bacteria in their gut.
NewsScientists identify key protein that stops malaria parasite growth
An international team of scientists have identified a unique protein essential for the malaria parasite’s survival and transmission. Aurora-related kinase 1 (ARK1) acts as a ‘traffic controller’ during the parasite’s unusual cell division and growth process.
NewsNew research highlights how biofilms could influence astronaut health, drug delivery and space agriculture
A global team of scientists has identified an often-overlooked biological system — biofilms — as a critical factor in the future of human space exploration.The team examines how biofilms could pose risks to astronaut health while also serving as powerful tools to sustain life beyond Earth.
NewsScientists uncover mechanism used by three bacteria-killing viruses to target transporter
Biochemists have homed in on an underexplored small transporter called MurJ that is a vital part of the pathway bacteria use to build their chain-mail-like cell wall. Using advanced tools, the scientists have determined the common mechanism used by three different bacteria-killing viruses to block MurJ from doing its job.
NewsScientists identify endangered natural pharmacy hidden in coral reefs
The magnitude of the potential loss of the “natural pharmacy” found in the coral microbiome is demonstrated by a new study which identified new microbial species in corals which have the ability to produce novel substances.
NewsDiffering immune responses in infants may explain increased severity of RSV over SARS-CoV-2
Reseachers report that the two respiratory viruses trigger different immune responses. Those differences might explain why these two diseases have different clinical outcomes and require different treatment strategies.
NewsEmerging class of antibiotics to tackle global tuberculosis crisis
Researchers investigated how three naturally occurring antibiotic compounds – ecumicin, ilamycin and cyclomarin – act on a vital protein degradation machine inside Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes TB.
NewsHPV vaccination provides “sustained protection” against cervical cancer
Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is associated with a significantly reduced risk of invasive cervical cancer, with no indication of waning protection up to 18 years after vaccination, finds a study.
NewsVaccine uptake: Why conspiracy theories can be so irresistible
New research has found that understanding how someone processes information can be a strong predictor of whether they are drawn to conspiracy beliefs that can influence vaccine uptake, trust in institutions and responses to emergencies.
NewsHidden architecture inside cellular droplets reveals new targets for cancer and neurodegeneration
Cells rely on biomolecular condensates to coordinate essential biological processes without surrounding membranes. Scientists long assumed condensates lacked internal organization and functioned as a simple liquid, but a new study has discovered that some are built from intricate networks of thread-like protein filaments.
NewsSingle daily pill shows promise as replacement for complex, multi-tablet HIV treatment regimens
A phase 3 clinical trial has shown that a new, daily oral tablet that combines two current HIV treatment medications – bictegravir and lenacapavir (BIC/LEN) – may simplify treatment significantly for people with HIV who currently take very complex treatments.
NewsUrinary tract infections can trigger delirium and worsen dementia
Urinary tract infections can pose serious risks for older adults, particularly those with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. In older patients, a common UTI can trigger delirium, a medical emergency marked by sudden confusion and altered awareness.