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.
Careers
From microbial processes to biofilm control: our interview with LAM deputy editor Marciane Magnani
We catch up with food microbiologist Professor Marciane Magnani of the Federal University of Paraíba in Brazil who has just been appointed as a Deputy Editor of Letters in Applied Microbiology.
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NewsScientists uncover how pathogens switch on their virulence
A research team has uncovered how a key protein switches on the machinery that enables Leptospira pathogens to survive and cause disease. The findings provide new insights into how pathogens regulate their virulence and may open new avenues for therapeutic interventions.
NewsNew study suggests reduced newborn hepatitis B vaccination coverage may increase infant infections
Researchers found that lower vaccination coverage among infants born to unscreened mothers was associated with a substantial increase in HBV infections.
NewsWhere people get their news influences their beliefs about vaccines
People who follow “new right” media outlets are more than twice as likely to be vaccine-hesitant compared to those who never engage with those outlets, a new study finds. Hesitant adults were more likely to rely on non-authoritative sources for health information.
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News
Global Virus Network statement on H5N1 vaccine developments
The new vaccine momentum reflects the growing urgency of avian influenza (H5N1) threat and reinforces the need for coordinated global preparedness.
NewsResearchers discover new mosquito-specific viruses
A new study looked at mosquitoes’ immune response to discover many more insect viruses. Researchers hope to someday use the mosquitoes’ own immune system to battle some of the most pervasive and antagonistic human viruses.
NewsNew cellular target prevents hepatitis E infection
To replicate, a virus must first enter a host cell. In a recent study, the researchers specifically investigated host cell processes required for successful HEV infection. In doing so, they identified the enzyme PIKfyve as a crucial factor for viral entry.
NewsImmune cells in the nose slow influenza virus
Memory cells in the nose slow the influenza virus as soon as it enters the body. They reduce viral levels and may help protect against more severe illness, according to a study that may help guide the development of better influenza vaccines.
NewsSeparating signal from noise: How African biostatisticians are reshaping the fight against malaria
Biostatistics is unlocking smarter malaria solutions, linking parasite diversity, vaccines, and human behaviour to drive more effective prevention and protection.
NewsThe brain–gut health initiative: A pioneering effort in psychiatric research
Researchers analyze brain imaging data, microbiome profiles, and clinical assessments to identify biomarkers for precision mental healthcare. The Brain–Gut Health Initiative is an ongoing long-term clinical study designed to investigate how interactions between the brain and gut microbiome contribute to psychiatric disorders.
NewsScientists highlight the cost of delaying childhood vaccination
Delaying hepatitis B vaccination after birth increases infections among newborns and decreases their survival rates and quality of life. A new study found that the longer the delay, the higher the cost in human life and health care.
NewsPhage therapy at a turning point: Valencia 2026 to define the next era of antibacterial medicine
The Targeting Phage Therapy 2026 Congress will bring together leading scientists, clinicians, microbiologists, engineers, biotech leaders, regulators, hospital teams, start-ups, and innovators to ask: How can phage therapy move from promising science to accessible, validated, and deployable medicine?
NewsA universal toolkit for editing bacterial DNA
A major collaboration involving nine labs has transferred a particularly useful DNA editing system from E. coli into 14 new species of bacteria, spanning three major branches of the bacterial family tree.
NewsHow AI can help us count the ‘good’ viruses used in biopharmaceuticals
Researchers have developed a new methodology that uses artificial intelligence (AI) tools to identify and count target viruses more efficiently than previous techniques. The new approach can be used in applications such as pharmaceutical biomanufacturing.
NewsFrom precision intervention to a “virtual gut”: how close are we to predicting and steering the human microbiome?
A new review maps how multi-omics and machine learning could turn host-microbiome research from correlation hunting into actionable prediction and personalized therapy.
NewsResearchers deploy phage therapy in new frontier against antimicrobial resistant infectious diseases
A revelatory treatment for patients with life-threatening infectious diseases is being pioneered in Melbourne. VICPhage, a clinical partnership between The Alfred and Monash, is one of the first in Australia to offer end-to-end capacity in phage therapy to treat some of the most challenging infections.
NewsGut microbiota impacts resistance to bacterial pneumonia: Study
A gut-lung connection influences susceptibility to infection by Acinetobacter baumannii, according to a new study. Investigators found that antibiotics disrupt the gut microbiota, suppress protective immune system pathways in the lungs; and increase the severity of pneumonia.
NewsStudy of influenza D in human cells and tissue hints at spillover potential
The influenza D virus that researchers say has been flying under the radar since its detection in animals in 2011 can vigorously make copies of itself in human cells and lung tissue samples, a new study shows.
NewsGene-sharing myth challenged as bacteria shown to police DNA exchange
A new study reveals that bacteria can actively limit the spread of antibiotic resistance genes, using a newly characterized mechanism that blocks DNA transfer between cells. It focuses on how bacteria exchange genetic material through tiny intercellular bridges known as nanotubes.
NewsResearchers develop promising new vaccine against H5N1 bird flu
Researchers have developed a vaccine approach that shows promise in protecting against highly pathogenic bird flu, demonstrating strong efficacy in both mice and cattle. In 2024, the virus spread to dairy cattle and subsequently caused illness in about 70 farm workers with close contact to infected animals.
NewsAmbient air pollution is associated with respiratory infection burden in the first year of life
Ambient air pollution is associated with respiratory infection burden in the first year of life, according to preliminary findings from the Immune Development in Early Life (IDEaL) Rome Cohort.
NewsDetailed map of life-threatening Vibrio bacteria reveals new target for treatment
Scientists have mapped in unprecedented detail the structure of Vibrio bacteria, which can cause life-threatening infections linked to antibiotic resistance. The team behind the study say the finding could provide new targets for life-saving treatment.
NewsComputational approach takes the guesswork out of drug development for Chagas disease
Researchers have established a computational protocol that could accelerate the development of more effective treatments for life-threatening parasitic infections such as Chagas disease, by enabling scientists to accurately identify reactions that can result in successful drug candidates without the need for trial and error.