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
Antibiotic resistance among key bacterial species plateaus over time
Scientists studying eight key bacterial species found that while antibiotic resistance initially rises in response to antibiotic use, it does not rise indefinitely. Instead, resistance rates reached an equilibrium over the 20-year period in most species.
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NewsThe beginning of the end: Setting a global target for rubella eradication
Scientists discuss the 2024 World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendation for universal introduction of rubella-containing vaccines (RCVs) into childhood vaccination programs in all countries – particularly in the remaining 19 countries that have yet to do so.
NewsSome gut bacteria could make certain drugs less effective
Researchers discovered that gut bacteria can metabolize oral administered drugs that target G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) and potentially other chemicals and food compounds, leading to impacts on the effectiveness of medication to patients.
NewsWestern diet causes inflammation, traditional African food protects
A study showed that traditional African diets, rich in fiber, fermented food and vegetables, have higher health benefits that boost immunity and reduce the risk of developing lifestyle diseases, compared to the high calorie and high saturated fats in the Western diet.
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News
An intelligent device for detecting infections using the temperature of the skin
Based on a flexible, self-sustaining thermoelectric system, scientists created an intelligent temperature-sensing device to detect inflammations and infections, which can assist clinical decisions upon monitoring wounds and lesions.
NewsNew carrier birds brought avian flu to Europe, Americas
Unexpected wild species, from pelicans to peregrine falcons, are transporting the virus from poultry farms to new places around the world and changing where the risk of outbreaks is highest.
NewsNew antibiotic for multidrug resistant superbug triggers suicide mechanism
Researchers have discovered a new class of antibiotic that selectively targets Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the bacterium that causes gonorrhoea.
NewsMulti-resistance in bacteria predicted by AI model
An AI model can predict whether bacteria will become antibiotic-resistant. The study shows that antibiotic resistance is more easily transmitted between genetically similar bacteria and mainly occurs in wastewater treatment plants and inside the human body.
NewsPrecision medicine could be possible in the fight against antibiotic resistance
The first-of-its-kind in-depth bacterial evolutionary map could pave the way for the development of precision treatments for certain antibiotic-resistant infections, such as urinary tract infections.
NewsPinning down the process of West Nile virus transmission
A US project aims to use mathematical models to analyze how factors like temperature, light pollution, and bird and mosquito abundance affect West Nile virus transmission. The ultimate goal is to advise health departments of the best time of year to kill the bugs.
NewsSurgical fixation for infected sites in pyogenic spondylodiscitis inhibits bone destruction and promotes healing
Pyogenic spondylodiscitis is caused by bacterial infections of the spine and intervertebral discs. Researchers investigated how osterior fixation, in which the normal spine is fixed with pedicle screws and rods to stabilize the infected site, suppresses infection.
NewsHidden virus harboured by fruit flies may influence experimental accuracy
A new study suggests the presence of Nora virus in laboratory strains of Drosophila fruit flies influences their resilience to stress and bacterial infection and can confound experimental studies of ageing.
NewsChemical radar enables bacteria to detect and kill predators
Researchers have identified a previously unknown defense mechanism of Pseudomonas syringae. They were able to show how the bacterium uses a chemical radar to recognize and eliminate hostile amoebae.
NewsUK’s first water monitoring center launched to act as early-warning system for disease outbreaks and community health
The University of Bath is launching the UK’s first early-warning public health surveillance system based on detecting tiny traces of chemicals and biological markers found in water.
NewsNew agent inhibits Staphylococcus aureus toxin – hope for pneumonia patients
Researchers have developed a miniaturized test system that allowed them to screen over 180,000 compounds for their ability to block the effect of the key virulence factor α-hemolysin in S aureus. Drug candidates from the quinoxalinedione class, in particular the compound H052, proved to be highly effective, both in cell culture and in animal models.
NewsEdible biofilm based on pomegranate peel extract extends the shelf life of strawberries
Fruit coated with the material showed 11% less weight loss during storage and took longer to start becoming contaminated by fungi.
NewsUse of antifungals in agriculture may increase resistance in an infectious yeast
Genomic changes in the infectious yeast Candida tropicalis may play a role in its resistance to antifungals, according to a new study. These genomic changes can be brought on by a common antifungal, TBZ. The study demonstrates that the use of TBZ in agriculture may contribute to the increasing problem of antifungal resistance.
NewsA new model is validated to predict the growth of listeria in artisanal fresh cheeses
Researchers have developed a new mathematical model capable of predicting the growth of listeriosis within food, making it possible to estimate the shelf lives of food products under different foreseeable storage conditions.
NewsFAU secures $1.3 million NIH grant for breakthrough in HIV self-test technology
To address the urgent need for a reliable, rapid and affordable self-test for early HIV detection, researchers have been awarded phase-II of a five-year, $1.3 million grant which will support the development of an innovative disposable microchip technology designed for HIV-1 self-testing during the first two weeks post-infection.
NewsNew Cedars-Sinai study shows how specialized diet can improve gut disorders
A new study examined whether a specialized diet could improve symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders linked to an imbalance in gut microbiota. The research tested the elemental diet’s effectiveness and explored whether improving its unappealing taste— a major barrier—could help patients adhere to the diet’s stringent protocol.
NewsScreening tool tests bee colonies by mimicking pheromones of death
A screening tool tests colonies for hygienic behavior by mimicking the pheromones emitted by sick or dying bees. The test can identify colonies resistant to several pests and pathogens that can decimate bee populations such as Vairimorpha (known to many beekeepers as Nosema) and fungal infections including chalkbrood.
NewsMany TB cases may have gone undetected in prisons in Europe and the Americas during COVID-19
A new study found that reported diagnoses for tuberculosis were consistently lower than expected throughout the pandemic, even though incarceration rates remained largely consistent.
NewsMpox could become a serious global threat, scientists warn
Mpox has the potential to become a significant global health threat if taken too lightly. Scientists highlight how mpox – traditionally spread from animals to humans – is now showing clear signs of sustained human-to-human transmission.