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
Cat viruses offer window into human oncogenesis
Cats are not just beloved companions; they are emerging as key “research partners” in unravelling viral cancer mechanisms. A new review explores how feline tumour viruses offer vital insights into human oncology and viral carcinogenesis from a comparative oncology perspective.
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NewsUltrasensitive test reveals evidence of previously undetected tuberculosis in Boston Hospital patients
Researchers have discovered an unexpectedly high prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA (TB DNA) in patients hospitalized in Boston, suggesting that tuberculosis disease may be significantly underdiagnosed in the United States.
NewsUnraveling the complexities of the Borna disease virus 1
Researchers have published the first detailed structural description of the nucleoprotein-RNA complex in the family Bornaviridae. Their observations revealed the three-dimensional structure of this nucleoprotein-RNA complex, showing ring-like assemblies and viral RNA binds in the inner groove.
NewsResearchers uncover how obesity impairs vaccine response
New findings reveal that obesity significantly impaired the quality and longevity of antibody responses to a Pseudomonas aeruginosa vaccine in a mouse model. The impaired antibody production was due to defects in germinal centers.
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Lancet Countdown Europe: New report on health and climate change
Europe’s dependence on fossil fuels is not only making the continent economically and politically vulnerable, it also has dramatic consequences for the population’s health. Growing air pollution, heat damage and the climate-related spread of infectious diseases are looming, warns a new report.
NewsShorter antibiotic courses show similar outcomes to longer use for some pneumonia patients
A multicenter target trial emulation found that for eligible patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), health outcomes were similar whether they received a three- to four-day course of antibiotics or a course lasting five days or more.
NewsExtracellular vesicle RNAs offer new hope for diagnosing and treating chronic inflammatory bowel disease
Extracellular vesicle-associated RNAs can serve as non-invasive biomarkers for early inflammatory bowel disease detection and disease monitoring, and also hold great potential as targets for next-generation targeted therapies, according to a new review.
NewsAutism and ADHD: Epigenetic changes at birth associated with an infant’s microbiome and neurodevelopment
Epigenetic changes present at birth can impact how an infant’s gut microbiome develops during their first year. Researchers also identified specific epigenetic changes and gut microbes that were associated with signs of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and ADHD when the children were three years old.
NewsNew biodegradable wash removes pesticides and extends produce shelf life
Researchers have developed a natural, biodegradable wash that removed up to 96 per cent of pesticide residue from fruit and slowed browning and moisture loss.
NewsTwo research projects to study immune responses to dengue and Zika viruses
Dr. James Earnest, an assistant professor at the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, is leading two new research projects to examine how humans build an immune response to dengue and the Zika virus over time, in pursuit of creating better preventative measures.
NewsBetween 2.4 and 4.1 million people estimated to be living with chronic hepatitis B infection in Europe
Chronic hepatitis B is substantially prevalent across the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA), affecting an estimated 0.7% of the population in the region in 2022, according to a new study.
NewsScientists discover the antibacterial potential of ‘hero’ Korean skincare ingredient
Fans of Korean skincare may be familiar with ‘hero ingredient’ Madecassic acid for its skin-soothing properties, but researchers have revealed its greater potential for use in the battle against antibiotic resistance.
NewsSibling stem cell transplant linked to long-term HIV remission
Long-term HIV remission has been achieved in a patient following a stem cell transplant from a sibling carrying a certain genetic mutation, according to new research.
NewsWildlife trade increases pathogen transmission
A study combining forty years of legal and illegal wildlife import-export data with compilations of host–pathogen relationships found that wild mammals that are traded are 1.5 times more likely to share infectious agents with humans than those that are not involved in trade.
NewsResearchers explore potential link between COVID-19 and lung cancer risk
New findings have identified a potential association between COVID-19 and increased lung cancer risk, driven by underlying biological mechanisms in the lung. The study integrates human clinical data with mechanistic research in animal and cellular models.
NewsNanodisc platform improves vaccine design for Ebola, HIV and more
Scientists have created a platform that allows viral surface proteins to be studied in a form that more closely resembles how they appear naturally, utilizing nanodisc technology where these proteins are embedded into particles made of lipid molecules, preserving them in a membrane-like structure.
NewsTrial assesses safety and effectiveness of two new TB vaccines
Two new vaccines to prevent tuberculosis (TB) are safe for use in adults and children, but they do not offer protection against all forms of TB, finds a large trial from India.
NewsHow cholera bacteria swap defenses against viruses
To survive viral attack, bacteria equip themselves with antiviral immune systems. Vibrio cholerae carries a large genetic element called a sedentary chromosomal integron (SCI). A new study investigates whether the SCI might capture gene cassettes from genetic material entering the cell from the outside.
NewsCould your housemates be changing your gut bacteria?
Living with friends may quietly be altering your gut bacteria - according to a new study. Research on a colony of tiny island birds reveals they share more of their gut bacteria with the birds they spend the most time with.
NewsMethod for amplifying the full genome of human papillomavirus 16 uses overlapping extension polymerase chain reaction
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a double-stranded circular DNA virus with a genome of approximately 7–8 kb. A new study aims to establish an overlapping extension polymerase chain reaction method for the amplification of the entire genome of HPV16.
NewsRethinking the gut microbiome: Health is not about staying the same
Despite decades of research into the gut microbiome, microbiome-based interventions such as probiotics or fecal transplants still produce inconsistent results. Scientists suggest part of the problem may lie not in the microbiome itself, but in how we define what it means to be ‘healthy’.
NewsA smarter way to build vaccines: scientists harness AI to target emerging alphaviruses
Scientists have developed a new computational pipeline that could dramatically accelerate the development of vaccines against a group of mosquito-borne viruses known as alphavirus.
NewsPueraria lobata decoction-derived vesicle-like nanoparticles reveal a novel mechanism for ulcerative colitis treatment
By simulating the traditional decoction process, researchers successfully isolated structurally intact GGD-PDVLNs from dried Pueraria lobata after boiling. These nanoparticles demonstrated remarkable stability in simulated gastric acid and intestinal fluids.