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
The nose knows: Electric schnoz can smell when your food’s gone bad
A new “electronic nose” can detect the scents associated with spoiled food much more accurately than the human nose. It can also sniff out the presence of common food allergens, like walnuts and peanuts, which can be deadly for those with sensitivities.
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NewsEbola virus hides in the central nervous system, according to new research
Ebola virus can survive unnoticed in the human body for months or even years, hiding in areas with little immune surveillance like the central nervous system. Using a cerebral organoid model, researchers have gained valuable insights into the mechanisms of Ebola virus persistence.
NewsFoods containing heat-inactivated bacteria help reduce gum bleeding and improve inflammatory conditions
Continuous consumption of foods containing heat-inactivated Lactiplantibacillus pentosus can help reduce gum bleeding, report researchers. These postbiotic foods can improve inflammatory conditions and enhance gum health in adults with mild gingivitis.
NewsThe drive to protect Missouri’s $4 billion cattle industry from tick threats
A tiny parasite-carrying tick is posing an outsized threat to Missouri’s cattle. Now, researchers are stepping in to protect the state’s $4 billion cattle industry by tracking different ways the American dog tick spreads a deadly disease known as bovine anaplasmosis.
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News
The greener the street view, the richer the microbiota?
A new study investigates how the Green View Index (GVI) relates to the richness and diversity of bacteria in the Taipei metropolitan area in Taiwan. The more vegetation in the area, the richer its microbial community.
NewsAI unlocks the secrets of viruses: Birth of large protein structures for vaccine delivery
An international research team has succeeded in designing large-scale protein structures that faithfully replicate the self-assembly principles found in naturally occurring viruses, using artificial intelligence (AI).
NewsResearchers find a common weakness in major gut pathogens
The bacteria enterotoxigenic E. coli and Shigella together cause hundreds of millions of infections each year and are among the leading causes of diarrheal death, especially in children. A shared biological feature of these gut pathogens could lead to a vaccine that protects against both.
NewsMachine-learning how to overcome antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea
An AI-enabled antibiotic discovery proves effective at identifying new chemical structures and targets in the constant fight against antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea.
NewsAlluring yeast species could yield new mosquito traps to combat malaria
An orange-colored yeast species isolated from a Baltimore sidewalk several years ago could be the basis of eco-friendly mosquito traps that reduce malaria transmission, according to a new study.
NewsGenetics: Oldest-known evidence of plague outbreaks in prehistoric communities
Plague outbreaks dating back to around 5,500 years ago documented in hunter-gatherer communities from southeast Siberia are described in a paper. The findings, based on an analysis of ancient DNA, may be the oldest known evidence of the plague and could shed light on its origins.
NewsCows vs plants: which milk delivers the greatest health benefits?
New research suggests that cow’s milk has the edge over plant-based alternatives when it comes to bone strength and nutrient absorption.
NewsTropical ocean temperatures drive changes in malaria cases in Malawi
New research shows that temperatures in the tropical Atlantic and Indian Oceans drive year-to-year changes in malaria cases in Malawi.
NewsMicrobes frozen in ancient rubbish heaps help reconstruct ancient Greenlanders’ farms, seal hunts, and toilets
The microbiome of ancient middens in Greenland sheds new light on the daily life of Paleo-Inuit and old Norse communities. Researchers say the middens in the cold Arctic acted like long-term natural experiments, with human- and animal-associated bacterial signals remaining detectable many centuries later.
NewsThe hidden danger of cat lick – a case report with reconstruction
Capnocytophaga canimorsus is a bacterium found in the mouths of dogs and cats. It can cause severe sepsis, and in some cases leads to purpura fulminans (PF), a condition that triggers rapid tissue necrosis.
NewsDietary fiber supplement shows promise for fatty liver, with effects linked to gut microbiota
A study investigating the effects of prebiotic xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) on fatty liver in humans suggest that the fiber supplement may reduce harmful metabolic byproducts in the gut and improve liver health. The composition of the gut microbiota prior to supplementation influences the benefits observed.
NewsRNA barcoding approach reveals previously unknown virus-host relationships
Researchers have uncovered previously unknown relationships between bacteriophages and their bacterial hosts. They found a previously unreported group of bacterial hosts for the well-studied bacteriophage P1 and examine how subtle changes in viral structure influence which microbes a phage can target.
NewsRice husk biochar catalyst breaks down antibiotic pollutant in minutes
A new biochar supported cobalt oxide catalyst rapidly removes levofloxacin from water while revealing a key reaction mechanism for cleaner wastewater treatment.
NewsCan probiotics help treat depression?
In a pilot clinical trial that included older adults with depression receiving standard care, adding probiotic therapy produced modest but meaningful reductions in depressive and anxiety symptoms compared with adding a placebo. However, both groups demonstrated substantial overall improvements during follow-up.
NewsMicrobiome pioneer Jacques Ravel named 2026 Microbiome Medal Laureate
Jacques Ravel, professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and leader in human microbiome research, has been named by the One Health Microbiome Center as the second laureate of the Microbiome Medal.
NewsResearcher secures nearly $4 million NIH grant to advance therapeutic vaccine to help end genital herpes
University of California, Irvine immunologist Lbachir BenMohamed has been awarded a $3.93 million National Institutes of Health grant to develop and test a novel therapeutic vaccine designed to prevent recurrent genital herpes.
NewsStudy uncovers gut microbial patterns linked to Alzheimer’s disease in Puerto Rico - even showing up long before diagnosis
A new investigation into the links between Alzheimer’s disease and the gut microbiome in Puerto Rico has found specific gut microbial patterns associated with cognitive decline, disease severity and genetic risk factors.
NewsTherapeutic vaccine shows mixed efficacy in preventing head and neck cancer recurrence
Researchers explore the effectivity of new therapeutic cancer vaccine in preventing the recurence of human papillomavirus triggered cancers.
NewsHow specific humidity affects flu outbreaks - and what it means under climate change
In temperate regions, flu season is in the winter, while in the tropics, constant low-intensity activity is typically punctuated by two annual peaks—or a surge during the rainy season. Researchers investigated whether specific humidity—the mass of water vapor per unit mass of air—could explain these differing patterns.