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
Study reveals dengue virus can infect immune cells meant to fight disease
Researchers have discovered that dengue virus can infect and replicate inside memory B cells, immune cells traditionally understood to help protect the body from infection. It’s a previously unrecognized way the virus may evade immune defenses.
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NewsA new light on the microbiome and its metabolites
Two studies shed new light on how plant-based diets support the gut microbiome. One study reveals that plant fibers and proteins reprogram microbial metabolism to boost production of a healthful species of metabolites, while suppressing that of their harmful counterparts.
NewsNew drug could contribute to stopping measles outbreaks
A new oral antiviral drug candidate administered either before or after direct contact or airborne exposure to canine distemper virus, which causes measles-like disease in ferrets, blocks transmission of the virus and reduces clinical symptoms.
NewsThe fast track to antibiotic resistance
Researchers uncover a hidden mechanism that enables bacteria to rapidly develop antibiotic resistance; disrupting this mechanism could improve the effectiveness of antibiotic treatments.
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News
Floating colonies: engineering three-dimensional microbial architectures in liquid cultures
Researchers develop an innovative platform for engineering three-dimensional microbial structures while preserving molecular diffusion, microbial motility, and growth.
NewsFrom urinary tract infection to brain abscess: How bacterial subpopulations can spread to distant body sites
Researchers present a remarkable clinical case that provides new insights into the evolution of bacterial pathogens and presents the concept of heterovirulence, i.e., the simultaneous presence of subpopulations with different levels of virulence within a single infection.
NewsBeyond antibiotics—a paradigm shift toward bacteria-control-centric therapies
A novel extracellular vesicle platform helps polymyxins kill multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria at lower and potentially safer doses.
NewsPartners in crime produce extreme antibiotic resistance
A study shows how environmental bacteria enter the lungs during an infection and transfer antibiotic resistance genes to disease-causing bacteria.
NewsIndustrial poultry farming is accelerating the spread of a major foodborne disease
A new study reveals that industrial poultry farming has led to more than 100-fold increase in the movement of Campylobacter, allowing strains that once circulated in wild birds to mix extensively in commercial poultry populations.
NewsHow a pandemic detour helped researchers uncover clues to a mysterious disease
Researchers examined the environmental and human factors that influence the distribution of Buruli ulcer, a neglected tropical disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium ulcerans.
NewsGut microbiomes follow distinct trajectories during urbanization across South Asia
An international team of researchers studied communities across India and Sri Lanka to understand the impact of urbanization, local diets, and culture on the gut microbiome.
News A secret weapon against superbugs
A molecular library of potential adjuvants has been used to help restore the activity of vancomycin, a powerful antibiotic widely used to treat serious infections such as MRSA and Clostridium difficile (C. diff).
NewsHow the encephalomyocarditis virus hijacks host protein machinery
Researchers have used cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to decode how the encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) IRES hijacks the host’s protein synthesis machinery.
NewsMany countries overusing powerful antibiotics
Many countries are using too many powerful and inappropriate antibiotics, fuelling antibiotic resistance concerns, while millions lack access to the specific drugs they need. That is according to a major international study of antibiotic use.
NewsIs the licensed Zaire ebolavirus vaccine suitable to combat the current Bundibugyo ebolavirus outbreak?
Researchers provide evidence of possible cross-protection through an already licensed Zaire ebolavirus vaccine.
NewsResearchers find link between gut bacteria byproduct and irregular heart rhythm
A study shows a connection between elevated blood levels of TMAO (trimethylamine N-oxide) — a byproduct of gut bacteria digestion of nutrients found in red meat and other animal products — and a higher risk of atrial fibrillation.
NewsStudy uncovers new path toward fighting malaria
Researchers have discovered that the malaria parasite relies on a specific type of fat to survive and multiply within the human host, uncovering a previously unknown vulnerability that could help guide future treatments.
NewsNew open-access database maps pathogens and antibiotic resistance risks in coastal waters
A new global database brings together information on disease-causing microorganisms, antibiotic resistance genes, and virulence factors in coastal waters, offering a practical tool for assessing biological risks in estuaries and other nearshore environments.
NewsAntibiotic-tolerant bacteria rely on a hidden survival strategy
Scientists have uncovered how S. pneumoniae adapts to antibiotic exposure and immune pressures. Their findings reveal that changes in RNA regulation enable bacteria to enter a state of antibiotic tolerance.
NewsPrebiotic sodas typically contain as much sugar as fiber
Prebiotic sodas have become more popular in recent years. According to a new analysis, however, many of these beverages contain relatively little prebiotic fiber content and more sugar than marketing claims might imply.
NewsHow the most widespread parasite on earth reads its genome
Researchers have uncovered new details about how Toxoplasma controls the timing of protein production, ensuring the right molecular tools are available exactly when they are needed. Two protein complexes manage this process.
NewsResearchers find estrogen-like mycotoxin in every pregnant woman tested
Consuming common foods such as corn chips and popcorn may put pregnant women at risk of being exposed to mycotoxins. A study found hormone-mimicking mycotoxins in 100% of participants.
NewsCan fecal microbe transplantation improve sleep in people with chronic insomnia?
In a randomized clinical trial, ingesting capsules containing fecal microbes from healthy donors helped treat symptoms of insomnia. One month after treatment, participants receiving fecal microbiota capsules showed significantly higher sleep efficiency and reduced wake after sleep onset.