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
Dog daycare leptospirosis outbreak in Los Angeles reveals broader public health risks
A 2021 outbreak of leptospirosis that sickened more than 200 dogs in Los Angeles County reveals critical gaps in vaccination practices and raises broader concerns about the spread of the disease between animals and people.
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NewsScientists determine how mysterious acids give bacteria their shape
Researchers have discovered how acids on the surface of bacteria give these microscopic organisms their characteristic “rod” shape—by keeping an enzyme at bay that would otherwise turn the cylindrical cells into shape-shifting blobs.
NewsScientists identify nearly two dozen antiviral compounds that could treat Ebola virus
Recent advances in artificial intelligence have enabled scientists to identify nearly two dozen antiviral compounds that could potentially treat a rare species of Ebola virus (Bundibugyo virus) currently affecting the Democratic Republic of Congo.
NewsInsect wing identifying app to tackle tropical disease threat
A mobile app that identifies disease-carrying insects from their wing patterns is being developed as part of a project using AI to help diagnose tropical diseases.
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News
Studies point to new way to fight potentially deadly Valley Fever
To better understand why Valley Fever spreads in some individuals, researchers found that patients with severe illness had an abnormal immune response. In some cases, the immune system was overactive; in other cases it was underactive.
NewsGut microbiome clusters may help predict inflammatory bowel disease severity and progression
A new study reports that the gut microbiome of IBD patients can be grouped into distinct compositional “cluster types” associated with disease severity and progression risk. These reflect higher-order microbial community organization rather than variation in individual bacterial species.
NewsNew urine test for microbial metabolites offers simple way to screen for autism in children
Scientists have developed a new screening tool to test urine for 17 microbial metabolites in children ages 2 to 11 years. By measuring these compounds in urine, they discovered that they could distinguish children with autism from typically developing children in their study groups with high accuracy.
NewsExperimental gene therapy shields brain from toxic protein damage
An experimental gene therapy could help protect the brain from the damage and cognitive decline linked to TDP-43-related proteinopathy, a type of neurodegeneration.
NewsNorth America and Europe could become hotspots for chikungunya virus due to climate change
Enabled by global heating, mosquito-borne chikungunya virus is likely to spread into temperate regions. Under climate change models, the virus will further expand northward into temperate regions, especially northeastern North America, central Europe, and East Asia, researchers say.
NewsInternational leaders in probiotic and prebiotic science to gather in Tokyo for one-day symposium
To help strengthen global collaboration and showcase innovative biotics research, The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) is organizing a scientific symposium on October 6, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan in conjunction with its annual meeting.
NewsNP14 aptamer: A novel biosensing recognition element for mutation-resilient SARS-CoV-2 detection
New research investigated a novel DNA aptamer, NP14, and developed an innovative dual-mode biosensing platform to achieve highly sensitive, mutation-resilient viral detection.
NewsBrazilian medical students increase vaccine confidence
Vaccination coverage in Brazil has declined in recent years. Medical students at the University of Pernambuco designed and delivered a low-cost, two-hour educational intervention for 25 parents and caregivers waiting for routine appointments at a Family Health Unit in Recife.
NewsAutomated EHR alert improved hepatitis B monitoring rates at a primary care clinic
In May 2024, an urban safety-net primary care clinic noted the appearance of a new “care gap” alert in their Epic electronic health record (EHR) system that flagged patients with hepatitis B who were overdue for one blood test, the hepatitis B DNA test.
NewsYeast study uncovers how cells identify and silence unwanted jumping genes
Yeast cells sense abnormal RNA patterns produced by invading transposons and respond by activating pathways to silence them, a study shows. This process extends to any invasive DNA, provided it produces enough RNA disturbance for cells to detect.
NewsICU pneumonia has mortality rates of 37% to nearly 60% in middle-income countries. In high-income countries, rates are16% to 26%
A scientific review evaluated outcomes of adults with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) in middle-income countries. In contrast to high-income countries, where mortality ranges from 16% to 26%, the study found significantly higher rates in the countries analyzed.
NewsNASCAR star’s death shows how sepsis can kill anyone if not caught
Kyle Busch won more races than any driver in NASCAR history. But his own race ended far too soon, cut short by sepsis at the age of 41 after a case of pneumonia.
NewsCheese bacteria could offer health benefits
Scientists identified the microbial and biochemical profiles of three artisan cheeses made locally in Oxfordshire across their maturation process, and found that the bacteria responsible for a cheese’s character could also benefit the people who eat it.
NewsNew immune system enhancer extends COVID-19 vaccine protection reducing need for repeated boosters
Researchers demonstrated that pairing the original COVID-19 mRNA vaccine with an adjuvant extended the duration of the vaccine’s protection in mice from a few months up to two years. The combo also showed a more pronounced response against omicron viral components than the vaccine alone.
NewsStudents develop milk pathogen test kit and win TED Youth Startup Grant
Inspired by the widely used and user-friendly COVID-19 strip test kits, a team of science students has developed a test kit for detecting pathogens in milk and dairy products. They combined the LAMP technique with strip test technology to create a simple screening tool for harmful bacteria.
NewsResearchers investigate soil microbes from around the world for new antibacterial drugs
A team of researchers is looking to nature to find microbes that can be used to create new antibiotics to treat the growing threat of drug-resistant bacteria. They will screen soil microbes from around the world to hunt for sources of new antibacterial drugs.
NewsNew study links gut bacteria to immunotherapy success in melanoma patients
Researchers have identified specific gut bacteria linked to better responses to cancer immunotherapy in patients with advanced melanoma. Patients who responded well to treatment were more likely to have a specific type of gut bacteria called Faecalibacterium.
NewsStudy finds high prevalence of hantavirus in some areas of the Pacific Northwest
A recent study conducted in the Palouse region of Washington and Idaho found that nearly 30% of rodents showed evidence of past infection with the Sin Nombre virus. About 10% were actively infected, meaning they were carrying and could potentially shed the virus.
NewsSurvey highlights persistent uncertainty on STI vaccines
A nationally representative survey of empaneled adults finds that while most Americans understand how STIs spread, there are significant gaps in public knowledge about which infections can be prevented through vaccination.