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
DNA from Napoleon’s 1812 army identifies the pathogens likely responsible for the army’s demise during their retreat from Russia
Microbial paleogenomicists extracted DNA from the teeth of soldiers from Napoleon’s ill-fated invasion of the Russian Empire and found no trace of typhus. Instead, they identified two pathogens known to cause enteric fever and relapsing fever.
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NewsProtection against winter vomiting bug spread with arrival of agriculture
Norovirus clears up after a couple of days, but the protection it provides is short-lived, meaning that the same person can fall repeatedly sick in a short space of time. But some people cannot succumb to the virus, thanks to a particular gene variant whose historical spread has now been traced.
NewsStudy uncovers origins of urban human-biting mosquito, shedding light on uptick in West Nile virus spillover from birds to humans
The research disproves the theory that the mosquito evolved in the London underground by dating the mosquito’s origin back over 1,000 years and identifies the genetic links between bird-biting and human-biting mosquitoes, key to West Nile transmission.
NewsNearly 1 in 5 urinary tract infections linked to contaminated meat
A new study estimates that nearly one in five urinary tract infections in Southern California may be caused by E. coli strains transmitted through contaminated meat – and people living in low-income neighborhoods are at the greatest risk.
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Study links multiple sclerosis with distinct oral microbiome
Researchers have produced the most comprehensive genetic and metabolic analysis to date of the oral microbiome associated with multiple sclerosis (MS). They found that people with MS have a distinct oral microbiome compared to healthy individuals.
NewsNew compound cuts off protein supply to parasites
There is an urgent need for new active ingredients that are capable of circumventing existing resistances in malaria. Researchers have now identified a new drug candidate, ’Substance 31’, which could enable the development of a new malaria drug.
CareersSummer studentship: Owen investigates how fungal hyphae interact with lung cells
Owen Nicholson reports back on his AMI-sponsored summer studentship which investigated the role of Piezo1 in the immune response during fungal invasion of the human lung at the University of East Anglia.
NewsAI tool beats humans at detecting parasites in stool samples, study finds
Scientists have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) tool that detects intestinal parasites in stool samples more quickly and accurately than traditional methods, potentially transforming how labs diagnose parasitic infections around the world.
NewsDangerous E. coli strain blocks gut’s defense mechanism to spread infection
When harmful bacteria invade through the digestive tract, gut cells usually fight back by pushing infected cells out of the body to stop the infection from spreading. Scientists have discovered that a dangerous strain of E. coli can block gut this defense, allowing the bacteria to spread more easily.
NewsDusty air is rewriting your lung microbiome
Dust from California’s drying Salton Sea doesn’t just smell bad. Scientists found that inhalation of airborne dust collected close to the shallow, landlocked lake alters both the microbial landscape and immune responses in mice that were otherwise healthy.
NewsRare virus transmitted by rats infects woman in Germany—link to private pet rat breeding facility
The Seoul virus, which has been rarely detected in Germany to date and can be transmitted by rats, caused a woman to become seriously ill. Given that rats are becoming increasingly popular as pets, health experts view this as a warning sign.
NewsBacteria deliver synthetic, animal-free way to grow organoids in 3D
Researchers have developed a completely animal-free gel to grow organoids, miniature three dimensional versions of organs. By combining the bacterial protein invasin with a synthetic gel, they created an environment in which organoids can grow and expand long-term.
NewsCommon source, common food vehicle: investigations of recurring Salmonella Strathcona outbreaks in Europe since 2011
Across 17 countries and over a time span of 14 years, 662 cases of the rare Salmonella type have been identified – and linked to small tomatoes from Sicily.
NewsReport explores health, economic, and societal benefits of vaccination
A new report provides evidence on the advantages of immunization for individual and population health, economic outcomes, and societal well-being. Studies show that every $1 spent on childhood vaccines saves about $11 in avoided medical costs and preserved productivity.
NewsBabies born eight to ten weeks early can be safely milk fed without risk of gut complications, finds a new study
A major study has found that babies born between eight to ten weeks early can be fed with milk through a tube in their stomach straight after birth rather than being given intravenous feeds through a drip.
NewsGlobal platform for pandemic preparedness to be established at DTU National Food Institute
A new global online infrastructure aims to prevent disease outbreaks from developing into pandemics. DTU National Food Institute in Denmark will serve as the focal point for the new infrastructure. Work to build the platform will begin on 1 January 2026.
NewsScientists develop a way to track donor bacteria after fecal microbiota transplants
Researchers have developed a new technology to track beneficial bacteria for up to 5 years after fecal microbiota transplants (FMT). The method allows scientists to distinguish even closely related bacterial strains and identify each one’s unique genetic “fingerprint.”
NewsNew role of gut bacteria provides hope for a novel IBS treatment
Research clarifies the complex interaction between gut bacteria and IBS, identifying two bacteria that together can produce serotonin: Limosilactobacillus mucosae and Ligilactobacillus ruminis.
NewsHow to hack your microbiome for lifelong health
A new book, The Microbiome Master Key, dissects the latest microbiome research, dispels common myths and provides simple, science-backed tips on how to leverage your microbiome to promote healthy living and aging.
NewsNew insights into malaria could reshape treatment
A sodium pump essential to the malaria parasite’s survival, PfATP4, has emerged as one of the most attractive drug targets. A new study presents the first high-resolution 3D structure of PfATP4 and identifies a previously unknown but essential binding partner.
NewsUS funding cuts could result in nearly 9 million child tuberculosis cases, 1.5 million child deaths
A new study projects that US funding cuts to global health aid will have a catastrophic effect on pediatric TB, with children in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia likely to experience a spike in preventable cases and deaths over the next decade.
NewsNew platform for the production of versatile active ingredients
With the help of a newly developed chemo-enzymatic platform, researchers have succeeded in producing a large number of different furanolides in larger quantities and characterizing their biological activity.
NewsMosquito saliva may hold clues to fighting chikungunya inflammation
Scientists have uncovered a surprising mechanism showing how mosquito saliva can alter the human body’s immune response during chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection - it not only transmits the virus but also influences how the body’s immune system responds.