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
Tire microplastics may accelerate the spread of antibiotic resistance in cities
A new perspective article suggests that tire microplastics could create environmental hotspots that help antibiotic resistance genes persist, move between bacteria, and spread through cities.
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NewsYour gut can get jet lag too
Researchers say post-travel symptoms such as fatigue, sleep disturbances, low energy levels, and digestive issues may be caused by more than just classic jet lag. Evidence suggests that time zone changes also affect the trillions of bacteria living in our intestines.
NewsTissue-resident immune cells defend human lungs from viral, bacterial, and fungal infections
A study shows that human lung tissue serves as a “reservoir” for a large number of tissue-resident memory T cells.. These cells stand ready to combat a surprising range of viruses, bacteria, and even deadly fungal pathogens.
NewsStudy shows targeted school closures can improve pandemic response
New research shows that school closures during a pandemic outbreak are most effective when they are carefully targeted. The study demonstrates that the right strategy depends on which age groups are driving transmission at different stages of an outbreak.
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News
New discoveries on genes involved in lysine biosynthesis and fungal virulence in Cryptococcus neoformans
A new study suggests that disrupting the lysine biosynthesis pathway represents a promising avenue for drug development against Cryptococcus neoformans, a fatal fungal meningitis pathogen.
NewsRemdesivir for COVID-19 linked to better outcomes for adult kidney transplant recipients
Adults with kidney transplants who were treated for COVID-19 with the antiviral remdesivir within a week of diagnosis were less likely than kidney transplant recipients who did not receive the antiviral to experience cardiovascular or kidney problems up to a year later.
NewsNew blood test for tuberculosis could reduce the spread of this top global infectious-disease killer
A new study found that a simple blood test could accurately identify tuberculosis (TB) — a leading cause of death worldwide — among patients with varying degrees of exposure to the disease.
NewsDespite progress towards eliminating hepatitis in Europe, gaps in prevention measures keep 2030 targets out of reach
Viral hepatitis remains a significant public health challenge across Europe but childhood vaccination against hepatitis B and provision of harm reduction services show results.
NewsNew antibiotic mechanism triggers hope for new treatments in fight against resistance
A team studied the bacterium Coxiella burnetii to investigate why it is so sensitive to doxycycline. They found antibiotic molecules stack upon each other to block the ribosome exit channel, revealing a new mechanism for how doxycycline disarms the bacterium.
NewsUniversity licenses indigenous Thai probiotic technology to Greater Pharma for commercialization
Chulalongkorn University, through the CU Innovation Hub, has signed a licensing agreement with Greater Pharma Manufacturing Co., Ltd. to transfer probiotic technology developed from indigenous Thai microbial strains.
NewsBugs as drugs: Engineered gut bacteria show promise against pancreatic cancer
Cancer immunotherapies have transformed treatment for many cancers, but pancreatic cancer remains especially difficult to treat. One major reason is that pancreatic tumors often create a “cold” tumor microenvironment, where the tumor prevents immune cells from mounting a strong attack.
NewsResearch on foul odors and open wounds targets flesh-eating screwworm
Scientists are studying foul-smelling substances to figure out what attracts the New World screwworm to its favorite meal – open wounds – to develop better lures for trapping this serious threat to the livestock industry.
NewsAI and robotics accelerate search for better gut microbiome therapies
Biomedical engineers have demonstrated a method for systematically developing novel, complex combinations of probiotics and prebiotics to more effectively maintain gut health and treat various gastrointestinal diseases.
NewsStudy 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.
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.
NewsFloating 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.