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.
The same technology used in COVID-19 vaccines could help prevent muscle damage from snakebites, according to scientists who say it could be even more useful for other conditions where toxins cause harm gradually, such as blocking harmful toxins produced by bacteria during infections.
Read storyHow can we monitor the cross-species transmission of avian flu? The answer is FluWarning, a digital system that reports abnormal changes in flu viruses. It analyses their genetic code, looking for subtle but significant changes that could indicate cross-species transmission.
A research team has developed a vaccine made from a non-infectious version of the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus that protects quickly and provides long-lasting immunity.
Scientists have demonstrated that the marine bacterium Photobacterium angustum exhibits potent antitumor effects against colorectal cancer. The natural bacterium requires no genetic modification yet selectively accumulates in tumor tissues with minimal impact on healthy organs.
Researchers have created the most comprehensive map to date showing how antibodies attach to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, and how viral mutations weaken that attachment.
The Global Virus Network (GVN) is awarding pandemic preparedness research grants, totaling $160,000, to scientists across four continents, supporting innovative, investigator-led projects designed to enhance viral surveillance, early detection, and scientific preparedness.
Two new Cochrane reviews show strong and consistent evidence that HPV vaccines are effective in preventing cervical cancer and pre-cancerous changes, especially when given to young people before they are exposed to the virus.
Scientists have devised a way to track the evolution and spread of antibiotic resistance in individual bacteria by measuring competition among plasmids. Plasmids evolve independently but also help drive bacterial evolution, including the development of resistance to antimicrobial compounds. They are the primary way that resistance can jump from one type of bacteria to another.
A toxin-secreting gut bacterium may fuel ulcerative colitis by killing protective immune cells that maintain intestinal homeostasis, according to a new study. The findings suggest potential for new treatment strategies.
Recovery from deadly influenza infection may hinge on helping the lungs heal in addition to stopping the virus, according to a new study in mice, which shows that pairing modest antiviral therapies with immune modulation can restore damaged tissues and lung function, even after severe infection has taken hold.
Garlic extract demonstrates antimicrobial efficacy comparable to other widely used antiseptics and disinfectants, such as chlorhexidine, according to scientists. While garlic-based mouthwash may cause more discomfort than chlorhexidine, it offers longer-lasting residual effects.
A new study has found that the levels of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) present in surface water increase during winter. Flooding, sewer overflows and agricultural run-off all contribute to a cocktail of pollutants that can increase AMR genes in surface water, potentially turning regular bugs into ‘superbugs’.
A new paper outlines how scientists came together to put together the first microbial conservation roadmap under the leadership of Applied Microbiology International President, Professor Jack Gilbert.
Researchers have discovered a novel way to fuse lipid vesicles at neutral pH. By harnessing a fragment of the diphtheria toxin, the team achieved vesicle membrane fusion without the need for pre-treatment or harsh conditions, opening the door to new applications.
Scientists have uncovered how even “low-risk” organic fertilizers like dried poultry manure can inadvertently drive a dramatic surge in dangerous antibiotic resistance genes, once released into vegetable plots used for food crops.
A landmark multi-country clinical trial has shown that a structured, sustainable approach to infection prevention and treatment can save women’s lives, cutting severe maternal infections and deaths by about one-third (32%) compared to usual care.
Scientists have developed an automated, high-throughput system that relies on imaging droplets of biofluids for disease diagnosis in an attempt to reduce the number of consumables and equipment needed for biomedical testing.
The computer model improves on traditional methods like contact tracing by inferring asymptomatic carriers in the spread of antibiotic-resistant infections.
A study in Guatemala found the sources of drinking water people believe to be safe and clean often contain potentially dangerous bacteria. Bottled water sold in large refillable jugs was the most frequently contaminated with coliform bacteria – an indicator of fecal contamination.
UK Biobank has today released the final set of data on nearly 250 metabolites in half a million volunteers. This completes the world’s largest ever metabolomic study, which will help drive treatment strategies for neurological conditions, heart disease and cancer.
A smart toilet design introduced in rural Cambodia was supposed to change lives—keeping families safe and protecting the environment. However, while households reported that they liked the new system, a crucial piece was missing: using it correctly.
A study aiming to identify anti-tularemia drug targets determined the atomic structure and identified its components of the native RibD-enolase protein complex in Francisella novicida.
A novel technology shows over 99.9% effectiveness against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). It centres on a heteromultivalent nanogel: a flexible particle made by crosslinking polymers and adding sugar residues (galactose and fucose) alongside antimicrobial peptides.