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
Genetics: Oldest-known evidence of plague outbreaks in prehistoric communities
Plague outbreaks dating back to around 5,500 years ago documented in hunter-gatherer communities from southeast Siberia are described in a paper. The findings, based on an analysis of ancient DNA, may be the oldest known evidence of the plague and could shed light on its origins.
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NewsCows vs plants: which milk delivers the greatest health benefits?
New research suggests that cow’s milk has the edge over plant-based alternatives when it comes to bone strength and nutrient absorption.
NewsTropical ocean temperatures drive changes in malaria cases in Malawi
New research shows that temperatures in the tropical Atlantic and Indian Oceans drive year-to-year changes in malaria cases in Malawi.
NewsMicrobes frozen in ancient rubbish heaps help reconstruct ancient Greenlanders’ farms, seal hunts, and toilets
The microbiome of ancient middens in Greenland sheds new light on the daily life of Paleo-Inuit and old Norse communities. Researchers say the middens in the cold Arctic acted like long-term natural experiments, with human- and animal-associated bacterial signals remaining detectable many centuries later.
More One Health
News
The hidden danger of cat lick – a case report with reconstruction
Capnocytophaga canimorsus is a bacterium found in the mouths of dogs and cats. It can cause severe sepsis, and in some cases leads to purpura fulminans (PF), a condition that triggers rapid tissue necrosis.
NewsDietary fiber supplement shows promise for fatty liver, with effects linked to gut microbiota
A study investigating the effects of prebiotic xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) on fatty liver in humans suggest that the fiber supplement may reduce harmful metabolic byproducts in the gut and improve liver health. The composition of the gut microbiota prior to supplementation influences the benefits observed.
NewsRNA barcoding approach reveals previously unknown virus-host relationships
Researchers have uncovered previously unknown relationships between bacteriophages and their bacterial hosts. They found a previously unreported group of bacterial hosts for the well-studied bacteriophage P1 and examine how subtle changes in viral structure influence which microbes a phage can target.
NewsRice husk biochar catalyst breaks down antibiotic pollutant in minutes
A new biochar supported cobalt oxide catalyst rapidly removes levofloxacin from water while revealing a key reaction mechanism for cleaner wastewater treatment.
NewsCan probiotics help treat depression?
In a pilot clinical trial that included older adults with depression receiving standard care, adding probiotic therapy produced modest but meaningful reductions in depressive and anxiety symptoms compared with adding a placebo. However, both groups demonstrated substantial overall improvements during follow-up.
NewsMicrobiome pioneer Jacques Ravel named 2026 Microbiome Medal Laureate
Jacques Ravel, professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and leader in human microbiome research, has been named by the One Health Microbiome Center as the second laureate of the Microbiome Medal.
NewsResearcher secures nearly $4 million NIH grant to advance therapeutic vaccine to help end genital herpes
University of California, Irvine immunologist Lbachir BenMohamed has been awarded a $3.93 million National Institutes of Health grant to develop and test a novel therapeutic vaccine designed to prevent recurrent genital herpes.
NewsStudy uncovers gut microbial patterns linked to Alzheimer’s disease in Puerto Rico - even showing up long before diagnosis
A new investigation into the links between Alzheimer’s disease and the gut microbiome in Puerto Rico has found specific gut microbial patterns associated with cognitive decline, disease severity and genetic risk factors.
NewsTherapeutic vaccine shows mixed efficacy in preventing head and neck cancer recurrence
Researchers explore the effectivity of new therapeutic cancer vaccine in preventing the recurence of human papillomavirus triggered cancers.
NewsHow specific humidity affects flu outbreaks - and what it means under climate change
In temperate regions, flu season is in the winter, while in the tropics, constant low-intensity activity is typically punctuated by two annual peaks—or a surge during the rainy season. Researchers investigated whether specific humidity—the mass of water vapor per unit mass of air—could explain these differing patterns.
OpinionBiopiracy in microbiology: Who owns nature’s resources?
A growing global debate over “biopiracy” is raising urgent questions for microbiologists, researchers, industry and policymakers alike — and Applied Microbiology International is calling on members to help shape the conversation.
NewsJust 10 viral particles can cause H5N1 avian flu infection in cows
Just 10 viral particles of the H5N1 bird flu that caused hundreds of influenza outbreaks in U.S. dairy cattle can cause infection in cows, a new study shows. The research also hints at why the outbreaks have confounded scientists, farmers and livestock handlers hoping to contain and prevent the disease.
NewsPathogens survive conditions on extraterrestrial locations
Microorganisms from our planet could survive on celestial bodies where water is present, such as Mars, reveals a study focusing on simulated space conditions. Our immune system reacts less effectively to pathogens that have undergone such a simulated space journey.
NewsCohabitating people share about a quarter of their gut and oral microbiota
People who live together share more oral and gut microbes with each other than with other people in their communities, according to a study. Researchers also found a link between more transmissible microbes and health, particularly type 2 diabetes.
NewsWastewater analysis offers a new way to monitor HIV in communities
Human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) detection in wastewater offers a novel approach to monitor the virus in communities. Hybrid-capture genetic sequencing allows researchers to analyze viral genomes in detail and specifically identify viral signals coming from community wastewater.
NewsYour gut talks to your liver: Study reveals how microbes influence liver function through DNA ‘switches’
Researchers have uncovered how the gut microbiome can influence gene activity in the liver by acting on short stretches of regulatory DNA that function like molecular “switches”.
NewsShingles vaccine linked to lower dementia risk in older adults, study suggests
A target trial emulation of older adults entering skilled-nursing facilities found that those who received the recombinant shingles vaccine (RZV) had a lower risk of developing dementia over the following four years compared with those who were not vaccinated.
NewsPandemic may have reshaped England’s medication use
Medication dispensing patterns in England shifted during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an analysis of national primary care dispensing data. The use of some treatments recovered to or exceeded pre-pandemic levels, including medications for cardiovascular disease and diabetes; the use of others remained lower.
NewsResearch forecasts global antimicrobial resistance threats for the next two decades
New research has analysed antimicrobial resistance (AMR) on a global scale to predict how resistance patterns could evolve by the year 2050, identifying around 210 resistance traits that could pose the greatest future risk.