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
mRNA flu vaccine offers immune protection against wide array of influenza virus strains
A new study has found that an investigational mRNA influenza vaccine helps the immune system recognize a wider range of influenza viruses than today’s standard flu shot, offering stronger and potentially longer-lasting protection. The vaccine, developed by Moderna, is currently under review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
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NewsStudy reveals 45 new toxins produced by bacteria associated with foodborne infections
Researchers have discovered 45 new toxins produced by Salmonella bacteria, some of which are associated with foodborne infections. The study shows that these substances primarily act in the competition among microorganisms for space and resources.
NewsA gut bacteria molecule may calm intestinal inflammation by turning down cellular energy
A new study suggests enterobactin, a molecule produced by gut bacteria, could offer a new pathway for treating inflammatory bowel disease.
NewsMetformin given during acute COVID-19 infection reduced risk of clinician-diagnosed long Covid by 50%
New findings from the ACTIV-6 randomized clinical trial provide important confirmation of prior clinical trial results that metformin, a widely available and inexpensive medication with an established safety record, reduced the risk of clinician-diagnosed long COVID when started during acute COVID-19 infection.
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News
How exercise fights implant infections: Muscle hormone “musclin” unveiled as a key defender
A new study reveals how the exercise-induced myokine musclin reprograms macrophage metabolism to clear dead cells and treat periprosthetic joint infections.
NewsGut bacteria linked to osteoporosis risk in primary hyperparathyroidism
Researchers studying primary hyperparathyroidism, a common endocrine disorder characterized by excessive secretion of parathyroid hormone, have identified Bifidobacterium longum as a potential microbial driver of bone loss through immune-mediated mechanisms.
NewsScientists track breakthrough single-dose vaccines for Andes hantavirus strain
Researchers report the development of new vaccines that, in animal testing, provided full protection against the deadly Andes hantavirus after a single dose. They are working to fast-track these single-dose vaccines into human clinical trials.
NewsAntibody clues could improve long Covid care and prognosis
Researchers have found that SARS-CoV-2 antibody patterns may help assess infection history, symptom severity, and cognitive complications in long Covid.
NewsResearchers investigate the underlying causes of post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome
With an estimated one million Americans afflicted with post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome, newly funded research seeks to determine whether the condition is triggered by a persistent autoimmune response, and if a test can be devised to pinpoint who is more likely to develop it.
NewsElsevier launches Ebola Information Center with free clinical and research resources
Elsevier has launched an Ebola Information Center to provide healthcare professionals, researchers, policy makers and the public with free access to critical clinical and research information to support the global response to this outbreak.
NewsStudy deploys DNA to track infectious bacteria from raccoons via rivers to humans
The emerging infectious bacterium Escherichia albertii has caused outbreaks of severe food poisoning and hospitalized people through contaminated water and foods, such as salad ingredients. A new study suggests a pathway by which invasive raccoons transmit infections to humans.
NewsMolecular anchors on gut phages may open new avenues for therapeutic development
A new study has identified phage surface proteins acting as molecular anchors. These proteins confer phages with the ability to attach to human cells. Using genetic engineering, the researchers transferred these adhesion proteins onto the surface of another phage that otherwise lacked this ability.
NewsSugar-free diets may disrupt gut microbiome
Eliminating sugar from your diet may be more detrimental than previously thought, according to an animal study. Mice fed a sucrose-free diet developed impaired glucose control, insulin resistance, gut microbial imbalance, intestinal inflammation and fatty liver changes, despite having no significant differences in body weight compared with control mice.
NewsMicroscope breakthrough will open unprecedented view into cells
In a landmark achievement in biological imaging, researchers have announced the successful demonstration of the laser phase plate, a novel device that dramatically improves the contrast of images produced by cryo-electron microscopes, opening up an entirely new view of human biology.
NewsExploring potential of virovory in combating harmful algal blooms
Toxic cyanobacterial blooms can close lakes, contaminate drinking water and pose risks to human health. A new project is exploring an unlikely tool for mitigating these blooms: virovory, the phenomenon of organisms eating viruses as a food source.
NewsAsk the expert: World Cup travel and Ebola risk
Luis Ostrosky, MD, division chief of infectious diseases at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston and chief epidemiology officer for Memorial Hermann Health System addresses the Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda and how the United States could be affected through travel.
NewsLouse-borne relapsing fever: How the pathogen evades the immune system
A research team has now identified and characterized five closely related proteins that are crucial for the survival of Borrelia recurrentis in the human body. These so-called Chi proteins appear to have evolved from a common ancestor and are therefore considered homologous.
NewsFasting-mimicking diet reduces gum disease inflammation
A new study highlights how lifestyle modifications could be important alongside plaque control in managing gum disease. While fasting has been linked to reduced inflammation around the body, this is the first to establish a relationship with gum disease too.
NewsAs California warms, cases of dengue fever are expected to grow
Historically, dengue fever has been rare in California. But according to new research, a warming climate is making parts of the state more hospitable to the illness — and the mosquitoes that carry it.
NewsClimate-driven dengue surge: Predicting future outbreak risk across Costa Rica
Scientists have developed a practical framework for predicting how shifting temperature and precipitation patterns could influence dengue fever outbreaks across Costa Rica.
NewsGLP-1s may alleviate depression in mice through the microbiome
Some people taking GLP-1 drugs for diabetes and obesity experience mental health benefits. In a mouse model study, researchers report that these improvements appear to result from gut microbiome changes that lead to an abundance of a microbe strain known to have a favorable effect on neurons related to stress.
NewsScientists probe antiviral molecules in bacteria that target bacteriophages
Researchers have examined the antiviral molecule daunorubicin, produced by Streptomycetes, and decoded its mode of operation against viruses. They now describe this mechanism, which primarily targets a specific group of viruses – namely bacteriophages.
NewsChina’s psittacosis knowledge gap: A scoping review calls for coordinated action
Psittacosis—a bacterial pneumonia transmitted from birds to humans—is experiencing a notable resurgence in China. A new review presents a sobering picture: psittacosis is epidemiologically substantive, clinically serious, and chronically underserved by institutional resources and public health infrastructure.