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
Psilocibin or ‘magic mushroom’ use in US increased among all age groups since decriminalization in 2019
The prevalence of psilocybin use in the US has increased across all age groups between 2014 and 2023, with those with mental or physical comorbidities among the most common users.
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NewsStudy: Experimental bird flu vaccine excels in animal models
A vaccine has demonstrated complete protection in mice against a deadly variant of the virus that causes bird flu. It focuses on the H5N1 variant known as 2.3.4.4b, which has caused widespread outbreaks in wild birds and poultry.
NewsFrequent use of antibiotics in infants and young children may increase risk for asthma, allergies and other conditions
Researchers have found that repeated antibiotic use before age 2 is associated with a higher risk for asthma, food allergies and hay fever later in life. These findings also applied to siblings who had different experiences with antibiotics.
NewsAntibiotic-resistant Escherichia albertii on the rise in Bangladeshi chicken shops
Researchers have detected alarming rates of Escherichia albertii in retail chicken meat in Bangladesh. Their findings show extensive contamination and significant antimicrobial resistance, underscoring the potential risks to public health.
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News
The very first structural images of a tuberculosis-fighting virus
Scientists have used advanced imaging techniques to provide a detailed look at how a tiny virus, known as a phage, invades Mycobacteria. The research could pave the way toward phage-based treatments for antibiotic-resistant mycobacteria.
NewsResearchers develop innovative solution for tracking antibiotic resistance genes
Scientists have developed a computational tool, Argo, designed to accurately track ARGs in environmental samples, providing insights into their dissemination and associated risks.
NewsDr. Sabine Ehrt named Chair of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Weill Cornell Medicine
Dr. Sabine Ehrt, an internationally renowned leader in tuberculosis research, has been appointed chair of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Weill Cornell Medicine.
NewsResearchers release phage images with unprecedented detail
Researchers have produced the most detailed image to date of a bacteriophage, that has allowed them to see for the first time the structural makeup of the part of the phage that directly attaches to its target Mycobacterium cell.
NewsGlycan-coated magnets: A game-changer for safer food supply chains
A new method using glycan-coated magnetic nanoparticles (gMNPs) is poised to change the way we detect foodborne pathogens like Escherichia coli and Salmonella in complex food matrices such as melons, lettuce, and raw chicken.
NewsGut microbes release cancer-fighting bile acids that block hormone signals
Bacteria naturally present in the human intestine can transform cholesterol-derived bile acids into powerful metabolites that strengthen anti-cancer immunity by blocking androgen signaling, according to a preclinical study.
NewsA cocktail of drugs may work against a whole family of viruses
Enteroviruses cause everything from polio to meningitis. An effective treatment could help reduce the risk of this global health problem.
NewsNew treatment for cryptococcal meningitis enters Phase II trial
Cryptococcal meningitis, the second-leading cause of HIV-related deaths, is expected to rise as access to care weakens and advanced HIV disease (previously called AIDS) increases.
NewsResearchers unravel the gut health benefits of sauerkraut - and shop-bought is just as good
A new study suggests that sauerkraut could help protect your gut, which is an essential part of overall health, supporting digestion and protecting against illness.
NewsResearchers explore gut microbiota’s role in sleep apnea in new review
A new scientific review highlights emerging connections between gut health and sleep apnea, pointing to potential new therapeutic approaches for managing this common and serious disorder.
NewsResearchers develop UV and machine learning-aided method to detect microbial contamination in cell cultures
This is the first novel technology that utilises machine learning to analyse unique ultraviolet light “fingerprints” on cell cultures to quickly identify the presence of contamination.
NewsNew tool for cutting DNA offers promising prospects for biotechnology
Researchers have developed a new genetic tool based on a family of specific enzymes called Ssn that allows targeted cuts to be induced exclusively in single-stranded DNA. They focused on one of these enzymes in the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis.
NewsBacterium promotes liver regeneration by increasing β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHB) production and BHB-driven STAT3 signals
Parabacteroides distasonis promotes liver regeneration by increasing BHB production and BHB-driven STAT3 signals, providing an argument for using P. distasonis or BHB as a potential strategy for promoting hepatic regeneration after PHx or transplantation.
NewsStudy of oral azvudine versus nirmatrelvir/ritonavir in elderly hospitalized COVID-19 patients
A study used five analytical methods to show that oral azvudine has a therapeutic effect in elderly COVID-19 patients aged over 60 years.
NewsPotential first new antibiotic for gonorrhoea since the 1990s is effective and safe, finds trial
Gepotidacin could be a new treatment to treat gonorrhoea, protecting against the threat of treatment-resistant gonorrhoea and improving patient treatment experiences, suggests the results of a phase 3 randomised control trial.
NewsOropouche virus infections underestimated in Latin America and likely to increase due to climate factors
Environmental factors, such changing temperatures and rainfall, are the main drivers associated with the spread of Oropouche virus (OROV) in Latin America, according to a modelling study.
NewsPatients with multi drug-resistant cholera in Europe linked to exposure to contaminated holy water from Ethiopia
Exposure to holy water from Ethiopia has recently been linked to several cases of cholera in the UK and Germany with a multidrug-resistant Vibrio cholerae strain, according to a new study.
NewsDeadly rodent-borne hantavirus is an emerging disease with pandemic potential
Researchers have found three hotspots of hantavirus circulation in wildlife in the US – Virginia, Colorado, and Texas – and identified 15 rodent species as carriers, including six species that had not previously been identified as hosts of the virus.
NewsDogs could help predict valley fever spread in humans
Valley fever, or coccidioidomycosis, is caused by a fungus that thrives in moist soils and becomes airborne during drought. In a new study, researchers show that dogs, who are also susceptible to the disease, can help us understand its spread.