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
How gut bacteria and acute stress are linked
Researchers have demonstrated for the first time that, in healthy adults, the diversity of gut bacteria and their capacity to produce certain metabolites are associated with the acute stress response - particularly stress reactivity.
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NewsAncient viruses serving as gene delivery couriers to help bacteria resist antibiotics
Research has shed important new light on the enemies-turned-allies that allow bacteria to exchange genes, including those linked to antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
NewsDon’t build the engine, grow it: biohybrid miniature robots using living organisms
By fusing living organisms like bacteria, algae, and insects with synthetic payloads, researchers are creating living biohybrid miniature robots that self-fuel, self-repair, and navigate environments that would paralyze a rigid silicon chip.
NewsFoxes and birds could be ‘early warning system’ to survey spread of antibiotic resistance into ecosystems
Wildlife monitoring could alert us to the spread of highly antibiotic resistant bacteria into unexposed ecosystems, highlighting a potential public health strategy.
More One Health
News
Color test ‘sniffs out’ dangerous staph strains fast
Researchers have developed a rapid colour-changing test that can distinguish between different strains of golden staph, including those likely to be virulent and antibiotic resistant.
NewsAncient tooth reveals the bacterium responsible for scarlet fever was not introduced to the Americas by Europeans
A research team has identified the Streptococcus pyogenes bacterium in a pre-Columbian Bolivian mummy and, for the first time, reconstructed the genome of this centuries-old pathogen.
NewsNovel research reveals the active role that skin cells play in rabies infection
A new study provides direct evidence that keratinocytes can support viral replication and transmit the rabies virus to neurons. The investigators offer a mechanistic explanation for how superficial skin exposures from scratches or minor bites by dogs and bats can lead to neuroinvasion.
NewsStudy reveals new way to strengthen immunity against the flu
A new vaccine model targets epitopes, specific but distinct regions of the protein on the surface of the influenza virus. The model includes different versions of epitopes in hopes of redirecting how the immune system responds.
NewsPoor hygiene and food handling practices increase the risk of bacterial outbreaks in Brazilian households
A significant number of Brazilians engage in improper food hygiene and handling practices at home. Examples include washing meat in the kitchen sink and failing to properly wash vegetables.
NewsAs syphilis cases rise, study links infection with higher risk of stroke, heart attack and other serious cardiovascular problems
Adults with later-stage syphilis are more likely to develop major cardiovascular problems – including stroke, heart attack or aortic aneurysm – than similar patients without the infection. The increased risk is primarily found in those whose infection progressed longer than a year.
NewsSelf-propulsion or slow diffusion: How bacteria, cells, and colloids respond to stimuli
One enables them to quickly leave an environment; the other helps them move toward where they are needed. In microorganisms, as well as in artificial structures, these are the movements triggered in response to incoming and outgoing signals.
NewsFirst continent-wide map of dominant avian influenza strain explains its spread
Scientists provided the most complete view of bird flu’s spread through wild bird populations across North America, explaining how the dominant strain advanced, maintaining the risk of human infections.
NewsStudy reveals genome-wide host–virus genetic interactions in cancer risk
Researchers report a major advance in understanding how interactions between human and viral genomes shape disease risk. They found that variations in the Epstein–Barr virus, together with a specific immune-related gene (HLA-A*11:01), strongly influence the risk of nasopharyngeal cancer.
NewsGut microbiome serves as key driver for bacterial infection outcomes for fatty liver disease
Researchers found that metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease dramatically worsens outcomes following infection with Vibrio vulnificus, a potentially life-threatening foodborne bacterium commonly associated with seafood consumption.
NewsExtend vaccination opportunities and involve community members in communicating about vaccines to boost uptake, say researchers
Extending vaccination opportunities, involving community members alongside healthcare professionals in communicating about vaccines, and providing financial incentives are among the most effective ways to increase vaccine uptake.
News American microbiologist behind global water safety breakthrough wins 2026 Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize
Professor Joan Bray Rose has been recognised for pioneering Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) as a global approach for assessing pathogen risks in water. QMRA has been adopted into global drinking water standards and enabled safe water reuse.
NewsIn developing immunity to allergens, a little ‘dirty’ goes a long way
Exposure to diverse microbes and proteins early in life creates broad immune memory and a specific antibody that helps block allergic reactions later in life. Rather than overreacting to harmless allergens, an experienced immune system responds in a balanced way.
NewsGene sheds light on how parasites exit host cells
Researchers have elucidated the parasite exit process - known as egress - after identifying an essential gene, MIC11. To clearly explain egress, the behaviors of Toxoplasma gondii were assessed.
NewsA closer look at immune ‘memory’ - and how long it lasts
A new review shares recent advances from the field of immune memory and highlights key steps we might take to develop even more effective, longer-lasting immunity against deadly diseases.
NewsLuis Daniel Sansores España named recipient of the 2026 IADR Norton Ross Fellowship
The International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR) has announced Luis Daniel Sansores España, IADR Chilean Division, as the 2026 recipient of the IADR Norton Ross Fellowship.
NewsGlobal strategy to combat drug‑resistant fungi is about to change
An increasing number of fungi are becoming resistant to medication, posing serious risks for patients with weakened immune systems. That is why fifty researchers from around the world are calling for action against drug‑resistant fungi.
NewsCat viruses offer window into human oncogenesis
Cats are not just beloved companions; they are emerging as key “research partners” in unravelling viral cancer mechanisms. A new review explores how feline tumour viruses offer vital insights into human oncology and viral carcinogenesis from a comparative oncology perspective.
NewsUltrasensitive test reveals evidence of previously undetected tuberculosis in Boston Hospital patients
Researchers have discovered an unexpectedly high prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA (TB DNA) in patients hospitalized in Boston, suggesting that tuberculosis disease may be significantly underdiagnosed in the United States.