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
Body weight affects your gut microbiota
A new study demonstrates that there is a correlation between gut microbiota and body weight. Researchers also observed that having a high BMI is detrimental to gut microbiota.
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NewsNew health security operations center will monitor infectious disease risks during this summer’s World Cup gatherings
With millions of soccer fans set to descend on North America for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, experts from Georgetown University and MedStar Health have launched a pioneering Health Security Operations Center (HSOC) to monitor infectious disease transmission and mitigate global health risks.
NewsResearchers develop AI tool to predict E. coli contamination in waterways
A new artificial intelligence framework will alert water managers to E. coli contamination risk before anyone falls sick. The AI-powered predictive modeling framework uses environmental and hydrometeorological data to provide early warnings of contamination in recreational waterways.
NewsNo refrigeration needed for killer disease vaccine
Malaria kills more than half a million people every year, but a new vaccine is showing promise as it not only offers long-lasting strong protection but also inhibits transmission of malaria by mosquitos. The vaccine is predicted to be low cost and its cold-chain independence strongly enhances its deployability.
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From Helicobacter pylori to the AMR crisis: our interview with JAM Microbiology in Health and Disease Lead Editor Liang Wang
We get to know Professor Liang Wang, who has just been appointed as new Lead Editor in Microbiology in Health and Disease at the Journal of Applied Microbiology.
NewsResearchers develop promising drug candidate for control and elimination of malaria
Researchers have developed a novel chemical compound that shows promise for the treatment and prevention of malaria, one of the world’s deadliest diseases. T111 has the potential to become a single-encounter malaria drug that would simplify treatment and prevent relapses that drive ongoing transmission.
NewsAging immune systems show reduced ability to clear tuberculosis during treatment
Immunosenescence increases susceptibility to infectious diseases like tuberculosis (TB) in older adults and hinder effective containment of Mycobacterium tuberculosis during therapeutic intervention.
NewsAndelyn Biosciences launches LVV Curator® Platform
Andelyn Biosciences has announced the launch of its LVV Curator® Platform, a standardized lentiviral vector (LVV) manufacturing solution built on the same proven modular approach that supports clinical and commercial adeno-associated virus (AAV) programs.
NewsCommentary: Dengue viral infection and associated liver disease
A new commentary highlights the time course of serological and liver enzyme elevations in mild versus severe dengue, emphasizes early recognition of progression to acute liver failure, and reviews current vaccination and prevention strategies.
NewsFDA approves early warning system for sepsis
An early warning system for sepsis, one of the deadliest infections for hospital patients, has been approved for use by the FDA, one of the first AI-based medical tools to get clearance. The tool detects sepsis hours faster than doctors and has reduced deaths by nearly 20%.
NewsFrom ocean to gut: The bacteria that shape both human health and marine carbon cycling
A group of researchers has discovered that Akkermansia bacteria are not unique to our guts, but can also be found in the ocean. In both habitats they use similar skills to ensure their survival and success. They seem to carry an old and widespread survival toolkit.
NewsScientists discover ‘hidden switch’ in immune cells that helps the body kill deadly fungus
Scientists have discovered a “control switch” inside our immune cells that helps the body destroy dangerous fungal infections. A protein called RAB5c helps white blood cells kill Aspergillus fumigatus – an airborne fungus that can cause life‑threatening lung infections in people with weakened immune systems.
NewsWhat the Andes hantavirus outbreak reveals about pandemic risk
The outbreak of Andes hantavirus aboard the international MV Hondius cruise ship underscores how little scientists still know about the viruses circulating silently in wild rodent populations before they spill into humans.
NewsIntestinal stem cells can fight back against salmonella scientists discover
Researchers have shown that intestinal stem cells can directly sense intracellular Salmonella enterica bacteria and activate an inflammasome-dependent response. Following infection, the stem cells differentiate into antimicrobial Paneth cells, which secrete molecules that help limit bacterial persistence in the intestinal crypt.
NewsStudy reveals common mutation linked to autoimmune diseases may protect people from viral infections
New research shows a “risk gene” linked to higher odds of developing autoimmune diseases such as diabetes or lupus may also provide a survival advantage fighting viral infections like coronavirus. The gene PTPN22 carries a mutation, 1858C>T (R620W), found in roughly one in 10 people in North America.
NewsAlgal bloom crisis shows climate risks need evaluative governance
Identifying and analysing climate risks is a necessary function of governments, but researchers argue such processes will not lead to effective action without taking additional steps to understand which risks are considered unacceptable by the community and prioritising responses accordingly.
NewsData hidden in tuberculosis screening tests sheds light on patients’ overall mortality
Researchers have uncovered a tool to study immune function of larger populations of patients, using a lab test that physicians already use regularly: tuberculosis screening tests called interferon gamma release assays (IGRAs). It could indicate how well an immune system can mount a response to an array of threats.
NewsCRISPR system inhibits hepatitis E virus
Researchers have developed a novel antiviral concept - using the CRISPR/Cas13 system, they were able to specifically suppress the replication of the hepatitis E virus in human cells.
NewsAndes hantavirus outbreak: ECDC working on the frontline to support EU Member States
Genomic information also shows that the virus involved in the outbreak is similar to Andes viruses already known to circulate in South America, and is not a new variant. There is currently no evidence that this variant spreads more easily or causes more severe disease than other Andes viruses.
NewsResearchers track the mutations that allow HIV-1 to escape broadly neutralizing antibodies
Scientists have established the most comprehensive view to date of how HIV-1 can escape broadly neutralizing antibodies. They have discovered viral mutations that make HIV-1 strains resistant to two bNAbs, 3BNC117 and 10-1074.
NewsResearchers develop next-generation CRISPR biocontainment technology for controlling microbial survival without DNA cleavage
Researchers have employed a CRISPR-dCas9-based base editing system capable of introducing precise nucleotide changes without inducing DNA double-strand breaks. The researchers targeted the start codons of essential genes and irreversibly disrupted their function, permanently blocking cell survival.
NewsUKHSA update on the hantavirus cruise ship outbreak
The UK Government has announced it has worked with international partners to ensure the safe return of all remaining British nationals on board the MV Hondius, with passengers now safely transferred to Arrowe Park Hospital.
NewsPregnant women’s mental images are directly linked to vaccine hesitancy and uptake
When pregnant women think about vaccinations, many experience vivid mental images – such as a sick baby in hospital – that have a direct link to their opinion of the vaccine and whether they ultimately have it, new research has shown.