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
Lung abnormalities seen in children and teens with long COVID
An advanced type of MRI uncovers significant lung abnormalities in children and adolescents with long COVID, according to a new study. PREFUL MRI doesn’t require the use of radiation or intravenous contrast agents and can be done while the patient breathes freely.
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NewsHerpesviruses may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease via transposable elements
Researchers have outlined the pathway human herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV1) can use to contribute to Alzheimer’s disease in aging brains, and also share two FDA-approved, commercially available drugs that reverse this pathway in a laboratory setting.
NewsNew paper-based device boosts HIV test accuracy from dried blood samples
Scientists have trialled a more precise medical device to measure HIV viral loads by engineering a paper device with wax-printed patterns that create precise channels and collection spots, ensuring it consistently collects the same volume of blood.
NewsAs dengue spreads, researchers discover a clue to fighting the virus
Children who experience multiple cases of dengue virus develop an army of dengue-fighting T cells, according to a new study. Most children who experienced two or more dengue infections showed very minor symptoms—or no symptoms at all—when they caught the virus again.
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News
New study calls for ethical framework to protect Indigenous genetic privacy in wastewater monitoring
Researchers have called for new ethical frameworks to protect Indigenous communities’ genetic privacy in the growing field of wastewater surveillance. The study examines how analysis of community wastewater raises significant privacy concerns for Indigenous populations.
NewsLactobacillus-dominated uterus significantly boosts pregnancy outcomes
Researchers analyzed recent studies on the reproductive microbiome and its effects on fertility. They found that a Lactobacillus-dominated (LD) uterine environment significantly improves pregnancy outcomes. Similarly, pregnancy success rates were higher in LD environments.
NewsBackyard poultry face HPAI risk when migrating mallards stop to rest
Knowing where, when and for how long mallard ducks – natural carriers of avian influenza – stop and rest as they migrate can help predict the probability that they will spread bird flu to backyard poultry flocks, according to a new study.
NewsResearch suggests common viral infection worsens deadly condition among premature babies
Researchers say they found that infection with a common virus that can be transmitted from mother to fetus before birth significantly worsens an often-fatal complication of premature birth called necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in experiments with mice.
NewsStudy uncovers porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus’s impact on swine immunity
Scientists used single-cell RNA analysis to reveal key immune mechanisms in lungs of swine infected with PRRSV. They found higher numbers of protective anti-inflammatory M2-like macrophages (SPP1-CXCL14high) were observed in less virulent infections, suggesting a potential role in promoting lung healing.
NewsScientists invent new drug candidates to treat antibiotic-resistant bacteria
Researchers designed a new family of antibiotics that’s a variation of an existing drug called vancomycin, which is used as a last resort for extremely ill patients. The new version of vancomycin targets, bonds to and renders inactive two different parts of a molecule on the surfaces of pathogenic bacteria.
NewsStealth virus: Zika virus builds tunnels to covertly infect cells of the placenta
Researchers have discovered that Zika virus in the placenta builds underground tunnels, a series of tiny tubes called tunneling nanotubes, that facilitate the transfer of viral particles to neighboring uninfected cells.
NewsPromising antibody may prove useful against deadly Ebola virus outbreaks
New research reveals the workings of a human antibody called mAb 3A6, which may prove to be an important component for Ebola virus therapeutics.
NewsKingdom of Saudi Arabia confirms US $500 million commitment to global polio eradication effort
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has reaffirmed its US $500 million pledge to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in a signing event during the fourth Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum.
NewsPromising new class of antimalarial drugs discovered
A new study identifies an inhibitor of gene regulation that specifically kills the malaria pathogen. The chromatin remodeler PfSnf2L is a key regulator of genes that play an important role in various stages of the pathogen’s development.
NewsStudy calls for better measures of poverty to strengthen tuberculosis research
A new review examines existing methods for assessing socioeconomic status in TB studies and highlights their shortcomings. The authors call for better, standardized poverty metrics to improve research and policy.
NewsScottish bio-tech company secures £3.4m investment
Scottish biotech engineering company uFraction8 has secured £3.4m in new investment following the completion of a funding round led by Foresight Group.
NewsPaxlovid’s impact on hospitalization and death in COVID-vaccinated older adults far weaker than previously thought
A new study overturns the assumption that Paxlovid’s effectiveness in reducing COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths in unvaccinated adults also applies to vaccinated adults.
NewsGroundbreaking study shows potential of new mRNA vaccine to help fight tuberculosis
A new vaccine that boosts immunity against tuberculosis (TB) has been shown to be effective in pioneering pre-clinical trials. The mRNA vaccine was successful in triggering an immune defence response that helped to reduce TB numbers in infected mice.
NewsScientists warn of increased mpox transmission
International researchers warn that the ongoing mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has the potential to spread across borders more rapidly. The mpox virus has mutated, and the new variant, clade 1b, has become more infectious.
NewsScientists uncover how bacterial resistance to synergistic drug treatments is arising
Scientists investigating the potential of combined and more powerful drug treatments have found that antimicrobial resistance to these is arising via the vitamin B2 synthesis pathway.
NewsMachine learning framework can decipher immune system’s record of past infections
A novel machine learning framework can decipher an individual’s immune system’s record of past infections and diseases, providing a powerful tool with the potential for diagnosing autoimmune disorders, viral infections, and vaccine responses with precision.
NewsNew therapy may effectively control HIV in Uganda
Clinical trials showed an effective antiviral drug, known as lenacapavir, against HIV in Uganda, and has also been tested for drug resistance in different subtype strains.
NewsFeed additives can reduce campylobacter in free-range broilers
Trials have demonstrated that adding biochar to chicken feed can significantly reduce campylobacter in chickens, which could potentially lead to fewer campylobacter-associated foodborne diseases in humans.
