All USA & Canada articles
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NewsMicroalgae and bacteria team up to convert CO2 into useful products
Most methods of genetically modifying the bacterium Escherichia coli and other microbes to convert carbon dioxide into useful biological products require additional carbon sources. A new study overcomes this limitation by combining the photosynthetic finesse of a single-celled algae with the production capabilities of the bacteria E. coli.
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NewsMiso made in space tastes nuttier, researchers on the ISS find
A new study reveals how researchers successfully made miso on the International Space Station (ISS). They found that the miso smelled and tasted similar to miso fermented on Earth—just with a slightly nuttier, more roasted flavor. The team hopes this research will help broaden the culinary options available to astronauts.
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NewsFAU secures $1.3 million NIH grant for breakthrough in HIV self-test technology
To address the urgent need for a reliable, rapid and affordable self-test for early HIV detection, researchers have been awarded phase-II of a five-year, $1.3 million grant which will support the development of an innovative disposable microchip technology designed for HIV-1 self-testing during the first two weeks post-infection.
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NewsNew Cedars-Sinai study shows how specialized diet can improve gut disorders
A new study examined whether a specialized diet could improve symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders linked to an imbalance in gut microbiota. The research tested the elemental diet’s effectiveness and explored whether improving its unappealing taste— a major barrier—could help patients adhere to the diet’s stringent protocol.
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NewsScreening tool tests bee colonies by mimicking pheromones of death
A screening tool tests colonies for hygienic behavior by mimicking the pheromones emitted by sick or dying bees. The test can identify colonies resistant to several pests and pathogens that can decimate bee populations such as Vairimorpha (known to many beekeepers as Nosema) and fungal infections including chalkbrood.
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NewsMany TB cases may have gone undetected in prisons in Europe and the Americas during COVID-19
A new study found that reported diagnoses for tuberculosis were consistently lower than expected throughout the pandemic, even though incarceration rates remained largely consistent.
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NewsResearchers develop machine learning model to predict virus reservoirs
A new artificial intelligence tool could aid in limiting or even prevent pandemics by identifying animal species that may harbor and spread viruses capable of infecting humans.
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NewsScientists tackle the rising global challenge of Chagas Disease
A study sheds new light on how the Chagas Disease parasite invades human cells—a crucial step towards developing effective treatments for this neglected tropical disease.
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NewsAI learns to ‘speak’ genetic ‘dialect’ for future SARS-CoV-2 mutation prediction
Researchers have developed a new method to predict mutations in virus protein sequences called Deep Novel Mutation Search (DNMS), a type of artificial intelligence model that uses deep neural networks.
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NewsResearchers develop new DNA test for personalized treatment of bacterial vaginosis
Researchers have developed a simple DNA PCR-based lab test — built on a more detailed genetic analysis of the main group of bacterial organisms that cause bacterial vaginosis — to help clinicians prescribe the right medicine for each patient.
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News‘She loves me, she loves me not’: physical forces encouraged evolution of multicellular life, scientists propose
A new study presents a striking example of cooperative organization among cells as a potential force in the evolution of multicellular life. The paper is based on the fluid dynamics of cooperative feeding by Stentor, a relatively giant unicellular organism.
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NewsPartnering diet and intestinal microbes to protect against GI disease
New research suggests that we could get more out of our diets by harnessing intestinal microbes to break down plant compounds collectively known as phenolic glycosides. These compounds pair sugar molecules with a host of small molecules beneficial to human health.
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NewsCompelling data point to a single, unknown respiratory virus as cause of Kawasaki disease
New research strongly suggests that Kawasaki disease is caused by a single respiratory virus that is yet to be identified. Findings contradict the theory that many different pathogens or toxins could cause this disease that can lead to serious cardiac complications in young children.
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NewsNew approach could treat anthrax beyond the ‘point of no return’
Once a case of anthrax has progressed beyond the “point of no return” after just a few days, patients are almost certainly doomed. But a new study shows that a cocktail of growth factors reverses would-be lethal cell damage in mice with anthrax.
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NewsAMI members show the way on how microbes are already solving environmental disasters
Applied Microbiology International members are among a team of high level microbiologists who have teamed up to highlight how the world’s tiniest creatures are delivering solutions to climate change and pollution.
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NewsResearchers design genetic tools to develop vaccines more efficiently for African swine fever virus (ASFV)
A synthetic genomic-based reverse genetics tool has been developed for African swine fever virus (ASFV) that helps vaccine development to reduce the economic losses. The system may also be adapted to other emerging viral threats.
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NewsCoral diseases and water quality play a key role for coral restoration and survival efforts
A recent study which examined threatened Staghorn coral species found that while some coral genotypes displayed resistance to either high nutrient levels from run-off or disease, none were resistant to both stressors simultaneously.
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NewsBiochar and microbe synergy: a path to climate-smart farming
Researchers conducted a global analysis to obtain a full picture of the environmental and agricultural benefits of biochar, which is shown to be beneficial to soil health and microbes.
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NewsCanada is slowest in reporting bird flu – but COVID shows we can do better
A global study was conducted to measure the reporting speed of pandemic-causing bird flu H5N1 in different countries, among which Canada surprisingly came in last, addressing the need for improvements in the current monitoring procedures.
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NewsScientists unlock frogs’ antibacterial secrets to combat superbugs
Researchers exploited natural peptides derived from frogs and improved their structural designs as antibiotic candidates, which are effective against complex mock bacterial communities of drug-resistant pathogens in preclinical tests, sparing beneficial microbiota and human cells.