Bacteria reveal secret of adaptation at Evolution Canyon
Scientists studying bacteria at Evolution Canyon found that ecotypes on hot and cool slopes have distinct fatty acid compositions, enabling them to cope with temperature differences.
Search results for “Microbiology”
1,000+ results for "Microbiology"
The 700-year-old Mexican mummy with a tummy ache
A study of two naturally mummified corpses found remnants of Helicobacter pylori bacteria in gastric tissue from North American mummies. The research suggests that H. pylori infection occurred in native populations around 1350AD in the area now known as Mexico.
Can microorganisms be a solution to the world's energy problems?
Recent advancements in genome technologies and molecular-biology techniques offer new hope for microbial bioenergy applications. Microbes can convert biomass into useful energy forms, such as methane, hydrogen, or electricity, and capture sunlight to produce liquid fuels.
Significant impact factor boost for scientific journal Genome Research
The journal Genome Research has seen a significant boost in its impact factor, ranking #2 in the Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology category. With an impact factor of 11.224, it continues to be a major player in the field.
Potential treatment for TB solves puzzle
Researchers have identified a new target for TB treatment, solving a long-standing puzzle about bacterial cell wall production. The discovery reveals molecules that could be developed into drugs to treat tuberculosis, particularly for multi-drug resistant strains.
Mimic molecules to protect against plague
Researchers have developed molecules that can mimic Yersinia pestis, a type of plague bacteria, to stimulate the innate immune response and protect against pneumonic plague. These synthetic modified lipid A compounds have been shown to be effective in treating infected animals, with up to 93% survival rate.
Nakayama to receive Basic Research in Periodontal Disease Award
Dr. Koji Nakayama is recognized for his groundbreaking research on Porphyromonas gingivalis, a key player in periodontal disease and potential systemic conditions like cardiovascular disease. He has published over 75 papers on this topic and received the 2000 Rokuzo Kobayashi Memorial Award.
New study shows potential to treat or prevent viral cancers
A new study presents radioimmunotherapy targeting viral antigens as a novel option to treat or prevent many viral cancers. The therapy offers 'exquisite specificity' in targeting cancer cells expressing viral antigens, allowing for more precise diagnosis and treatment.
Source of drug-tolerant tuberculosis possibly behind TB relapses, intensity of treatment
Researchers discovered that TB bacteria can form biofilms on surfaces, leading to genetic and physiological differences from lab-grown strains. This finding suggests a possible cause of TB relapses despite intensive treatment.
New pathogen from pigs' stomach ulcers
Scientists have isolated a new bacterium, Helicobacter suis, in pigs' stomachs using a pioneering technique. The bacterium is associated with stomach ulcers in pigs, which may cause sudden death, and has been linked to an increased risk of infection in humans who are close to the animals.
SourceMicrobiology Society·JournalINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC AND EVOLUTIONARY MICROBIOLOGY·DateJun 8, 2008
Probiotic bacteria protect endangered frogs from lethal skin disease
Research by JMU researchers suggests that adding probiotic bacteria to the skin of mountain yellow-legged frogs can lessen the effects of a lethal skin pathogen. Field studies have also shown that populations with higher proportions of individuals with anti-pathogen bacteria are more likely to survive.
Are microbes the answer to the energy crisis?
Researchers are discovering microbes that can efficiently produce inexpensive, environmentally friendly biofuels as alternatives to oil. These microorganisms can ferment biomass into ethanol and biodiesel, reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and mitigating climate change.
Scientist study bacterial communities inside us to better understand health and disease
Researchers are exploring the human microbiome to understand its role in health and disease, with findings suggesting that changes in microbial populations may contribute to digestive disorders, skin diseases, and obesity. The study of bacterial communities inside humans has the potential to revolutionize disease diagnosis and treatment.
Climate change could impact vital functions of microbes
Rising temperatures may reduce microbial carbon dioxide production due to increased nitrogen levels in the soil, but human-induced CO2 changes could shift microbial populations with significant impacts on food chains. Microbial communities under glaciers and snowpacks are also threatened by warming temperatures.
Antibacterial wipes can still spread bacteria
A new study by Cardiff University researchers found that antimicrobial-containing wipes used in hospitals can spread pathogens after first use. The study highlights concerns over the suitability of these wipes and the importance of regular surveillance programs to reduce infection risks.
Despite vaccine, public should not get complacent about pneumococcal disease
A new vaccine targeting more common pneumococcal strains is on the horizon to replace PCV7, which has seen a rise in non-vaccine strain IPD rates by 40%. The vaccine's effectiveness against resistant bacteria is currently being tested.
Unravelling the mystery of the kitty litter parasite in marine mammals
A study by California Polytechnic State University researchers has linked Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite typically associated with cats, to marine mammal deaths worldwide. The team discovered that northern anchovies may be spreading the parasite through the ocean's filter-feeding mechanism, posing a potential transmission risk to mammals.
Globalization exposes food supply to unsanitary practices
The US is importing more food from developing nations, putting consumers at risk of foodborne diseases due to varying sanitary standards. Contaminants like Salmonella are commonly found in imported seafood and produce.
Study finds healthy intestinal bacteria within chicken eggs
Researchers discovered a diverse community of beneficial bacteria within chicken embryos, suggesting that birds acquire these microbes from their egg environment. This finding could lead to improved poultry production and reduced risk of foodborne illness by administering probiotics in ovo.
Potential treatments from cryptic genes
Scientists have discovered two novel compounds produced by soil bacteria that show promise in combating MRSA infections and cancer. The breakthroughs come after years of genome mining, which identifies pathways to produce new compounds from microbial DNA sequences.
Advances in C. difficile research
A recent study highlights the importance of understanding C. difficile's toxins and virulence factors, which can cause severe hospital-acquired infections. The research also explores the bacteria's transmission, symptoms, and treatment options, including the development of a potential 'designer' probiotic.
Bacterial slime helps cause serious disease
Leptospirosis is a major public health problem in South East Asia and South America, with over 500,000 severe cases every year. Researchers have discovered that bacteria can form biofilms, which protect them against harsh conditions and make them more resistant to antibiotics.
Scientists discover why plague is so lethal
Bubonic plague bacteria produce excessive aspartic acid due to missing enzyme, contributing to its high lethality. Researchers found that a single genetic mutation in Yersinia pestis leads to this imbalance.
Cholera study provides exciting new way of looking at infectious disease
Researchers discovered Vibrio cholerae interacts with chitin in aquatic environments, influencing survival, spread, and human infection. This knowledge can inform risk assessments and develop new responses to combat pathogens.
The sweet world of soil microbiology
Educators use candy to teach soil microbial diversity, resulting in increased student assessment scores and retained concepts. Students base characterizations on physical appearance of candies, exploring ways microorganisms can be defined.
SourceSoil Science Society of America·JournalJournal of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Education·DateMay 1, 2008
Feta cheese made from raw milk has natural anti-food-poisoning properties
Researchers found that lactic acid bacteria in Feta cheese can kill off dangerous food-poisoning bacteria like Listeria. The unique taste of local cheeses is mainly due to the enterococcal bacteria they contain, which have natural anti-bacterial properties.
New and deadly viruses passed through sweet food and domestic animals
The Nipah virus is a deadly brain and lung disease that spreads through contact with infected animals or contaminated food, particularly date palm sap and fruit bitten by bats. Researchers are working to identify transmission pathways and prevent further outbreaks.
Viruses, oxygen and our green oceans
Phytoplankton in major oceans produce half the world's oxygen through photosynthesis, while cyanobacteria are infected by viruses that provide genetic material for photosynthesis machinery. This symbiotic relationship highlights the essential role of viruses in planetary processes and global cooling.
Climate and cholera
Cholera outbreaks can be predicted using satellite sensors, monitoring sea surface temperature and height. This technology offers a pre-emptive approach to addressing epidemics in developing countries affected by climate change.
Heavy metals in the Peak District -- evidence from bugs in blanket bogs
Research finds extreme bacteria dominating areas with high levels of heavy metals, potentially changing pollutants into more toxic forms that can leak into reservoirs. Bacterial diversity shifts could affect the delicate ecosystem balance and impact plant and animal health.
Kalahari Desert soils and climate change
Researchers discovered that cyanobacteria in desert soils can fix atmospheric carbon dioxide, adding nutrients to the soil. The exchange of carbon between soils and atmosphere is significant in deserts, with small changes affecting fragile ecosystems supporting millions of poor pastoral farmers.
Coral reefs and climate change: microbes could be the key to coral death
Recent coral die-off events can be attributed to changes in the microbes living in and around reefs. Warmer sea temperatures allow disease-causing bacteria to thrive, weakening corals' defences. Scientists stress the need for better understanding of microbe processes to reduce reef decline.
Prebiotics -- the key to fewer food poisoning stomach upsets -- and healthy farm animals
Prebiotic sugars have been shown to reduce Salmonella infection severity in animals, improving health and reducing economic losses. The study's findings suggest a potential solution to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance and foodborne illnesses.
How HIV hides itself
Researchers have discovered how HIV evades the immune system by altering a key defence mechanism. The Nef protein interferes with the recognition of infected cells, making it difficult for the body to target and eliminate the virus.
Running out of treatments: The problem superbugs resistant to everything
Scientists warn of an impending crisis due to superbugs like Acinetobacter that have become resistant to all available antibiotics, including those thought safe. The bacteria cause severe infections, pneumonia, skin, and wound infections, and even meningitis, leading to significant patient mortality.
UK takes action against PVL-producing strains of Staphylococcus aureus
Infections caused by PVL-Staphylococcus aureus can lead to necrotising haemorrhagic pneumonia with high mortality rates. The UK has seen an increase in PVL-related disease, with around 2% of Staphylococcus aureus strains producing the toxin.
Community-acquired MRSA spreads
MRSA cases have increased 10 times in Denmark over the last decade, with community-acquired strains spreading through family and social networks, says Professor Robert Skov. The Danish health system has introduced guidelines to prevent MRSA transmission, but the rising epidemic remains a concern for public health.
Climate changing gas from some surprising microbial liaisons
Scientists have discovered that microbes produce dimethyl sulphide (DMS) gas at a rate of over 200 million tonnes per year in the world's seas. This climate-changing gas has multiple effects, including triggering cloud formation and attracting birds to food sources.
AIDS may partly be the consequence of an evolutionary accident says scientist
Scientists believe that HIV's lack of protection against immune system activation makes it more virulent in humans. Researchers are studying whether artificially disabling this protective function could make SIVs more pathogenic in their natural hosts.
'Alien'-type viruses to treat MRSA
Researchers develop materials impregnated with bacteria-killing viruses to prevent MRSA infection spread in hospitals. The technique allows the viruses to stay active for over 3 weeks, killing bacteria on surfaces and in wounds.
Chips could speed up detection of livestock viruses
A new microarray chip can detect up to 300 different viruses infecting farm animals, birds, and insects. The chip has already been successfully used to identify a coronavirus and foot-and-mouth disease virus.
Most people believe smallpox not an extinct disease
A recent poll in Edinburgh revealed that 87% of respondents were unaware of smallpox's extinction, a disease that killed 300-500 million victims in the 20th century. However, many people showed knowledge of microbes' role in medicine, volcanoes, and other areas.
Vaccine for Ebola virus
Researchers have successfully tested Ebola vaccines in primates, triggering a cell-mediated response and producing effective protection. The candidates are now set to be tested on humans for the first time, offering hope for controlling outbreaks and protecting healthcare workers.
No laughing matter -- bacteria are releasing a serious greenhouse gas
Nitrous oxide emissions from waste treatment plants and agriculture are increasing at alarming rates, posing a significant global warming threat. The release of this potent gas can be controlled with suitable management strategies, but recognition of its importance is crucial.
Green tea helps beat superbugs
Egyptian scientists have discovered that green tea boosts the effectiveness of antibiotics against superbugs by up to 99.99%, increasing the killing power of chloramphenicol and making 20% of drug-resistant bacteria susceptible to cephalosporin antibiotics.
MRSA in hospital intensive care -- what's growing where?
A standard sampling regime is being developed to identify superbug genes in intensive care unit environments. The technique uses polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to characterise micro-organism genes and spot antibiotic resistance, allowing for the detection of MRSA and other drug-resistant bacteria.
NIH awards $6.5 million grant to UT Southwestern to develop new antibiotic
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have been awarded a $6.5 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to develop a new anti-microbial compound targeting bacterial pathogens such as Salmonella and E. coli. The goal is to combat increasing microbial resistance to antibiotics.
UC Davis researchers discover how HIV turns food-poisoning into lethal infection
UC Davis scientists discovered how salmonella becomes lethal for AIDS patients by finding the defect in immune response that allows it to cross the gut barrier and infect other organs. The study suggests Th17 cells play a crucial role in the inflammatory response, recruiting immune system cells to the site of infection.
Drug prevents dangerous tick diseases
A single injection of doxycycline hyclate has shown 100% effectiveness in preventing Lyme disease and Anaplasmosis in mice, offering a promising new treatment option. Researchers are planning to test different release kinetics and delivery methods to develop a slow-release patch for broader protection.
New bacteria contaminate hairspray
Scientists have identified a new species of bacteria called Microbacterium hatanonis that contaminates hairspray, similar to previously found bacteria in human infections.
SourceMicrobiology Society·JournalINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC AND EVOLUTIONARY MICROBIOLOGY·DateMar 7, 2008
Researchers have discovered a gene that can block the spread of HIV
A team of researchers identified a human gene called TRIM22 that can block HIV infection in cell culture by preventing virus assembly. The discovery shows the body has a natural defense mechanism against HIV, but research is needed to understand why it doesn't work in people infected with HIV.
Scientists look at 'syringe' assembly in plague bacteria
Researchers have found that the YscJ lipoprotein component determines the location of a key injection device in plague bacteria. This discovery sheds light on how Yersinia pestis causes the bubonic plague and could lead to new treatments.
Experimental Biology and Medicine announces expansion into Asia, opens new office
The journal has added several Asian researchers to its Editorial Board, including Professor Huan-Yao Lei as the first Asian Editor. An Asian office will open at NCKU Medical Center in Taiwan, increasing visibility of EBM and SEBM throughout Asia Pacific scientific communities.
SourceSociety for Experimental Biology and Medicine·JournalExperimental Biology and Medicine·DateJan 4, 2008
2 genes are important key to regulating immune response
A research team at Weill Cornell Medical College identified two genes, Pbx-1 and Prep-1, that play a critical role in regulating interleukin-10 (IL-10) production. This discovery could lead to new avenues for understanding and treating diseases such as lupus, cancer, and HIV/AIDS.
Weill Cornell receives $2.4 million in grants from Gates Foundation to fight tuberculosis
Weill Cornell Medical College has received grants to develop innovative TB drugs and treatments, with a focus on killing or interfering with the TB organism in its non-replicating phase. The research aims to shorten TB therapy from six months to just a couple of weeks, while also addressing emerging drug-resistant forms.
Bacteria shed light on an important group of human proteins
The study revealed that Rhesus protein is made by a bacterium, Nitrosomonas europaea, and determined its first X-ray crystal structure at high resolution. This provides important insights into how these proteins facilitate ammonium movement across cell membranes in humans.
SourceNorwich BioScience Institutes·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 19, 2007
Understanding, combating foodborne pathogens E. coli 0157 and salmonella
A team of researchers at Kansas State University is working to understand the ecology of E. coli 0157 and develop practical interventions to combat it in cattle. They are also studying salmonella, which causes bloody diarrhea in feedlot cattle and dairy cattle abortions, with a focus on reducing its prevalence.
Bacteria join ranks of lazy cheaters
A new study by Oregon State University microbiologists found that one type of bacteria has mutants that shut down communication systems to avoid sharing nutrients. This allows the lazy bacteria to grow faster and outcompete others, but also reveals a paradox in microbiology and potential strategies for combating bacterial infections.
SourceOregon State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 24, 2007
American Society for Microbiology honors Thomas E. Wellems
Dr. Thomas E. Wellems is being honored by the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) for his groundbreaking research on malaria treatment and resistance to chloroquine. His work has significantly impacted malaria treatment, leading to a decrease in death rates in Africa and Asia.
American Society for Microbiology honors Joanna Kubler-Kielb
Joanna Kubler-Kielb is honored with the American Society for Microbiology ICAAC Young Investigator Award for her research excellence in microbiology and infectious diseases, including work on anthrax and Lyme disease. Her research has led to significant contributions toward developing new vaccines against these diseases.