Scientists have found that bacteria can produce uniform nanospheres of selenium with vastly different properties from conventional selenium. These findings could lead to the production of smaller, faster semiconductors and other electronic devices.
A symposium at AAAS explores environmental microorganisms as human pathogens, highlighting devastating diseases and antibiotic resistance. Global climate change and biowarfare threaten disease prevalence and prevention.
Tufts University has been awarded a $25-million NIH contract to collaborate with the University of Massachusetts on developing ways to diagnose and treat botulism poisoning, one of the most dangerous bioterrorism threats facing the US. The research will focus on identifying human pathogens that can cause disease in food or water.
A study found that PET scans can detect activation of lymph nodes in HIV-infected individuals, suggesting potential targets for treatment. Researchers propose using PET scans to locate active nodes and target them with radiation or removal.
The UNC-led trial is the first human test of an HIV vaccine pioneered at UNC. The vaccine targets cells in lymph nodes and induces an immune response by expressing a small section of genetic material from HIV, aiming to protect against disease if exposed. Researchers hope to refine the vaccine for subsequent generations.
A joint U.S.-Georgian team aims to develop a novel treatment against bacterial pathogens causing salmonella infection. The grant supports phage therapy research to prevent massive outbreaks and address growing antibiotic resistance.
A team of experts envisions an intelligent implant that can detect debilitating bacterial infections early, identify the bacteria responsible, and provide targeted therapy. The project aims to develop a prototype within seven years, with technology advancements expected to overcome technical hurdles.
The UCLA Center for Astrobiology will focus on four themes: extrasolar planetary systems, habitability of planets and their satellites, Earth's early environment and life, and evolution of biological complexity. The center aims to detect planets beyond our solar system using new methods and study the factors that control habitability.
A comprehensive study reveals that factors such as adhesion, invasion, and translocation determine the degree of illness from Listeria monocytogenes. Understanding these mechanisms could lead to the development of vaccines to prevent food poisoning.
A Pinellas County, Florida study found that switching from chlorine to monochloramine significantly reduced legionellae bacteria in drinking water supplies, preventing outbreaks of the disease. Monochloramine may be a first community-based intervention strategy for controlling Legionnaires' disease.
A study of 38 households found no significant difference in bacterial numbers with or without antibacterial products, but high bacteria counts were detected on kitchen sponges and sink drains. The researchers suggest that prolonged antibacterial use may promote antibiotic resistance.
Researchers discovered a lignin-carbohydrate compound from Prunella vulgaris with potent activity against HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections. The compound showed significant reduction in skin lesions and increase in survival rate in guinea pigs and mice, respectively.
A new predictive system identifies two DNA polymorphisms that distinguish between HBV-positive patients who respond well to lamivudine treatment and those who develop resistance. The study's findings have significant implications for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B, potentially saving millions from liver disease and cancer.
Scientists identified a genetic key to TB bacteria survival in lung cells, revealing that SecA2 protein is crucial for virulence and secreting antioxidant molecules. This finding may aid treatment development and has implications for other disease-causing bacteria.
Researchers found that administering interferon alpha and gamma intranasally provided nearly full protection (over 95%) against a lethal vaccinia virus infection in mice. This suggests potential implications for using interferons as a prophylactic tool in aerosol orthopoxvirus infections.
Researchers have identified unique gene expression patterns in human cells after exposure to 8 different biothreat agents, enabling rapid detection of potentially exposed individuals. The study's findings offer possibilities for utilizing host gene expression responses for early illness prediction.
A new PCR device, called Razor TM , weighs only 8 pounds and can analyze 12 samples in 22 minutes running on battery power. This portable device has multiple uses in diagnostics and environmental testing due to its ease of use and portability.
Researchers developed a treatment strategy that combines antibiotics to kill infection with protective antigen antibodies to prevent toxin damage, achieving 100% survival in animal models. The approach addresses the limitations of current antibiotic-only treatments, which only cure 50% of infected animals.
STERIS's Vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide (VHP) technology has been demonstrated to be effective in decontaminating large areas contaminated with anthrax spores. The process breaks down into water vapor and oxygen, producing no hazardous by-products or reactivity with other materials.
Researchers genetically engineered tobacco mosaic virus to instruct spinach plants to manufacture protective antigen fragments, which can be easily purified and used in a vaccine. The resulting subunit vaccine has shown promise as a more efficacious and safer alternative to existing anthrax vaccines.
Researchers developed a method using bacteriophages to deliver vaccine components, offering advantages over traditional naked DNA vaccines. The technique has significant production and storage benefits, making it an attractive solution for addressing sudden vaccine demands.
The symposium explored microbial forensics, a discipline combining public health epidemiology and law enforcement to investigate biocrimes. Key findings include recommendations for future action to address biocrimes posing threats to public health and stability.
The American Society for Microbiology has adopted policies to deal with publications that may describe misuse of microbiology or select agents. The ASM Publication Board requires research articles to contain sufficient detail to permit repetition by others and authors must agree to supply materials in accordance with laws and regulations.
Journal editors emphasize protecting the integrity of scientific research through reproducibility and security measures. They advocate for self-governance in publishing potentially sensitive research to balance benefits with risks.
A recent study discovered a distantly similar gene called ros in puffer fish, suggesting that Agrobacterium may have originated from a marine source. The discovery was made by investigating the evolutionary origin of genes associated with bacterial virulence and found homologs of the ros gene in both marine microorganisms and sea squirts.
Recent advances in aerosol technology, microbiology, and genetics pose a risk of misuse by terrorists, warns Johns Hopkins researcher Gigi Kwik. The 'Persephone effect' highlights how life sciences can be used for both good and evil, and the need for strict biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of biological weapons.
Researchers at UIC provided the first images of HIV in living cells, revealing how the virus enlists host assistance to wreak havoc on the body's defenses. The visualization, which took four years to develop, shows HIV particles hitching a ride aboard dynein, a molecular motor, and crossing the microtubular highway to reach the nucleus.
The research found that Helicobacter pylori can use hydrogen as an energy source, increasing its colonization in mice. The study showed that mice stomachs contained sufficient hydrogen to support the growth of H. pylori.
A new UGA study reveals that Helicobacter pylori and other human pathogens use molecular hydrogen as an energy source, leading to increased stomach colonization ability. The discovery has profound implications for the treatment of diseases such as gastric cancer and bacterial diarrhea illnesses.
Research suggests that honey's antibacterial properties can inhibit a range of strains, including MRSA, VSE, and VRE. This study indicates a possible role for honey in the treatment of wounds colonised by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
A new study published in PNAS found that the stomach-dwelling H. pylori bacterium has been present in humans for at least 11,000 years, with genetic variations consistent with Asian migration to the New World. The research provides strong evidence supporting the theory that migrating Asians introduced the bacteria to South America.
A study found that influenza A infection attracts pneumonia bacteria, increasing binding to lung epithelial cells. Treatment with Tamiflu may prevent this increased binding and related complications.
A study found that B. cereus spores are associated with high numbers of gold-containing soils, suggesting their potential use as a biogeochemical indicator. The method could help geologists locate gold deposits at low cost and efficiency.
Researchers identified iron as a key factor in axillary bacterial growth and developed an iron-chelating compound, DTPA, to inhibit bacterial growth. Combining DTPA with butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) showed significant deodorancy benefits by limiting the bacteria's access to iron.
Wohlbachia bacteria can convert males to females through sex changes or kill them in eggs, sparking defensive tactics in infected insects. Jonathon Knight's award-winning Nature article shed light on this common parasitic microbe's impact worldwide.
The UMass microbiology team found that Geobacter metallireducens has a built-in sensor to locate metals and can grow flagella to swim towards them. The bacteria use these strategies to survive in natural environments, and their genome revealed genes for flagella growth, allowing them to transform metal into an insoluble form.
A recent study reveals that Staphylococcus aureus, a leading cause of hospital-borne infections, is part of a few massive superbug families. These bacteria have spread globally and can be tracked through unique genetic fingerprints, suggesting new targets for disease-fighting drugs.
Researchers from Texas A&M University embark on a voyage to understand the abundance and diversity of deep-sea microbes, estimated to number between 10-30% of Earth's biota. The JOIDES Resolution drillship samples cores containing these microbes from previously drilled sites in the eastern equatorial and southeast Pacific.
As scientists search for life beyond Earth, the possibility of microbial disease-causing organisms emerging in new environments raises concerns. Experts like Salyers highlight examples of unexpected adaptations, such as Legionnaires' disease and Listeria monocytogenes, which can thrive in harsh conditions and cause human disease.
Certain strains of E. coli produce amyloid fibers similar to those found in Alzheimer's disease, forming a meshwork around the bacteria in biofilms. This discovery raises questions about the role of bacterial infections in amyloid diseases, including Alzheimer's, and may lead to new treatment options.
A team of UNC researchers has made a significant discovery about the role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in remyelination, the process by which nerve cells regain their natural fatty sheath. The study found that this cytokine plays a critical role in white matter repair and induces the production of nerve precursor cells.
Researchers found that antacids significantly increased the survival rate of Vibrio vulnificus, a bacteria commonly contracted through eating raw oysters. Banning antibiotics in Denmark has also led to significant decreases in resistance rates among food animals.
Research reveals complex molecular changes in Lyme bacteria during tick feeding, leading to variable surface protein expressions. This complexity makes it challenging to develop effective vaccines, but understanding the biology of transmission may lead to better vaccine candidates.
A recent study from the University of California, San Francisco has discovered a novel mechanism by which the drug ribavirin kills viruses by generating excess mutations that overwhelm the virus. This unexpected finding may lead to the development of more effective anti-viral treatments for hepatitis C patients.
Researchers at Penn State College of Medicine have identified ubiquitin as crucial to budding, a process allowing viruses to exit host cells and infect new ones. The study's findings suggest that ubiquitin plays a key role in the maturation and release of viral particles from the cell surface.
A new survey and observational study found that only 67% of people actually wash their hands before leaving a public restroom, despite 95% saying they do. Women are more likely to practice good hygiene than men, with women reporting higher rates of handwashing after various activities or events.
A 2-year study found that day care centers incubate and spread antibiotic-resistant respiratory tract bacteria, including Streptococcus pneumoniae. The study suggests that day care centers are ideal environments for the development of such resistance due to high rates of respiratory infections and antibiotic use.
A new mathematical model developed by University of Michigan scientist Denise Kirschner shows how HIV accelerates the normal process of homing, diverting white blood cells from the bloodstream to the lymph system. This understanding is crucial for developing effective treatments and targeting therapeutic drugs.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School are harnessing the longevity of a herpes simplex virus to develop an HIV vaccine. Their live attenuated vaccine has shown promising results in non-human primates, inducing immunity that lasted for months.
Researchers have determined the 3-dimensional structure of a Rosetta Stone protein, which may help scientists understand how cells are programmed to die and shed light on the role of loss in cancer. The human Fhit protein is encoded at the most fragile site in the genome and is lost in many human cancers.
Researchers developed a battery-operated pen that can disinfect drinking water using a salt solution, inactivating parasites, viruses, and bacteria with dramatic results.
Researchers have developed a battery-powered disinfecting pen that can inactivate waterborne parasites, viruses, and bacteria within minutes. The device generates mixed oxidants from a salt solution, delivering safe drinking water even better than plain chlorine.
Scientists have discovered a gene in yeast that plays a key role in regulating the aging process. The SIR2 gene helps slow down aging by silencing certain genes, and its activation can extend the life span of yeast cells. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new anti-aging therapies.
Researchers from the University of Florida College of Medicine have developed a new therapy using bacteriophages to treat Vibrio vulnificus infections. Most mice injected with both the bacterium and a deadly bacteriophage survived what would normally be a fatal infection, demonstrating the effectiveness of this approach.
A study found that faucet handles and phone receivers are high-risk areas for transferring bacteria and viruses to hands and faces. This could lead to diseases like diarrhea and infection if proper hygiene is not practiced. The researchers also highlighted the potential for household items like sponges and telephones to spread infections.
Researchers have identified a water extract from potatoes that inhibits the attachment of certain bacteria, such as oral streptococcus and E. coli, to their target tissue. This finding could provide a new direction for antibiotic research and potentially help solve the growing problem of antibiotic resistance.
Susan Okie, a medical reporter at The Washington Post, has won the 2000 American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Public Communications Award. Her two-part series on tuberculosis highlights the challenges of controlling this deadly disease and emphasizes the need for new medicines and vaccines to eradicate it.
Researchers have found a way to convert oil to methane gas using specialized microorganisms living beneath the earth's surface. This breakthrough could lead to safer oil exploration and more efficient extraction methods.
The 100th meeting of the American Society for Microbiology brought together experts in the field to share groundbreaking research on various microbiological topics. Key findings included significant progress in understanding microbial mechanisms and developing new diagnostic tools.
A new rapid and reliable method for detecting tuberculosis has been developed, using the microscopic observation broth-drug susceptibility assay (MODS). The test is inexpensive and sensitive enough to be used in the field by health officers in developing countries.