A new study describes phage therapy as a game-changing solution to combat multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. Researchers found that sequential administration of phages and antibiotics can clear infection and re-sensitize bacteria to antibiotics.
A study using historic and modern writing reveals more information about the effects and spread of Phytophthora infestans, a plant pathogen that caused the 1840s Irish potato famine. Researchers tracked the disease's spread across the US and Canada, finding it affected multiple states and provinces between 1843-45.
Bingxu Liu's research reveals STING as an ion channel that senses danger in mammalian cells, inducing multiple defenses against viruses, bacteria, and tumors. The discovery hints at the adaptability of innate immune proteins like STING, suggesting they have evolved to acquire diverse new functions.
Researchers have discovered that immune cells can form memories of pathogens at multiple phases during an infection, with the ability to switch between memory and effector cell fates. This flexibility enables individuals to better adapt to uncertain situations and respond effectively to different threats.
Researchers have discovered genetic material of the pathogen Treponema pallidum in ancient Brazilian bones, indicating that humans suffered from diseases akin to syphilis over 2,000 years ago. This finding challenges existing theories about the spread of syphilis by Spanish conquistadors and suggests that treponematoses were already pr...
The fungal pathogen Rosellinia necatrix produces antimicrobial proteins during host colonization, which helps it overcome the inhibitory effects of plant-hosted bacteria. This finding highlights the importance of antimicrobial strategies in plant-pathogen interactions.
Research at University of Oxford found that diverse gut bacteria communities can block the growth of harmful pathogens, with certain species playing a crucial role. The communities work by consuming nutrients needed by the pathogen, and increasing diversity boosts protection.
Researchers have developed a noninvasive method to quickly detect the deadly fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans in shipments and captive settings. The new approach tests environmental DNA for Bsal DNA to assess the pathogen's prevalence, providing a way to make an essentially invisible pathogen visible.
A new study by University of Arkansas researchers suggests that male-biased pathology makes male canaries more likely to transmit the avian bacterial pathogen Mycoplasma gallisepticum. The study found that male birds have shorter incubation periods, longer recovery periods, and higher pathogen loads than females.
Researchers at Indiana University discovered that pathogens can apply physical forces during entry into host cells, evading degradation and surviving intracellularly. This finding suggests targeting pathogen movement may be a new way to combat infection inside cells.
Scientists at the University of Kansas have identified a previously unknown gene cluster responsible for producing sartorypyrones, a chemical made by the fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. This discovery could lead to new therapies for fungal infections and eco-friendly industrial uses.
The CR-hvKP pathogen is simultaneously multidrug-resistant, highly virulent, and highly transmissible, posing a significant public health challenge. It has been reported in Asian clinical settings, with China being particularly affected.
A recent study has provided significant genomic insight into tar spot of corn, a destructive disease causing $1.2 billion in yield loss. The researchers identified over 100 novel effectors that play a crucial role during infection, warranting further investigation.
Candida albicans requires proline metabolism to mount virulent infections, according to a new study. Proline is an important source of energy for the fungus, and its breakdown in the mitochondria generates chemical energy similar to glucose.
Researchers at the German Center for Infection Research have developed effective antibodies against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a major challenge in healthcare systems worldwide. These monoclonal antibodies target the pathogen's type III secretion system and show promise as a highly potent treatment option for acute and chronic infections.
The Cumming Global Centre for Pandemic Therapeutics is offering global grants of up to $200,000 per annum for three years to develop novel therapeutics for pathogens of pandemic potential. Researchers are invited to submit expressions of interest for Round Two of the Foundation Grants program.
Researchers found that Porphyromonas gingivalis inhibits autophagosome-lysosome fusion, worsening cardiac remodeling and causing cardiac rupture after myocardial infarction. The study suggests that treating this oral infection could help prevent fatal heart attacks.
Researchers found blue light kills both dried cells and biofilms of Listeria monocytogenes, a frequent contaminant of food processing facilities. The pathogen's demise occurred quickest on polystyrene surfaces.
Researchers characterized adhesins produced by Candida auris, discovering a previously uncharacterized adhesin called Surface Colonization Factor (SCF1) that governs surface association and virulence. SCF1 relies on cationic interactions for attachment, unlike other fungal adhesins that function through hydrophobic interactions.
Researchers at Cleveland Clinic have developed a potential vaccine candidate against Dabie Bandavirus using nanoparticles, which can deliver antigens at a lower dose with fewer side effects. The vaccine has shown promise in pre-clinical studies and could provide protection to adults over 50, who are most vulnerable to the virus.
In C. elegans, a specialized anti-aggregation mechanism is triggered in response to core protein quality control failure, promoting tissue-specific resilience to age-dependent protein aggregation. This mechanism relies on pathogen response factors and lysosomal mediated degradation.
The study discovered complex microbiome dynamics where commensal and pathogenic microorganisms coexist, influencing the severity of bacterial pneumonia. The respiratory tract microbiome composition, pathogen load, and clinical interventions also play a crucial role in disease outcome.
The study presents a pioneering detection tool that combines molecular biology and electronics to identify various pathogenic agents. The technology has demonstrated remarkable sensitivity detecting as few as 10 target molecules and rapid results under one hour.
A global research team found that extreme heat exposure and prior infection from a protozoan pathogen can severely negatively impact solitary bees' thermal physiology and behavior. The study showed that healthy bees can tolerate high temperatures, but infected ones are less tolerant, affecting their ability to forage and pollinate crops.
Researchers analyzed aerial images of seal colonies to study distribution patterns and found harbour seals stay at larger distances from conspecifics than grey seals, suggesting an evolutionary response to respiratory virus susceptibility. This finding provides opportunities to gather more information about pinnipeds in remote regions.
A study analyzed genetic diversity of Lyme disease bacteria and found variations linked to host species. Mouse-adapted genotypes were more likely to persist in mice than other genotypes.
Researchers at the Institute for Systems Biology have identified a signaling system called MtrA that helps Mycobacterium tuberculosis grow in response to host signals. Disrupting this system compromises the pathogen's cell wall, making it unable to divide and ultimately compromising its survival.
Researchers find that Acinetobacter baumannii can achieve significant functional modifications in protein complexes over short evolutionary time spans, particularly in hair-like cell appendages. This diversity may affect the pathogen's interaction with its environment and inform personalized therapies.
Biologists argue that building on genomic sequencing momentum is critical in society's response to future pandemics. The technology improved during the COVID-19 pandemic, but gaps remain in global infrastructure and data sharing.
Researchers developed a novel vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 by selecting antigen variants with low binding affinity, resulting in higher neutralizing antibody concentrations. This design strategy may also improve vaccine efficacy for other coronaviruses and herpes viruses.
Researchers have identified a new trichothecene, NX, produced by Fusarium graminearum, which contributes to the pathogen's ability to infect wheat and spread disease. Deleting the gene responsible for NX production reduces toxin levels and disease severity, providing potential control methods.
Researchers found that antimicrobial resistance emerges from selection for pre-existing resistant clones, not new mutations. Infections with multiple pathogen clones show increased resistance to antibiotics, but also potential for faster loss of resistance when no antibiotics are present.
Scientists have discovered the first live culture of Candida auris in dogs, a drug-resistant pathogen that can cause severe infections. The finding suggests pets could act as reservoirs for superbugs, potentially transmitting infections to humans.
A recent study confirmed which genes in the HiVir cluster are essential and which contribute partially to the disease. The toxin produced by Pantoea ananatis has broad-spectrum activity, potentially targeting conserved functions within plants.
Scientists have developed disease-resistant rice varieties to combat a devastating bacterial outbreak in Tanzania and potentially other African countries. The new lines, created using advanced breeding techniques, show broad-spectrum resistance against Xoo bacteria strains, offering hope for increasing yields and food security.
Scientists at McMaster University and MIT have used AI to discover a new antibiotic targeting Acinetobacter baumannii, a deadly drug-resistant pathogen. The new antibiotic, abaucin, targets only A. baumannii, reducing the risk of rapid resistance development.
Scientists have found a rare yeast pathogen, Lodderomyces elongisporus, causing neonatal outbreaks in India despite strong disinfectant bleach. The fungus is rapidly evolving and has been linked to hospital equipment and apples treated with fungicides.
GPMeta accelerates pathogen detection in metagenomic sequencing (mNGS) tests, achieving higher accuracy while significantly reducing processing time. The approach uses a succinct hash index scheme and multi-GPU support to handle massive data sets.
Researchers have discovered the molecular structure of a new toxin class, Ssp, capable of entering and killing human cells. The discovery offers insights into developing targeted inhibitors to combat infections caused by Serratia marcescens, a pathogen with high antibiotic resistance.
Researchers at UMass Amherst microbiologists have identified an enzyme involved in TB pathogen's survival and growth. The discovery offers a potential target for drug therapies for the deadly disease, which has few effective treatments and caused over 1.6 million deaths worldwide in 2021.
Researchers at the Forsyth Institute have discovered a molecule naturally produced by the human host that targets and inhibits Fusobacteria, an opportunistic oral pathogen linked to colorectal cancer. The findings suggest a chemically modified version of this molecule could be used as a potential therapeutic to prevent colorectal cance...
Researchers have developed an online tool, the 'Tree-Based Alignment Selector (T-BAS) toolkit', to identify and monitor plant pathogens, including Phytophthora species responsible for devastating plant diseases. The tool provides a living 'tree of life' with genetic sequence data, evolutionary history, and relationships within groups.
A new study published in Journal of Clinical Microbiology shows that using multiple PCR panels can identify more pathogens, notably diarrhea-causing E. coli and enteric viruses, and do so more rapidly than a conventional workup. This results in lower healthcare costs, reduced hospitalizations, and decreased antibiotic use.
A study found that high winds increased Campylobacter prevalence in outdoor chicken farms, with 26% of individual chickens infected. Farmers are advised to consider windbreaks and monitor weather patterns to reduce exposure.
A study found that a commercial water purifier may have caused Mycobacterium abscessus infections in 4 cardiac surgery patients due to chlorine depletion. The hospital's water system was contaminated via municipal water, emphasizing the importance of monitoring and preventing mycobacteria.
Researchers developed an 'AutoPLP' technique to detect new variants of zoonotic pathogens. The tool uses computer program designs customized probes with specific sequences, yielding higher accuracy and efficiency in molecular diagnostics. This breakthrough could help rapidly combat evolving pathogen variants.
OmniVis, a pathogen detection company, has received $100,000 from the Purdue Ag-Celerator fund to establish a field pilot for its hand-held devices. The funding aims to test the devices in real-world settings and make connections with the agricultural community.
A potent plant toxin called albicidin has emerged as a strong new antibiotic candidate, effective in small concentrations and highly potent against pathogenic bacteria. Its unique mechanism targets the bacterial enzyme DNA gyrase, which is essential for cell function.
Researchers have characterized the tar spot pathogen on a molecular level, revealing its virulence molecules target specific plant organelles. This study advances our understanding of plant-pathogen interactions and contributes to developing disease control strategies.
Researcher Dana Hawley found that finches with mild and strong conjunctivitis symptoms spread a pathogen at higher rates than healthy birds. This suggests that pathogens can evolve to cause more harm to their hosts, leading to increased transmission.
Researchers have discovered a complex of two protein variants that plays a significant role in Toxoplasma gondii infection. The parasite can infect a wide range of hosts due to its ability to recognize multiple host cell structures, leading to the activation of a central invasion complex.
Researchers at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin have discovered a cystic fibrosis drug effective in laboratory experiments, raising hope it can treat pneumonia regardless of the pathogen. The study found that CFTR plays a key role in pulmonary edema and that a CFTR modulator, ivacaftor, can prevent this condition.
Researchers developed an efficient engineered pathogen capture method to quickly identify infectious microbes in tiny blood samples. This advanced technology could significantly improve clinical outcomes for children with bloodstream infections and sepsis.
A study characterizes secreted proteins from Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum, a newly emerging pathogen of tomato and potato. The proteins, called effectors, offer clues into the manipulation tactics used by the bacterium to subdue its plant host.
Researchers found that habitat loss and climate-induced food shortages drive pathogen spillover, but preserving and restoring natural habitats can prevent these events. By analyzing data from Australia, the study predicts when viruses like Hendra and Nipah will spill over from bats to humans.
Co-infection with gut parasites increases shedding of respiratory bugs like Bordetella bacterium, leading to higher probability of onward transmission. This study in rabbits has broad implications for human populations and suggests targeting treatment of helminths could be an effective way to reduce disease outbreaks.
Researchers found that shorter flower petals reduce the transmission of a harmful pathogen, increasing larval production and bee health. Planting flowers with trimmed corollas or even distribution of nectar also supports bee well-being.
Researchers identified PtpB as a key effector that inhibits inflammasome-pyroptosis pathways in Mtb. The phosphatase activity of PtpB targets and dephosphorylates host membrane phospholipids, preventing GSDMD-mediated immune responses and promoting pathogen survival.
A new study found that the detection of resistant variants is only possible using population deep sequencing, suggesting treatment with antibiotics may contribute to their presence. The research highlights the potential for PDS to improve understanding of pathogens like Streptococcus pneumoniae and inform treatment strategies.
The University of Exeter team identified a 'master regulator' that controls the formation of invasive hyphae in the fungus Zymoseptoria tritici. This discovery provides a crucial target for developing new control strategies against Septoria tritici blotch, a destructive fungal disease affecting wheat yields worldwide.