Researchers found a significant protective effect of probiotics against mercury and arsenic in pregnant women, while children showed benefits but lacked statistical significance. The study suggests basic foodstuffs like yogurt could provide preventative protection for pregnant women worldwide.
A study found that a type of gut bacteria called Clostridium ramosum promotes obesity in mice, particularly when fed a high-fat diet. The bacteria appears to improve nutrient uptake, leading to increased energy conversion and weight gain.
Researchers found that using sweat-eating bacteria to metabolize ammonia improved skin condition and appearance in human volunteers. The study showed significant improvements, especially when the levels of AOB on the skin were high, suggesting potential modulation of the skin microbiota.
Researchers found that plant seeds can be pre-colonized with beneficial bacteria, providing enhanced microbial protection. This discovery has significant implications for creating food-safe antimicrobials and understanding the importance of early colonization in establishing a healthy microbiome.
Researchers found that critically ill ICU patients lose almost all of their gut microbes and those left are mostly pathogenic, leading to life-threatening sepsis. The study suggests that minimizing antibiotic use and stabilizing remaining microbes could improve patient outcomes.
Research shows that influenza A potentiates pneumococcal co-infection by enhancing the bacterium's ability to colonize the nasopharynx and infect the middle ear. This interaction leads to increased inflammatory responses, allowing pneumococci to flourish in the host environment.
Researchers have discovered a bacterial mechanism that prevents MRSA from thriving on human skin. By producing toxic compounds, MRSA inhibits its own growth and persistence on the skin.
Research in mice demonstrates that commensal bacteria enhance the immune system's ability to kill Klebsiella pneumoniae by boosting alveolar macrophage production of reactive oxygen molecules. The study suggests that signals from these beneficial bacteria play an active role in regulating immune function, even in the absence of infection.
Researchers have discovered a novel virus in ball pythons that could be the source of severe respiratory disease, with implications for public health and animal care. The virus, named ball python nidovirus, has been sequenced and found to be similar to toroviruses, which infect mammals and fish.
Scientists identified a compound that effectively inhibits an enzyme crucial to Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) viruses. The compound has a different mode of action for each virus due to slight differences in the enzyme.
Researchers found that viruses can contaminate surfaces within 2-4 hours, spreading to 40-60% of workers and visitors. Disinfecting wipes with quaternary ammonium compounds (QUATS) reduced virus spread by 80-99% when used in conjunction with hand hygiene.
Researchers have developed a molecule that can silence the NDM-1 resistance gene in bacteria, restoring susceptibility to carbapenem antibiotics. This approach could be a viable strategy for treating resistant infections.
A new antifungal, isavuconazole, has been shown to be as effective as an existing drug, voriconazole, in treating invasive mold disease in cancer patients. Isavuconazole had significantly fewer drug-related adverse events than voriconazole, particularly in the eye, skin, and liver.
A new lab test, Carba NP, has been developed to detect carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) in just 2.5 hours, with a specificity of 100%. The test is highly sensitive and specific for detecting carbapenemase production, making it a crucial tool for preventing the spread of CRE.
A hospital stay significantly increases the risk of acquiring a multidrug-resistant infection, with each additional day boosting the likelihood by 1%, according to new research. The study found that the percentage of infections classified as multidrug-resistant rose sharply after four or five days of hospitalization, peaking at over 35%.
A new single-dose influenza drug, peramivir, shows promise in alleviating flu symptoms, including fever and viral shedding, when administered within 48 hours of symptom onset. It effectively reduces median time to alleviation of symptoms by 22 hours and is generally safe and well-tolerated.
A hospital-wide program in New York reduced antibiotic use by half and saved over $600,000 annually. Antibiotic stewardship also led to a significant decrease in antibiotic-resistant infections.
Research published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology found that polyester clothes smell worse than cotton after exercise due to bacteria growth. Bacteria like micrococci thrive on polyester surfaces, breaking down sweat and hormones into odor-causing molecules.
Researchers found that the European CA-MRSA clone CC80 evolved from a sub-Saharan African methicillin-sensitive ancestor. The bacteria simultaneously acquired resistance to methicillin and fusidic acid, which is thought to be due to selective pressure in North Africa and Europe.
Researchers identify protein p66ShcA as a biomarker for predicting breast cancer outcomes and identifying poor-prognosis cancers. The discovery aids understanding of epithelial to mesenchymal transition, a process enabling tumor cells to metastasize.
Researchers discover that 12-lipoxygenase (12-LO) enzyme promotes pre-diabetes and diabetes by causing oxidative stress in pancreatic cells. The study shows that a high-fat diet leads to the production of harmful molecules, ultimately damaging the cell's ability to produce insulin.
A highly virulent, multidrug-resistant form of Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been discovered in patient samples in Ohio. The strain contains a gene for a drug-resistant enzyme called metallo beta-lactamase, making it resistant to multiple antibiotics.
A new C. difficile vaccine has been shown to be 100 percent effective in protecting animal models from the deadly intestinal disease caused by Clostridium difficile. The vaccine protects against bacterial toxins and could prevent deadly complications such as severe diarrhea and bowel perforation.
Researchers found 101 non-antibiotic drugs with potential to prevent growth of certain bacterial pathogens, including those causing Legionnaires' disease and brucellosis. These drugs interfere with host cell functions to stall intracellular bacterial infections.
A study by the University of California, Davis, investigated a single-species inoculation in a sake brewery, finding that environmental surfaces harbor similar microbiota as added microorganisms. The microbial populations change dramatically across fermentation stages, with Aspergillus oryzae dominating the process.
Researchers found genetic fragments of MERS-CoV in air samples from a camel barn, suggesting short or intermittent shedding of the virus. The study emphasizes the importance of preventing possible airborne transmission and highlights the risk of camel-to-human transmission.
A team of researchers has identified 46 genes in Escherichia coli necessary for its survival at high levels of radiation, including DNA repair pathways. The discovery reveals potential new ways to protect humans from cancer and improve our understanding of ionizing radiation effects.
Researchers have identified six potential therapeutics for H7N9 influenza by targeting the immune response rather than the virus. The study found that viruses causing severe illness trigger different gene expression signatures compared to milder infections.
Researchers used shotgun metagenomics to sequence DNA from a calcified nodule in a 700-year-old skeleton, recovering the genome of Brucella melitensis, a disease causing fevers and arthritis. The ancient strain was closely related to recent strains found in Italy, providing insights into medieval infections.
A study published in mBio reveals that a fungus found in contaminated Greek yogurt can cause disease in healthy humans. Researchers isolated the strain and tested it on mice, finding that it can cause lethal infections when injected into the bloodstream.
A novel intravaginal ring demonstrated controlled drug release and safety in pig-tailed macaque monkeys, showing potential for HIV prevention. The ring's topical delivery reduces adherence issues, boosting effectiveness and minimizing side effects.
A study published in mBio found that Campylobacter jejuni, a foodborne pathogen, can cause disease in some breeds of chickens. The bacteria were previously thought to be harmless to birds.
Researchers tracked bacterial colonies using experimental tools to observe massive phenotypic diversification in aging Escherichia coli colonies. They found diverse metabolic capacities, stress resistance, and improved biofilm production among survivors of senescent colonies.
A new study refines a test for tracing food-borne illnesses to their source, providing clearer guidance on interpreting DNA sequence changes. The findings suggest that isolates with certain variations in bacterial DNA can be linked together, helping investigators pinpoint outbreaks more accurately.
Research found that equine influenza viruses from the early 2000s can easily infect dog respiratory tracts, while those from the 1960s replicate poorly. The study suggests that canine and human influenza viruses can mix, generating new viruses that could pose a pandemic risk.
A study published in mBio found that fecal transplants partially restored a diverse community of healthy gut bacteria to recipients, reducing the amount of infectious Proteobacteria and increasing Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes bacteria. The transplants also improved metabolic pathways, including those involved in stress response.
Researchers have discovered that populating GI tracts with Bacteroides species producing beta-lactamase enzyme protects good commensal bacteria from antibiotics. This finding suggests a potential new strategy for preserving the gut microbiome during antibiotic treatment.
Research published in mBio shows that stress and emotional shock can trigger heart attacks by dispersing bacterial biofilms on arterial walls. Bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa are found in atherosclerotic carotid arteries, and their dispersion can cause plaque deposits to rupture into the bloodstream.
Researchers from Germany and Switzerland have discovered the importance of acetic acid bacteria in cocoa fermentation, mapping metabolic pathways that produce acetate and initiate flavor development. The study reveals a fine-tuned collaboration between a multi-species consortium during fermentation.
A study published in mBio suggests that the virulent US fish epidemic emerged from an Asian source, with the bacterium Aeromonas hydrophila causing serious infections in catfish. Researchers identified a common ancestor responsible for the virulent strains of A. hydrophila affecting both China and the United States.
Molecular methods have improved identification of war wound infections, revealing new insights into microbial species associated with successful and unsuccessful healing. The study found that certain bacteria are linked to poor wound healing, while others are associated with successful recovery.
Researchers tested whether ancestral human diets, or paleo diets, result in better appetite suppression. They found that high-fiber plant-based diets likely do not lead to increased SCFAs and appetite suppression, but rather may help baboons maintain grazing all day to consume enough nutrients.
Researchers have analyzed fossilized feces from 1,500-year-old coprolites to determine the bacterial and fungal populations present in two extinct cultures. The study found distinct differences between the fecal communities of these cultures, providing evidence that they may have had different origins.
Research found that disease-causing bacteria like MRSA and E. coli can linger on airplane surfaces for up to a week, surviving environmental conditions and human touch. The study aims to explore effective cleaning and disinfection strategies to reduce the persistence of these pathogens in passenger aircraft cabins.
Researchers found that dog-treated beaches had significantly lower E. coli counts than control beaches due to reduced gull presence. Border collies effectively excluded gulls from beaches, improving beach water quality.
Researchers found 27 compounds with antiviral activity against MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV in cell culture. Experimental compound also inhibits replication of other coronaviruses, including mouse hepatitis virus.
Children with autism spectrum disorders have altered gut bacteria and distinct metabolite profiles, potentially affecting brain function and neurotransmitter balance. The study found lower levels of homovanillate and N,N-dimethylglycine, as well as a higher glutamine/glutamate ratio, in children with ASD.
A University of Florida study reveals that gum disease bacteria increase risk factors for atherosclerotic heart disease in mice, potentially changing how physicians diagnose and treat heart disease patients. The study's findings support a causal link between oral disease and increased heart disease risk.
Researchers found that inhibiting COX-2, an immune protein causing inflammation, eliminated recurrent urinary tract infections in mice. This suggests that over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen may reduce susceptibility to recurring UTIs by targeting the underlying inflammatory response.
Research suggests certain bacteria in healthy women's bladders differ from those with overactive bladder (OAB), potentially contributing to the condition. Approximately 15% of women suffer from OAB, with an estimated 40-50% not responding to conventional treatments.