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Study shows antibiotics may be viable treatment option for appendicitis

A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that seven in ten patients who received antibiotics avoided surgery within 90 days, while four in ten with an appendicolith required surgery. Patients treated with antibiotics reported fewer workdays missed and hospital visits compared to those who underwent surgery.

SourceHenry Ford Health·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateOct 5, 2020

80-year-old antibiotic redesigned for new medical uses

Researchers at the University of Tokyo have transformed an old antibiotic into stronger, safer versions using a synthetic strategy. They created over 4,000 variations of gramicidin A, identifying 10 promising future antibacterial drugs with improved specificity towards bacteria.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 4, 2020
Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

Coupling antibiotics with stem cells to fight off bone infections

A new study from Kanazawa University finds that combining antibiotics with antibiotic-laden stem cells effectively treats implant-related bone infections. The researchers used mesenchymal stem cells to deliver ciprofloxacin, which showed strong antimicrobial effects and improved outcomes in animal models of osteomyelitis.

SourceKanazawa University·JournalScientific Reports·DateOct 1, 2020

Genome of Alexander Fleming's original penicillin-producing mould sequenced

The genome of Fleming's original Penicillium strain has been sequenced for the first time, showing that the UK and US strains use different methods to produce penicillin. The results suggest new routes for industrial production and could help inspire novel solutions to combatting antibiotic resistance.

SourceImperial College London·JournalScientific Reports·DateSep 24, 2020
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Magnetic 'T-Budbots' made from tea plants kill and clean biofilms (video)

Researchers have developed magnetically propelled microbots derived from tea buds that can dislodge biofilms, release an antibiotic to kill bacteria, and clean away the debris. The T-Budbots showed promise in treating bacterial biofilms involved in hospital-acquired infections.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateSep 23, 2020

New high-speed test shows how antibiotics combine to kill bacteria

Researchers developed a new method to determine the effectiveness of combining two antibiotics, providing greater scope for customizing treatment. The CombiANT method allows laboratories to easily test interactions and can provide crucial information for treating bacterial infections.

SourceUppsala University·JournalPLOS Biology·DateSep 17, 2020
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

How antibiotics interact

A joint study by University of Cologne researchers predicts the outcomes of combining certain antibiotics using mathematical models. The scientists found that interactions between antibiotics are often caused by bottlenecks in the translation cycle, allowing them to predict the effects of antibiotic combinations without trial and error.

SourceUniversity of Cologne·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 31, 2020

Too many COVID-19 patients get unneeded 'just in case' antibiotics

A new study from Michigan Medicine shows that over half of hospitalized COVID-19 patients received antibiotics soon after arrival, despite only 3.5% having both virus and bacterial infection. Faster testing and understanding infection risk factors could help reduce unnecessary antibiotic use and harm.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalClinical Infectious Diseases·DateAug 26, 2020

Interventions stem antibiotic prescribing rates in telemedicine

Researchers found that interventions reducing unnecessary antibiotic prescribing in telemedicine practices significantly decreased inappropriate prescriptions. Education and feedback on dashboards led to the most substantial reductions, particularly for conditions where antibiotics should not be prescribed.

SourceChildren's National Hospital·JournalJournal of General Internal Medicine·DateAug 26, 2020

Treating COVID-19 could lead to increased antimicrobial resistance

A new study suggests that treating COVID-19 patients with antibiotics could lead to increased antimicrobial resistance in the wider population. The research, published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, found that high levels of antibiotics in rivers and coastal waters may result in an increase in resistant bacteria.

SourceUniversity of Plymouth·JournalJournal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy·DateAug 25, 2020

Are antivitamins the new antibiotics?

Researchers from the University of Göttingen have developed a promising new approach involving antivitamins to combat bacterial infections. The study found that antivitamins can inhibit bacterial proteins, preventing their function and leading to potential antibiotic effects.

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalNature Chemical Biology·DateAug 24, 2020
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

Designed bacteria produce coral-antibiotic

Researchers have developed a method to produce the coral-antibiotic erogorgiaene in a laboratory using genetically optimized bacteria. The production costs are significantly lower than conventional methods, making it an environmentally friendly and cost-effective alternative.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalGreen Chemistry·DateAug 17, 2020

Antibiotic overuse reduces bladder cancer survival rates

A new study by Flinders University researchers found that antibiotic use is directly associated with worse survival rates in patients with urothelial carcinoma treated with atezolizumab. The study suggests antibiotics may specifically reduce the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapies, highlighting a need for extra caution when using t...

SourceFlinders University·JournalEuropean Urology·DateAug 16, 2020
Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

Pollution linked to antibiotic resistance

A University of Georgia study found a strong correlation between antibiotic resistance and heavy metal contamination in the environment. Soils contaminated with heavy metals had higher levels of specific bacterial hosts carrying antibiotic-resistant genes.

SourceUniversity of Georgia·JournalMicrobial Biotechnology·DateAug 13, 2020

SMART researchers find new way to make bacteria more sensitive to antibiotics

A team at SMART has found that exposing bacteria to hydrogen sulfide can increase antimicrobial sensitivity in bacteria that do not produce H2S, potentially providing a breakthrough in treating drug-resistant infections. The study suggests that the results may be applicable to all bacteria that do not naturally produce H2S.

SourceSingapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART)·JournalFrontiers in Microbiology·DateAug 12, 2020
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Test accurately IDs people whose gonorrhea can be cured with simple oral antibiotic

A new DNA test can accurately identify individuals whose gonorrhea is curable with a single dose of oral ciprofloxacin, providing an alternative treatment option. The study found that all 106 subjects identified as having the wild-type gyrA serine strain were cured with the antibiotic.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalClinical Infectious Diseases·DateAug 7, 2020

Grow faster, die sooner

Research by Technical University of Munich shows that faster-growing bacteria are more likely to die when deprived of food, highlighting the balance between growth and survivability in bacterial fitness. The study may lead to improved effectiveness of antibiotics by stimulating intestinal bacteria growth.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalMolecular Systems Biology·DateAug 6, 2020
Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

AI may offer a better way to ID drug-resistant superbugs

A machine learning algorithm using high-temporal-resolution growth curves distinguishes bacterial pathogen strains with 92-98% accuracy, predicting antibiotic resistance as well as genetic-based methods. The method has the potential to be faster, simpler, and less expensive than current techniques.

SourceDuke University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 4, 2020

Anatomy of an acne treatment

Researchers at Yale University discovered how sarecycline's chemical structure makes it an effective antibiotic for treating acne. The study found that sarecycline binds to messenger RNA in bacterial ribosomes, blocking protein synthesis and boosting its effectiveness.

SourceYale University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 3, 2020

Compounds show promise in search for tuberculosis antibiotics

Compounds tested for their potential as antibiotics have demonstrated promising activity against tuberculosis (TB), a deadly infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The study found that the compounds exploit well-known targets for drugs, including the bacterial enzyme DNA gyrase.

SourceJohn Innes Centre·JournalJournal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy·DateJul 30, 2020

Medieval medicine remedy could provide new treatment for modern day infections

Researchers at the University of Warwick have discovered a medieval remedy that shows promise in fighting biofilm-associated infections. The Bald's eyesalve mixture, made from onion, garlic, wine, and bile salts, demonstrates effective antibacterial activity against a range of Gram-negative and Gram-positive wound pathogens.

SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalScientific Reports·DateJul 28, 2020
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.

Antibiotics disrupt development of the 'social brain' in mice

A new study by Dr Katerina Johnson and Dr Philip Burnet found that antibiotic treatment in early life impairs brain signalling pathways for social behaviour and pain regulation in mice. The most striking finding was the reduced expression of receptors mediating endorphin, oxytocin, and vasopressin signalling in young animals treated wi...

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalBMC Neuroscience·DateJul 22, 2020

Beautyberry leaf extract restores drug's power to fight 'superbug'

Scientists have discovered a compound in the American beautyberry leaves that works in combination with oxacillin to knock down resistance to the drug methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA. The study suggests a new potential therapy for treating antibiotic-resistant infections.

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalACS Infectious Diseases·DateJul 16, 2020

High-fat diet with antibiotic use linked to gut inflammation

A high-fat diet combined with antibiotic use significantly increases the risk of developing pre-IBD. The study suggests that this combination disrupts mitochondria in cells of the large intestinal lining, leading to gut inflammation and a vicious cycle of replacing good bacteria with harmful microbes.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis Health·JournalCell Host & Microbe·DateJul 14, 2020
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

Antibiotic resistance and the need for personalized treatments

A team of researchers identified that the intestinal flora (microbiota) of each host determines the maintenance of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the gut. The study found that resistance has different interactions depending on the individual's microbiota, with some individuals showing a high ability to survive without antibiotics.

SourceInstituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateJul 13, 2020

How do bacteria build up natural products?

Researchers have successfully investigated the basic mechanisms of molecular factories in bacteria, revealing insights into the production of complex structures like polyketides. This discovery inspires targeted manipulation of biochemical processes, leading to potential improvements in antibiotics and other drugs.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalNature Chemistry·DateJul 6, 2020
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

Faecal microbial transplantation more effective and less costly than antibiotics

A new UK study found that faecal microbial transplantation (FMT) is more effective than antibiotics in treating Clostridium difficile infection, with higher cure rates and lower recurrence rates. FMT was also shown to be significantly more cost-effective, reducing hospitalization days and offering better quality of life for patients.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalEClinicalMedicine·DateJun 29, 2020

A new antibiotic binding site was found in the ribosome

A team of scientists discovered a new antibiotic binding site on the ribosome, blocking protein synthesis in bacteria. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new antibacterial drugs that overcome existing antibiotic resistance.

SourceSkolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech)·JournalNature Chemical Biology·DateJun 29, 2020
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

Global deal follows UQ superbug drug discoveries

The University of Queensland's antibiotic discoveries will be fast-tracked under a US$11 million international research deal. The funding supports the development of a new antibiotic, Octapeptin-X, targeting drug-resistant bacteria that evade current therapies.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·DateJun 22, 2020

Click... Resistant bacteria caught in the act!

Scientists have caught BAM guard towers red-handed, revealing their role in bacterial resistance to antibiotics. This discovery provides unprecedented insight into the mechanism of bacteria, offering a new angle for targeting BAM during antibiotic treatment.

SourceUniversité catholique de Louvain·JournalNature Chemical Biology·DateJun 22, 2020
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Water bacteria have a green thumb

A new species of bacteria, Stieleria maiorica, produces stieleriacines, which act as signalling molecules to control the composition of marine biofilms. This allows planctomycetes to outcompete other bacteria for resources.

SourceFriedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena·JournalCommunications Biology·DateJun 12, 2020

Flu vaccine coverage linked to reduced antibiotic prescribing

Researchers found a strong association between flu vaccine coverage and reduced antibiotic use in the US. The study suggests that expanding flu vaccine coverage could reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing and mitigate the growing problem of antibiotic resistance.

SourceCenter for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy·JournalOpen Forum Infectious Diseases·DateJun 10, 2020
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.