Articles tagged with Bacterial Infections
A Johns Hopkins study shows that a higher dose of the antibiotic rifampin may be more effective in treating TB meningitis, potentially leading to improved patient outcomes. The research suggests that high doses of rifampin can kill bacteria faster while minimizing brain inflammation.
A recent study confirms that tuberculosis strains associated with marine mammals were also present in inland populations in pre-colonial South America. The researchers found three new ancient TB genomes from human remains in the highlands of Colombia, which resemble a TB variant found in seals and sea lions.
Fosfomycin, a long-dormant antibiotic, has been revived as a potential treatment for multidrug-resistant E. coli infections. The study involved 143 patients with invasive urinary tract infections and found effective results, offering an alternative to last-resort antibiotics.
Researchers developed a technique to track changes in bacterial mutation frequencies, which can inform initial and switched antibiotics. The study found that rare antibiotic-resistant bacteria can rapidly expand within days in response to treatment.
Researchers are developing a new SWIR surgical microscope system to detect and remove cholesteatomas, a type of chronic otitis media. The microscope uses short-wave infrared light to illuminate blood, bacterial biofilms, cartilage, and soft tissue, making them distinguishable from each other.
A recent study found that rainfall significantly affects the abundance of Vibrio vulnificus in the Ala Wai Canal, with moderate rainfall leading to high concentrations of the bacterium. The researchers suggest that while exposure is still a risk, precautions such as washing off with soap and water can minimize the danger.
Researchers found that some painkillers and fever medications may help fight infection, while others can weaken the immune system. The review highlights the need for more studies on the impact of these medicines on infectious diseases.
A study published in JAMA Network Open shows that a comprehensive system to improve antibiotic stewardship in long-term care facilities significantly reduces the use of antibiotics, leading to better patient outcomes and reduced drug-resistant bacterial strains. The program empowered clinicians to make informed decisions about prescrib...
Research suggests that genetic material from E. coli bacteria in farm animals may contribute to the evolution of deadly pandemic strains. The study found that ColV plasmids in pigs, cattle, and chickens can increase the likelihood of antimicrobial resistance and extra-intestinal infections in humans.
Researchers have discovered the structure of C.difficile's protective armor, a chain-mail like layer that prevents molecules from entering the cell. This discovery opens the possibility of designing specific drugs to target the armor and kill the cell.
Researchers have found that HPV and Chlamydia pathogens work together to reprogram cells, leading to cancer. The study used 3D organoids to investigate the interactions between the pathogens and tissues affected by disease.
Aston University researchers have developed a technique to boost antimicrobial properties of bioactive glass, which could reduce infections and antibiotic prescriptions. The new approach combines metal oxides, significantly improving bacterial kill rates over single oxides alone.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin found a new approach to impairing antibiotic resistance in deadly bacteria by inhibiting the protein DsbA. This method could potentially restore the effectiveness of existing antibiotics, addressing a global health crisis responsible for millions of deaths annually.
Researchers are exploring how bacteria form biofilms, which can be detrimental to health but also have potential uses in medicine and environmental cleanup. The study aims to understand the mechanisms behind microbial growth in biofilms and develop new materials and treatments.
A recent review highlights the effects of different intestinal bacteria on colorectal cancer, exploring new therapies for disease prevention and treatment. Beneficial probiotics, such as Akkermansia muciniphila and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, exhibit anticancer properties and reduce CRC cell proliferation.
A new study from the La Jolla Institute for Immunology reveals that two groups of regulatory CD4+ T cells develop at different times to combat acute inflammation. The early Tregs reduce autoimmune damage, while the second wave shuts down the entire immune response to signal infection clearance.
A Swedish registry study found no increase in endocarditis cases among high-risk individuals since the removal of prophylactic antibiotics in dentistry. The study monitored over 76,000 high-risk individuals and 396,000 low-risk individuals from 2008 to 2018.
SMART researchers identified a novel phage lysin, Abp013, with promising antimicrobial ability against Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The study demonstrated Abp013's ability to effectively target complex bacterial environments and could advance treatment methods for multidrug-resistant Gram-negative pathogens.
Researchers found that streptomycin, a widely used antibiotic in U.S. agriculture, impairs bumblebee behavior, including reduced foraging efficiency and slowed cognition. The study aims to understand the potential impacts on pollinators of antibiotic use in agriculture.
Researchers discovered how a single mutation in an enzyme enables bacteria to evade antibiotics by using mirrored structures. This finding has implications for developing more resilient inhibitors and proactive drug designs.
A new bacterial strain, Noda2021, belonging to Candidatus phylum Dependentiae has been isolated and sequenced, revealing its genetic material and potential ecological significance. This discovery sheds light on the diversity of microorganisms in Japan's microbiological hotspots.
Researchers at UC San Diego have made a groundbreaking discovery about the role of fibroblasts, or fat cells, in controlling bacteria and developing acne. These findings could lead to more targeted treatment options for acne, which affects up to 50 million Americans each year.
Researchers at Uppsala University discovered that the ancestors of Legionella bacteria infected eukaryotic cells around 2 billion years ago. This finding challenges the chicken-or-egg debate about which came first, phagocytosis or mitochondria evolution.
Tomato plant varieties resistant to bacterial wilt have the ability to restrict bacterial movement in the plant. Researchers discovered that these plants synthesize reinforcement coatings containing ligno-suberin and related phenolic compounds, providing a physico-chemical barrier against pathogen colonization.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University found that a specific type of bacteria, Weissella, becomes dominant in the gut microbiomes of locusts when they form swarms. This change may provide the bacteria with an evolutionary advantage, allowing them to spread and infect more locusts.
Researchers discovered a signaling mechanism allowing intracellular bacteria like Salmonella to outmaneuver host defenses. By triggering macrophage death and activating the complement system, these bacteria can safely deliver themselves into another macrophage. This 'hack' enables them to persist within infected hosts.
Researchers at San Diego State University have discovered a novel way bacteria infect cells by producing long threads, which grows up to 100 times the size of a bacterium in 30 hours. This mechanism allows the bacteria to rapidly infect multiple cells and access more nutrients for growth.
A team of scientists at the University of Würzburg has identified a previously unknown RNA sponge, OppX, that mimics a key regulator of bacterial membrane permeability. The discovery sheds light on how bacteria evade antibiotics and could lead to the development of new therapeutics.
A recent study found that cover cropping can reduce the population of Pseudomonas syringae, a common bacterial pathogen affecting agricultural crops. The researchers also discovered an increase in beneficial microbes such as Sphingomonas and Methylobacterium, which have been used as biocontrol agents against pathogens.
A new genomics study has helped guide the development of vaccines against Shigella, a leading cause of severe diarrhoea in children. The research revealed the extent of genomic diversity among Shigella species, highlighting challenges to current vaccine approaches.
Researchers at MUSC found that fungal infections are common in cirrhosis patients, often resistant to antibiotics. Patients with cirrhosis are immunocompromised and need proactive infection management.
Researchers at TTUHSC developed novel hydrophilic nanoparticles that target bacterial membranes, killing pathogens while sparing mammalian cells. The nanoantibiotics' size-dependent activity reveals a new blueprint for developing non-toxic and environmentally friendly antibiotics.
Researchers created a novel molecular diagnostic platform that can detect COVID-19 genes after only 8 cycles of amplification, significantly reducing the time required for diagnosis. The new SERS-PCR platform uses gold nanoparticles to produce high-sensitivity signals, providing an important tool in the fight against the pandemic.
Rice University researchers developed a microfluidic platform to analyze how infectious bacteria evolve resistance to antibiotics. The platform allows for controlled environments and fine-tuning of conditions, revealing previously unknown pathways to resistance.
Researchers developed a mathematical model that can predict resistance outcomes for various drug pairs. The model, called JDFE, characterizes mutations available to bacteria and allows for classification of drug pairs into those that facilitate or hinder multi-drug resistance.
Researchers at Nagoya City University developed a novel approach for surface disinfection using harmless visible light, inactivating bacteria and viruses. The study's findings suggest that photothermal effects caused by pulsed laser irradiation can instantly destroy pathogenic microorganisms.
Researchers have pinpointed a gene in E. coli ST131 that makes it highly resistant to antibiotics, leading to new treatment strategies and improved tracking of emerging resistance. The study aims to create better treatments to stop deadly E. coli infections.
A CHOP study found that infants born via uncomplicated cesarean delivery have a low risk of early-onset sepsis and should not receive antibiotics at birth. The study's findings could help clinicians tailor antibiotic use in newborns, reducing complications and unnecessary treatment.
A new EU-funded project, MUSIC, will investigate how bacterial defences influence the spread of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) between bacteria. MGEs can change key traits of bacteria, including antibiotic resistance and virulence.
Hospital admissions for common and severe childhood infections in England decreased by up to 94% during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. This suggests that non-COVID-19 interventions, such as school closures and social distancing measures, may also reduce transmission of other infectious diseases in children.
Researchers found that inhibiting gasdermin D, a protein involved in septic patients' organ lesions, can prevent multiple-organ damage and improve prognosis. Disulfiram, a drug originally indicated for alcohol dependence, was shown to inhibit gasdermin D and reduce tissue injury.
Researchers discovered a bacterial toxin that can accelerate colon cancer in mice, sharing similarities with human tumors. The study's findings suggest a potential link between transient food poisoning and colorectal cancer development, highlighting the need for further epidemiological studies.
Researchers found that adding tomato concentrate to a mouse's diet reduced intestinal and systemic inflammation in individuals with chronic HIV. The study suggests targeting the inflamed intestine may be a novel way to prevent persistent inflammation.
A new study by the University of Exeter reveals two previously unknown Vibrio species in UK waters, which can cause gastroenteritis and skin infections in humans. The increasing range of these bacteria also threatens marine biodiversity and the seafood industry, with potential economic costs estimated at £6 billion annually.
The study proposes a novel nonequilibrium mechanism for allosteric regulation of motor switching, based on precise measurement of the bacterial flagellar motor's switching dynamics at stall. This mechanism has implications for other molecular motors and explains dynamic properties under all loads uniformly.
Researchers at the University of Louisville School of Dentistry found that oral bacteria like Porphyromonas gingivalis can suppress the production and effectiveness of proteins that protect humans from viral infection. This suppression increases vulnerability to infection, allowing viruses to enter the body more easily.
Researchers at Rockefeller University have discovered a novel compound called macolacin that is highly potent against multidrug-resistant bacteria, including those resistant to colistin. The compound was discovered using an evolutionary approach to antibiotic discovery and has shown promising results in lab experiments.
A study published in Nature found that a type of MRSA called mecC-MRSA originated in hedgehogs over 200 years ago, long before the clinical use of antibiotics. The researchers believe that the bacteria evolved as an adaptation to living on the skin of hedgehogs with a fungus that produces its own antibiotics.
Phages weigh all options and make an informed decision whether to exit the dormant state and attack their bacterial host. The study found that some phage families have developed a complex decision-making strategy, receiving information from neighboring bacteria and controlling communication via arbitrium.
Researchers developed a promising alternative to traditional wet-chemistry methods using plasma-enabled surface engineering. The technology can create contact-killing, antifouling, and drug-release surfaces, accelerating antimicrobial material development.
A new species of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, Enterococcus innesii, has been discovered by researchers at the John Innes Centre. The strain is resistant to vancomycin and may cause hospital-acquired infections.
A team of researchers has fully identified the production process of thymol and carvacrol in thyme and oregano, respectively. The findings could lead to improved plant breeding and the development of new antibacterial and anti-inflammatory substances.
Researchers used PET scans to quantify antibiotic levels in orthopaedic implants, discovering rifampin penetration is only about 14% as much as previously believed. A higher dose of rifampin achieved higher bacterial killing and fewer antibiotic-resistant strains, suggesting a shorter treatment regimen may be effective.
Researchers identified 'pre-resistance' signs in bacteria, predicting future resistance to antibiotics. This discovery allows doctors to select the best treatments for bacterial infections and paves the way for personalized genomic therapy.
A new blood test developed at Hebrew University of Jerusalem detects immune and inflammatory activity in tissues by monitoring circulating DNA fragments. This method provides accurate information about immune processes in remote tissues, removing the need for invasive measures.
Scientists have measured the speed of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, a bacterium causing citrus greening disease. The bacteria can colonize a tree in around 80-100 days, faster than symptoms appear, making it difficult to control.
Scientists have discovered a new potential treatment to reverse antibiotic resistance in bacteria causing sepsis, pneumonia, and urinary tract infections. The indole carboxylates class of enzyme blockers can stop MBL resistance enzymes from working, allowing antibiotics like carbapenems to effectively target bacteria.
Researchers discovered that blood stem cells use high-energy fatty acids from the body's fat stores to power up their response to infection. This finding could lead to new approaches in treating bacterial infections, particularly in vulnerable and older individuals.
Researchers developed an AI program that accurately identified patients at risk of serious illness due to blood infections, with an accuracy rate of 82%. The technology has the potential to serve as an early warning system for doctors, enabling them to rank patients based on their risk level.
The study found clear differences in bacterial community composition and functional profiles between healthy and diseased sites, with specific taxa associated with periodontal disease progression. The identification of key bacterial species and functions involved could help prevent permanent damage.